On April 7, 2024 avid hiker and backpacker Brian Keefe set out on his first thru-hike attempt. He was 56 years old. After cutting his teeth on the rugged trails in his home state of New Hampshire, he was ready for a change of scenery on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail, which measures 2,650 miles, winds across the entire United States from the Mexican border in California to the Canadian border in Washington. His plan was to hike northbound, while maintaining a continuous footpath for the entire journey. The terrain varies widely on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail begins in the desert of Southern California before transitioning over to snow-covered mountain passes in the Sierras. The summer snowmelt from the mountains feeds the rivers and creeks down below in the valleys, leading to a stretch of dangerous water crossings. Northern California is typically filled with dry, dusty burn zones and scorching heat waves. Steady rainfall and colder temperatures are waiting in Oregon and Washington. In 2024 there were additional challenges to overcome, including a number of significant wildfires which closed off access to several sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. Would it even be possible for a thru-hiker to connect every footstep from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2024? In this memoir, Brian, whose trail name is "Thirsty", details his attempt to not only thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, but to also maintain a continuous footpath.