2013 Update

Spring is hands down my favorite season - especially the month of April. Wildflowers are in full bloom and snow is melting in the mountains. Millions upon millions of gallons of fresh water race toward the oceans, feeding incredibly beautiful waterfalls along the way.

Tuolumne Falls, Yosemite National Park. Photo credit - Ron Kelly

April also marks the start of the thru-hiking season. Many adventurous souls will take their first steps on epic journeys on trails all over the world sometime this month. And while I will not be one of those folks, I look forward to mingling with all the thru-ers walking across the western spine of the United States on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), at the kick off party.

Many factors led to my absence from the trial this year, including:

• A car accident in September 2012; healing still ongoing.
• Moving to beautiful San Francisco and starting a life there.
• Not having saved enough money for post hike needs.

People with whom I shared my desire to hike the PCT in 2013 recently asked me if I am disappointed for not hiking the trail this year.

Truthfully, I am not disappointed at all because I love my life and accept that where I am is exactly where I need to be at this particular time.

I have learned A LOT about myself - through introspection, various events and people in the last year - and am at peace with my circumstances.  

I trust that if I continue to heal, broaden my skill set, save money, train and grow as a person, I will be on the trail in the next few years. As long as I keep plugging away and mindfully doing the things I need to do day after day, I will get out there and hike.

And you can be sure that I will also to enjoy Spring and the beautiful show Nature puts on this time of year.

Happy Hiking!

"How lavish is Nature, building, pulling down, creating, destroying, chasing every material particle from form to form, ever changing, ever beautiful." ~John Muir