The need for a lighter tent that wasn’t a “coffin” led Judy Gross to design and make her own.
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Washington
A southbound hiker begins the PCT on steep, exposed slopes and more elevation gain and loss than any other part of the trail passing one volcano after another like pearls on a necklace including Rainier.
peeps of the PCT: ‘flippers’
It takes courage to change directions mid-stream.
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a chorus of birds from both sides (of the world) now
The chorus of birds on both the Te Araroa and the Pacific Crest Trail were glorious. Hear them for yourself!
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peeps of the PCT: Catholic scouts of the trail
Thank God I have seen an orange sky with purple clouds. How easy it is to forget that we have the privilege of living in God’s art gallery. Erica Goros It was a wet, chilled-to-the-bone day in the North Cascades, when I hopped down a spur trail towards a lake, looking for somewhere reasonably dry to eat my lunch. I came upon a group of men sharing this strip of land in the midst of […]
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peeps of the PCT: G-punk
About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for what you can do for them, and some won’t like you at all. Rita Mae Brown What does it mean to “be who you are?” And how do we get “comfortable in our skin,” as the saying goes, able to accept ourselves fully and know that not everyone will understand us, […]
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The Sweet Ephemeral
…you’re the author of your own story, honey, so take your time telling it. revise. revise, and revise some more. oh baby, be your own happy ending! Rosetta Peters These last few weeks, as Richard and I build a voice recording booth and I gently spread my wings to check the size of this new space in my life, I’ve felt the most hopeful I’ve been in months. I’m giving talks on my hikes. I’m […]
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peeps of the PCT: Karl and Holly, trail angels
Wherever we travel to, the wonderful people we meet become our family. Lailah Gifty Akita Last night I had vivid dreams with a cast of colleagues from my recent past. In and out popped characters with whom I’d developed deep ties working on projects, solving problems in a hectic deadline-based environment and seeing each other every day, often for far more hours than I see my own family. These people are gone from my life […]
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PCT Day 29, ‘zero,’ Stevenson, WA
You always had the power, my dear; you just had to learn it for yourself. – Glinda, the good witch of the north what I did on my vacation from the trail: 1. soaked in really hot water – four times, then one more time with epsom salts 2. ate a second breakfast (or was that a third?) 3. lounged in the lounge with reasonably decent wifi
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PCT Day 28, Rock Creek to Cascade Locks, 20 miles
In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. – Eleanor Roosevelt The men are awake and out by 3:15. True to their word, they are absolutely quiet packing up. They’re heading north to ‘meet their wives,’ they tell me from a very snug two man tent. I sleep beautifully in my tiny spot under […]
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PCT Day 27, ‘pool of water’ to Rock Creek, 27 miles
If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more. – Erica Jong My morning begins with Zach stirring, wanting to “get up early and bust out miles.” The mist is down and I’m concerned the ladies won’t get the great views. Judy drops by my tent as I sip chococoffee to show me how small her tent packs down. She’s persistent, but I imagine it will make me a customer. I forgot to mention that […]
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