> The first time I heard Katie laugh, I knew I liked these people.
It was mid-afternoon in the Southern California desert. Allen and I were making
our way down to Tule Spring at mile 137. I badly needed a water break. Allen is
a fast hiker and keeping
I was sitting by a loud, crashing creek in Washington, the air moving at a brisk
pace through a craggy split in the earth and down into the valley below. I had
stopped for lunch and promptly plopped down into the rockfall surrounding the
creek. I was accompanied by Peanut,
Coming back home was hard. I didn't expect that. I expected to be happy to see
friends and family again — and I was — but it's tinged with... grief? What?!
It's now three weeks since I left the trail and I miss it. I missed
Even though the last 200 miles have not been the greatest yet on trail, there
have been some moments of levity that have kept my spirits up. Philllip, aka
Monster, attempted to rechristen me with a new trail name. Let's just say that
he was succesful.
It all
Today was the hardest day on trail. Strangely, it wasn't my feet, knees, or any other part of my body that made it difficult. It was my mind.
I came off a zero expecting to be refreshed and ready for 25 mile days again. I was anything but
On trail you have a lot of time to think about... anything.
There are lots of different people on the trail and each carries a burden. Each
person suffers in their own way. Some days they suffer more, some less. They all
carry different burdens—some heavier, some lighter, but
Paul, Roi, and I took a zero in Wrightwood. I enjoyed waking up late (6:30 AM)
and having a quiet breakfast with Creature and Paul. Creature is the nicest
tattooed guy from L.A. I've ever met. Six pieces of thick wheat toast with
homemade jam, two
We were so smug. We saw a storm coming, our feet hurt, we ate too much at
McDonald's, and a hot tub at the Courtyard Marriott was just too tempting. We
told ourselves, out loud, over and over, that we were making the right decision
to stay back,
