Lightning and Risk
BOOM. I jolted upright as the walls of the tent exploded with another violent flash of light. Rain pounded at the walls and the thin fabric strained precariously under torrents […]
Outdoor Adventures
Trailwork, Beards, and Brownies
June 2018. I was hard at work brushing in a herd path when a stranger with a beard appeared and offered me a brownie. I had only been working as […]
“All by Yourself”
A journal entry from July, 2018. I wake up – in the John’s Brook Valley – curled tightly in my sleeping bag, and watch as my breath appears in the […]
Whitewater Trails
A story from June, 2019. If there is one thing I’ve learned from the Adirondacks it’s that when it rains it rains. This went way beyond the typical dampness you […]
Day 12 and the Trip Home
“Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; You have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits.” – Cindy Ross It was a short hike […]
Days 11 – 13: Saguaro to Mt. Lemmon
The last few days have been full of amazing views and tough climbs. Two days ago we hiked through Saguaro National Park: from the low elevation Saguaro cacti forest, up […]
Day 10: Thoughts from a Saguaro Forest
Gila woodpeckers: Loud and conspicuous residence of the desert who sound a bit like an over excited gull. Gila (The “G” sounds like a “H”) is a name that pops […]
Day 9: Coatimundies & Peanut Butter
I had a re-supply box waiting at Colossal Cave, a hiker-friendly business that is typically open for public cave tours of the local and (you guessed it) colossal cave. Although […]
Day 8: The Beauty of Washes
After applying copious amounts of antibiotic ointment to my blister and packing some for the trail, I was ready to get hiking once again. Vance’s knee still hurt, but he […]
The Decision to Get off Trail
As all of you know, we are in the midst of a national crisis. I’ve been struggling a lot with the issue of getting off trail. It’s true the trail […]