Hiking across Florida was everything I’d hoped, good people, endless sky, and a life spent outside. But beneath the ease of it all, a nagging thought filled me with subtle dread. A goal left unfinished. Something that felt beyond my capabilities, beyond what I could take on while living out of a backpack. And yet, […]
I finished the Pinhoti Trail before the end of 2024, spending my last night in the shelter on Weogufka Creek, listening to the water slip over rocks, the sound as familiar as my own breath. At the base of Flagg Mountain, I contemplated my need for significant alone time in order to process emotions and […]
I woke to a cool morning fog at Laurel Shelter on the Pinhoti Trail, the kind that clings to everything and slows the world down. The plan for the day was an easy ten miles to Lower Shoals Shelter. But when a friend canceled our meet-up in Heflin the next day, I thought, “Why not […]
The heat during the day was getting oppressive. I’d take long breaks, next to a water source if possible, but always in the shade. I’d hike through as much of the night as I dared, some of the footing through the Mazatzal Wilderness is sketchy even in daylight. With the moon casting its ethereal glow […]
The plan had been to hike 30 mile days through the Mazatzal Wilderness in order to catch my train in Tucson. But something had changed in Sedona. Though my body got the message to slow down, my conscious mind was a little behind the learning curve. I didn’t understand why we were taking breaks, why […]
Eglin Air Force Base, a sanctuary of rolling hills, serene boardwalks, and quiet streams that soothe the soul, is one of my favorite sections of the Florida Trail. It was here, amidst this tranquil landscape, that we reached two significant milestones: the 1,000-mile marker and the high point of the trail, a lofty Florida mountain […]
The end of another chapter, it’s time to get off trail. For now. Yet, remember, it is a loyal companion, waiting in the shadows, ever ready for those moments when the wilderness beckons and the call of the woods becomes irresistible. Whether your spirit craves a leisurely stroll through the mountains or a more profound […]
The effects were subtle, yet profound, following his encounter with the fabled waters of Little Crater Lake. This spring-fed pond, chilling even in summer at a mere 34 degrees, held a reputation for bestowing a unique kind of energy. And as he continued his southbound trek along the Pacific Crest Trail, that energy seemed to […]
At first, he suspected the other hiker of dropping acid while they lounged at Timberline Lodge. But as the hiker unfolded their experience of the trail, their eyes wide with an almost ethereal glow, it all began to make sense. Long stretches on the trail have a way of recalibrating your perception, merging your senses […]
It was time to begin retracing his steps southward. Each footfall carried an air of determination as he followed the Discovery Trail along the rugged coast. He trekked, a solitary figure tracing his destiny upon the sands, the ceaseless waves his only companion. His stride brought him to a point where further coastal advance was […]