Twenty miles through the swamp took all day, with knee to thigh-deep water slowing every step. Unseen holes beneath the surface threatened to slow progress, or worse, bring you to an ankle breaking stop. Every step demands attention, pushing through knee-deep water while searching for solid footing. That alone will wear you out, but the […]
Author: cleanshave
Florida Trail Thru Hike Kickoff
Picked up by two of the finest people you could meet, @adventurepreacher and @boxcar_hikes, to camp with a bunch of friends, old and new. Fed, and fed some more by the incredible @ftthruhike#trailangels Strangers providing food, information, and assistance with logistics to ensure that everyone can embrace the trail in a way that resonates with […]
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
Long days of rhythmic, meditative footsteps across unfamiliar terrain allow for easy access to mystic-lite states of consciousness. Where the balance between the internal and external experience is a sort of perpetual motion, a physical reflection of the inner need for exploration, growth, and understanding. But then again, I’m a romantic. This idealized view of […]
Northbound from Key West, Florida
It took two days to reach the southern most point of the Continental United States, only to then immediately turn around, hiking north on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. A new beginning, to see Florida again with fresh eyes. Two days more of pounding pavement, back to the Seven Mile Bridge, where cars rush […]
Family Time in Florida
Like a ship grounded by fate, I found myself pulled into the vortex of family I hadn’t visited in years. Life for Carisa and her husband Johnathan had recently been turned upside down when their car caught fire, leading to her moped accident, rendering her reliant on crutches. Yet, their resilience outshines setbacks, illuminating a […]
The Great Rite
A wounded animal, Seeks sustenance, To heal echoes of damage, Lingering from time immemorial. Crossing the barren desert, The abomination of desolation, This pagan offering, Knelt before the temple of the goddess, And wept at her acceptance. Healed on her altar, Through the supreme power embodied in the feminine, The Great Rite unfolds. A holy […]
Tiny Thorn Homestead
Middle of the night, middle of nowhere, I find myself between trails, at a Circle K high on the wind swept plains, deep in the heart of the Arizona Painted Desert. These intervals between trails provide a precious opportunity to reconnect with some of my favorite people, to help out with projects around Tiny Thorn […]
New Beginnings at the End of the AZT
In these final days on the Arizona Trail, I had the pleasure of hiking with @socotoshowco for a few miles, someone I haven’t seen in years. I weaved back and forth along the trail as I awaited my bus. The upcoming walk from Vail into Tucson, then onward to Phoenix for a layover, marks a […]
Plans Change on the AZT
Rain fell from the cloudless sky as I lay awake, gazing at the twinkling stars. There had been no rain predicted, not the slightest chance of showers, and yet, within a half hour the stars were hidden behind a thick canopy of dark clouds. I fell asleep thinking it would be a passing shower. But […]
Stealth Camping Sabino Canyon
Gratitude washed over me as the sun reclaimed the Santa Catalina Mountains. The persistent chill and dampness had worn on me, prompting daydreams of warmer, heavier gear. On a cold and breezy morning descent from Mt. Lemmon, my focus wasn’t on miles but on descending to Hutch’s Pool. I yearned to warm up, spread out […]