DONE DID IT

It took me five months to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, five months to the date. I set out on my journey July 12th at the Hart's Pass trailhead and hiked the extra 30 miles up to the Canadian border, where I took my first poo (ever) in nature. Oh, I can remember it like it was yesterday. It's still hard for me to believe, but I reached the Mexican border on December 11th, 1:34 p.m. Alone, while still in great company. I've made some funny decisions in life, but this one takes the cake for BEST in show.

I learned more about myself than I could ever possibly share: that I am capable, I learned about these funny endorphins that release from physical activity, the sweet smell of pride that comes from miles of sweat, that yes, I care what people think and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. I learned to like myself... and that is a very valuable lesson, indeed.

I learned about the big beautiful outdoors: the high one gets from watching the sun rise and set every gift of a day, the unmatched taste of a beautiful water source, the perfect harmony in mother nature's web of life, that there is ALWAYS regrowth after a fire, that what goes down must come up, that the elements are far more powerful than you and me and they will forever win my humble respect.

I learned about others: my faith in humanity was restored... just as my mentor told me it would be. I learned that there are so many likeminded people out there but you have to get "out there" to find them, that people yearn to help, that we are similar... all of us, that there is far more good than bad, that judgements are silly (sometimes right, sometimes wrong), but very silly things. I learned that there may be one trail but many different journeys, stories and paths along the way.

The most important lesson is that we are incredibly capable beings. It all starts with a dream, a silly little dream. Most people who knew me thought my dream was crazy and I would crumble at one point or another. But I believed in my dream... and sometimes, that's enough. The lesson I want to share with you is to dream BIG, friends... dream big and believe in yourself. We have a very short time to get these dreams done. If we don't give them an honest attempt, at least we tried and have some great stories to share. Don't wait, dear, don't wait. 

Momma!

I exaggerate every story I've ever told, but this one is perfectly true.

Last night, I half-jokingly asked momma to send me a hummingbird for my last day on trail. It has been over a month since I've seen one, but hey, anything is possible. Hiking out of camp this morning, I saw two crows and was more than satisfied. It was a beautiful morning, misty and cool, nothing like the north-bounders must have experienced in Spring. I hiked though the burn section when a noise stopped me in my tracks. "Hola, hello, anyone there," I said. Oh, this was no person. It took me a second to recognize the familiar plat-pit-patter of a lone hummingbird in an unburned manzanita tree a few feet from my face. We spent three minutes together before it vanished. Momma! Thank you! You met me my first day on trail, comforted me while I cried myself to sleep that one stormy night, and now, here, a few hours before I finish my journey, you send me this beautiful sign. 

I've been carrying something special with me, and have been waiting over a year for the perfect moment to open it. It's a letter Momma wrote before she passed. Months of moisture broke the seal back in Oregon, but I haven't peeked inside until now. I sat on a rock next to the tree and read it weeping alone at mile 7. There was a perfect halo around the sun and I felt a warm tight hug from her, reflecting on this special moment. I'm here because of her. I did this with her. I've grown so much. And as it comes to an end, I'm realizing it's just beginning. 

January 18, 2013

Dear Ashley,

Hi honey! My precious baby. Delicate and darling from the earliest age. Bright blue eyes, cherubic little cheeks and the softest skin. A sensitive baby who loved to be held. From the moment you were born until forever - I love you.

I watched with awe how you open-heatedly befriended all students, including the outcasts - those without social skills, hygiene practices, were ragamuffins from dirty homes and those with lower grades. Even if they we're mean to you! Bless your heart. You were born with a beautiful body, slender bone structure, long graceful fingers, gorgeous eyes, a captivating smile and a slender feminine face. As a girl, I heard many times, "How darling your daughter is." When you were just a young adult, I heard comments about how beautiful you are, strikingly so. And that's on the outside. You're beautiful on the inside, too. You still seek out the disadvantaged and less appreciated people, giving hope to them. In both your personal life and professional career. My dream for you is that you allow the love of your life to fill your huge, open, giving heart. Believe in your journey, all will be well, even if there are low spots along the way. Believe. I also hold a dream that your life has WAY more ups than downs, and that you'll weather all the stormy spots, knowing you are loved deeply, exactly the way you are.

I have no doubts you are making the world a better place in a big way. You have a big personality and big energy. You are meant to be and do grand things. I think God smiles as he sees you just walk down the street. You're on to something BIG!

I love you, baby. You'll always be my baby, forever. And I will always be your mother, forever, watching over you with adoration and belief in you. 

I love your excitement for life. How you allow yourself to shine brightly, in glory. My wish is that the world opens their eyes and heart so that populations everywhere will be touched, inspired and encouraged by you. You are good at being you! I'm finally learning that from you. I'm glad it's never too late to be an eager student.

I'm sending you love and hope you can feel it. I love you and always will. Forever, and ever. Amen. 

Mom

Last Meal On Trail

You want to know what 2000 calories looks like? One pack of Idahoan Loaded Baked Spuds, a package of Dal Makha, quarter pound of Danish Dill Havarti cheese, a few spoonfuls of my three week old sharp cheddar, a swig of Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey and an Abba-Zaba to chase it down. I thought I'd make myself a feast tonight, as I will have to watch my diet starting tomorrow. 

I'm 11 miles from the border and can hear the military helicopters circling above. A gun shot just went off and dogs are barking. I hope they come over here to investigate, because this meal is too good not to share. 

Let me just give a shout out to Camel, A.K.A. Thomas Claiborne. He finished his thru-hike in Kennedy Meadows where I met him on the famous back porch of the General Store. I hiked stoveless up to that point and was ready for a change. I asked if I could buy his, but like most generous people on trail, he happily lent me it (including pot) to help me finish my hike. 

And the Black Velvet, well, that's a cheers to you, Liverstrong Couple. Julia and Phillip are two other mYAMAdventurists who completed the trail this year and gave me the rest of their BV bottle when we crossed paths near the Sisters in Oregon.

It's hard not to feel nostalgic at this point, even when it comes to a silly little meal.

Home

Best home ever! Yama Mountain Gear's 15.5 oz cuben cirriform tent

I've lived in some funny places before, but I've never carried my home on my back. Everything I need to survive has been attached to me for the past 5 months. Yes, they are material possessions, but I have an intimate relationship with the few belongings I chose to bring along on this hike. We've traveled through so many emotions together and have seen some crazy sights. We fit together in an indescribable harmony. We share a special stench, too. I've cursed a piece of gear, later decorating it with honor. It reminds me of a parental relationship... Placing unjustified blame and resentment on a jacket in a rain storm, for example, then coming back with love and appreciation when the weather clears. I feel lost without my pack... Lost without you, too, Momma. You can find a lesson in any little thing, I suppose. 

As I get closer to the end, I can feel some anxieties arise. I don't know where my home will be after this. I have some exciting plans, but it will be a vastly different lifestyle from what I've grown to love. As with the trail, I have no clue what the next day will bring.. one step in front of the other with complete faith that it will continue to awe and shock me. Just when I think it can't get any better, the betterness multiplies by 487. And that's a fact. 

When I think about it, home is more of an attitude than a physical location. I hope to keep my childish wide eyes open and smile in knowing that there is plenty more in store. I'll be home soon babe, can't wait to build our very own castle.

Fast as a Dead Turtle

I found me a new mascot on the road walk past the poor dried up Lake Hughes. Meet my friend, Dead Turtle (DT for short). We move at the same speed... especially since I picked him up and made a home for him in my pack at mile 408. 

There was a time when I wanted to finish the PCT in under four months. It was like a race... and then this beautiful shift happened somewhere in the Sierra. I made it before the snow hit and realized that I've never been happier in my entire life. I don't know when I'll be back on a major thru-hike again so why not make it last? I've taken 49 zero mile days and am about 3 nights from the end. Watch out border patrol, I'm coming and I'm going to need your help taking my monument photos!

Do You Believe In The Man On The Moon?

SIX full moons on trail and not another one to be had. I started this journey on July 12, a Super Moon, and have used that giant rock in the sky as a marker ever since. Mile 2227 was número 2, my first 30 mile day and first night sleeping under the stars. Mile 1348 was on a rock cliff with 180 degree view of the sun setting and moon rising simultaneously just outside Lassen. Breathtaking. Can't forget about mile 844 at Evolution Lake right before Muir Pass in the Sierra, where something changed in me forever. How about mile 552 when my love came out and camped with me under the giant wind turbines of Tehachapi? And now, mile 101, I night hiked with Hippie Long Stalkings and Tatu Joe past Eagle Rock to end our night together with a warm meal of meatloaf. I don't think there is a better night section to hike. I didn't pull out my headlamp once.

I'm going to miss sleeping under that moon. It's just not the same in the big city. I'm going to miss everything about the trail, now that I think about it. I have a strong feeling that there will be many more thru hikes in the future.

Dreaming Of Deep Creek

I first heard of Deep Creek Hot Springs in northern Washington. This was my kind of place: a natural steamy hot bath secluded in nature. YES!

I was killing it on trail, hiking nearly 4 miles an hour, 25 plus miles a day with the limited sun hours of autumn. What a beautiful section, too! The canyon was lush, water was flowing, trees seemed unaffected by the drought. I was in good spirits (something to do with the tall can I packed out, perhaps), and took a nasty fall with camera in hand. I'm an expert faller by now... Still gashed up my knee pretty bad, but blood doesn't hurt. 

The sun was setting as naked hippies started to appear off trail near the creek. My wound was deep and blood gushed down my leg. No!!! There is nothing more desirable for a hiker than soaking in a hot bath, but I couldn't join the party like this. A storm was approaching so I decided to keep on moving. I didn't even stop to touch the water. There was a little tear... I dreamt of this place for months and now, it slipped passed me without a taste. Another reason I guess I'll have to come back.

I knew that some fellow hikers were going to be camping at Splinters Cabin, some 10 miles further, so I got out my headlamp, chugged my last beer and made a run for it. Oh, how lovely to find my friends Chaga, Minki and Sanford staked out in the cement corners of the little shelter (NOT a cabin). We shared stories and hit the hay only to be awakened by the CRACK BANG BOOM of a lightning storm at 2 a.m. 

It felt soooooo good to have a roof over head during the storm that the lack of sleep didn't phase me one bit. Until I woke up at 3:30 in a panic thinking that I peed my pants. Damn it! My long johns and the entire side of my sleeping bag were soaked. I reached for the one pair of dry socks to sop up the disaster before my friends woke up... only to find that my feet were drenched, too. There was some relief in knowing that my sleeping corner was completely flooded by the rain rather than an adult accident in the company of friends. I moved all my wet belongings to the picnic table and tried to catch a few more zzz's shaking in the cold. 

Good morning sunshine

I woke up laughing. We were just a long days hike from town, so I would be able to dry all my belongings before long. The storm made for some beautiful snow hiking, too. I think this was the first fresh snow I had ever hiked across. I've always been an optimistic person, but on that day I started to appreciate the quality for its true value. 

First tracks

Playing With Poodle Dog

I made it through the Poodle Dog Bush Detour without a single rash. That plant was everywhere! I'll take my aching joints from miles on pavement over a poodle dog allergy any day.

Speaking of road walks, look at this hiker take care of his afternoon chores on the Highway 2 Endangered Species Alternate! Yes, that's Collin brushing his teeth on the shoulder. Hikers sure know how to multitask.

Angels Of SoCal

Southern California is a completely different hiking experience from what I'm used to. It feels like you never actually leave civilization. You can see a road from almost anywhere on trail. If shit hits the fan, there's bound to be an escape route within an hour hike.

The trail angels are something wonderfully different, too. I stopped in at the Anderson's for a quick hello and finally got my full moon butt photo at la Casa de Luna. Thank you! Onward for a days hike and we make it to Agua Dulce, home of the Saufley's. Before we dropped off our packs, we ran into three more SOBO hikers on loaner bikes! Tuesday night tacos to celebrate Neil's birthday on trail. By the time we made it to Hiker Haven, I was exhausted and couldn't get off the couch. They made it realllll easy, and brought back loaner clothes from the garage so I could shower off the smell.

Hiker Haven

It's a beautiful thing, all the generous people we meet on the trail. I'm constantly dumbfounded... There are countless people who give back to us hikers. We're not fighting for a cause, saving children or making the world a better place, per se... We are just walking, walking an enormous distance. We are stinky and crude. But still, there seems to be an angel on every corner rooting us along. 

Two days further down the road and a hunting family leaves us with all their cold soda, beer and Jack n the Box breakfast sandwiches. I swear, life is good. I guess it isn't that bad being close to town.

Gracias amigos!

A Day In The Life...

There was nothing better than showing my love what I've been up to these past four months. Chris hiked out of Tehachapi with me and a bottle of wine, two tall cans and some whiskey. When you get out of the city and are physically active in nature, you deserve anything and everything your little heart desires. 

We didn't hike double digits, but made it far enough to watch the sunset on a hill top before setting up camp. It was a full moon and warm enough to sleep under the stars. There was a $5000 bet that the airplanes were NOT circling our heads dropping chem-trails... I'm used to the flight paths by now. Don't worry sugar, I'll collect in four years. An owl visited us along with three night hikers on their way to the water cache. He was sure that they were police. Shhhhhhh. Don't say a word. We laid there as quiet as two rocks until they passed. Mountain police are notorious for seeking out backpackers and writing tickets? Perhaps I was nervous, too, on my first night out. As it turns out, we recognized a name in the trail registry and Chris knew one of the hikers from when he visited me in Ashland. Ha bah ha ha. 

We've gone car camping a handful of times before this trip, but there is something special about carrying your own weight passed a view of the road. It was a great night, one I'll remember forever. I'm looking forward to this kind of lifestyle. It's just getting started.

One day on trail and you might experience:

• A Police GoPro Interview
• Gigantic Wind Turbines
• Cowboy Camping with Wine & Whiskey
• Visit by an Owl
• Scary Night Hikers
• Full Moon and 20 Shooting Stars
• Nude Hiking