After a brief time alone in the desert to reflect, I only had two unanswered questions. Just because it was possible to hike for the rest of my life, was that what I wanted to do with the time remaining? And, what does carrying a sage bundle say about a person? #gettinglost #AZT #sobo
After helping to prepare the homestead for winter, it was time to say goodbye to family and head back into the mountains. Southbound with no plans. #familytime #goodtimes #wandering #AZT
Fun times with a little elevation gain #Oregon
Days of rain and nights of snow, with no break for most of the rest of the week, I lost the desire to hike. Hiked out of the woods, through a magic tunnel to hot chocolate, freshly made chicken pot pie, and an indoor fireplace. I was going to dry off and maybe hitchhike down […]
When I saw the water cache I realized that I’d hiked five miles in the wrong direction. The sun had found its way out from behind clouds and I felt light on my feet after a long night’s sleep. But when I turned around to retrace my steps the sky grew dark, the clouds thick, […]
Thirty miles into the hike I set-up my poncho into an A-frame shelter to protect me from the relentless, cold rain. In the blink of an eye I’d slept three hours, deciding that maybe I needed another twelve. The cold rain continued through the night, the trees swaying and cracking above me in the wind. […]
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 […]
Two days and 40 miles into this seemingly endless uphill hike, and the absence of his trail-hardened legs weighed heavily on him. Three weeks of languor on the Oregon coast had left his muscles feeble, their resilience usurped by layers of fat now sizzling away with every upward stride. This new level of perspiration was […]
