Hey everybody, I’m back! I have a class tomorrow so I had to get off the trail until Tuesday. On Wednesday I began my hike with my new friend Heather from the Southern Terminus of the PCT at the Mexican border. We hiked into the evening until there wasn’t enough light to see the trail and found a flat spot to set up camp about 8 miles in. It sprinkled a little bit the first evening but it was fine. I didn’t sleep too good the first night though. The following day we hiked the remaining 12 miles to Lake Morena where the ADZPCTKO (PCT Kick Off) was being held from Thursday to Sunday. I hiked a lot on my own the second day, it just felt right for me to go at my own pace and just move with my rhythm. We spent 2 days wandering Kick Off, watching seminars on injury, desert hiking, and tons of great stuff as well as doing yoga, eating good food, and meeting other people who have the same plans to hike to Canada. It was fun, but I was excited to get back on the trail so Saturday evening I set off on my own and hiked about 8 miles until once again it was too dark to see the trail. I set up camp on a ridge overlooking the mountains and the 8 freeway – the freeway wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it reminded me how close to home I was despite how “out there” I felt, especially being alone. Later that evening, night-hiking friends joined me and made me feel not so alone and in the middle of nowhere 🙂 Today, I woke up in that spot and hiked about 15 miles uphill to the Mount Laguna Lodge where my parents picked me up for my first “zero” day. It was sad to leave my trail friends and to leave the trail in general. I can’t wait to get back out there. I hiked the first 42 miles of the PCT and I can’t wait to jump back on. Everything is going good so far… 🙂

So today is the day! Yep it sure is.

So this is what 5 months worth of food looks like! Who could imagine consuming this much food!! 🙂

I  spent the last 4 days grocery shopping and putting together meals. My friend Julia, my mom, dad, sister, my boyfriend Brian, and fellow thru hiker Heather all helped me since I definitely could not have done it by myself in such a short amount of time. Trail magic already… 🙂

Today, Heather and I are headed to the Southern Terminus of the PCT!!! Will write about the Kick Off next week. Check back soon!

I’m off!

I have to do…. math? I was an outdoor rec major for a reason! Who would think hiking for 5 months would require so much math. I am currently working on getting all of my food prepared ahead of time (note:—-> 5 days till I leave!) so I am a little frazzled at the moment, trying to calculate ingredients for 200 breakfasts, 200 lunches, and 200 dinners. It is a very daunting task, but I am determined to get this done in order to make for a more relaxing hike. By doing this I am avoiding weekly grocery trips in town. I like the idea of going into town as little as possible – really only for the biweekly resupply because I don’t have a lot of money to spend on restaurants and hotels. Plus, I am doing this to be outdoors. I think I will enjoy some rest days in the wilderness. I imagine camping by rivers or lakes for 1-2 days and swimming and getting clean while I rest my tired feet and legs. Most days will be spent waking to the soft light of dawn and hitting the trail, resting when necessary and even napping if I feel like it. I am starting the trail going about 10 miles per day but will work my way up to 20-25 making about 10 hours of hiking. I am determined to go at my own pace though, because this is about having fun – not about pushing myself beyond my limits. This is going to be an enjoyable and beautiful long hike through the mountains, deserts, and valleys. I often feel as though I have missed too many sunrises and sunsets being indoors all the time, now I will have the chance to see them every day for 5 months. This is one thing I am most excited for… I love to watch the sky and the land change colors as the sunlight begins and ends each day.

Everyone keeps asking me if I am excited, and I am very much so. But I have so many thoughts and emotions flooding me that I usually feel overwhelmed by them and can’t seem to filter through them before a new flood of emotions come. I think once I get on the trail my mind will calm and life will finally simplify and quiet down so that I may hear the trees flowing in the wind and the sound of my breathe as I take each step. Life is incredible, and I am so happy to be blessed with a healthy mind and body to take me to the places I want to go and gives me a vessel through which to feel joy. I am almost there… just keep swimming 🙂 I am so close!

Everyday hiking the PCT becomes less of an idea and more of a reality. Last night I said my last goodbyes to all of the people I worked with at Felicita Park and when I got home it really hit me that things are changing and I am in transition to something amazing and new. I was simultaneously sad and happy. I just cannot believe experiencing such positive goodbyes! They BBQ’d on my last day and everyone came (except for NICK – hope you’re reading this! haha). My bosses all had kind words to share about my time at Felicita and they all sent me off with hugs and smiles. It was a happy time and it was one of those moments in life that have been pretty rare for me, when I really feel accepted, appreciated, and like I am noticed for who I am. It feels great to be leaving on such a good note and I look forward to visiting and possibly working there again when I get back home in September sometime.

We all took ownership of the park. I loved it and smiled often at its beauty. I loved taking care of a place so special, so full of history, happy people, and wildlife. I was exactly where I needed to be during the short time I spent working there. I’m going to miss the coyotes and hawks, the menacing flocks of crows, the egrets and herons who caught gophers in the meadows (too bad they didn’t eat squirrels). I’ll miss the squirrels too, though and all the little hummingbirds who are with babies in their nests now, the cute duck pairs, and the crawdads in the creek. I’ll miss the oak trees and the woodpeckers, and the sweet little wrens who visited me at lunch on my “secret” rock. Most of all, I will miss the people I worked with. Each one of them contributed to who I am becoming, and I am so lucky to have known such good people with big hearts (even if they didn’t wear it on their sleeve, they can’t hide it from me). I love people. People make me happy and kindness and compassion spreads like wildfire. Here is to reality setting in! In 1.5 weeks I’ll be beginning my adventure on the PCT and during this wait I will be planning all my food resupplies and getting a few more things to carry in my pack. This ain’t no joke no mo!