“The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.”
– Rich Ridgeway
In March of 2020 I began what I hoped would be my first thru hike, an 800 mile trail running the length of Arizona from the Mexican border to Utah.
COVID-19 was just starting to become serious in New York, and I had checked and re-checked the Arizona Trail Association’s web page. They were advising hikers to be cautious and minimize their time in town, but were not yet asking people to postpone their hike.
After a week on trail it became clear that things were changing rapidly, and by day eleven I knew I needed to go home. It was a painful decision, but a pandemic is no time to be completing a thru hike.
On the bright side, quarantine and unemployment give you plenty of time for writing and reflection. I hope you enjoy this collection of stories from my 200 miles on trail.