Hiawassee to Fontana

Posted on: Thursday February 15, 2018 Appalachian Trail

We leave Haiwassee as the sun comes out. It’s only a few miles to the North Carolina Border, where Bolt and I take photos. It’s too windy to stop for long though, so we climb steeply until we find a spot out of the wind for lunch. Then, it’s up over standing Indian Mountain, to a grove of rhodendrons to camp. I stick my head out from under my tarp and watch the stars, while coyotes yip.

The beginning (Amicalola to Hiawassee)

Posted on: Wednesday February 7, 2018 Appalachian Trail

I stay with Meg, and Corey’s parents, in a house outside Atlanta on Lake Lanier. Corey’s parents are section hikers, and open their home to me.

The Huemul Circuit

Posted on: Friday January 26, 2018 patagonia Hiking

The Huemul Circuit may be the best short hike I’ve ever done. Featuring zip line river crossings, a glacial traverse, high passes and a commanding view of the southern Patagonia ice field, it’s just challenging enough to be fun.

Ushuaia

Posted on: Thursday January 18, 2018 patagonia Hiking

We score a deal on car rental in Punta Arenas from our waiter, so we drive south. Flat plains are filled with guanaco, which look like skinny llama. We hop a ferry and then we are on Isla de tierra del fuego. A few more hours and we have an uneventful border crossing into Argentina.

To the Ends of the Earth- Cabo Froward, Patagonia

Posted on: Monday January 15, 2018 patagonia Hiking

The sea surges to my knees as I wade around the slippery rocks. The salt stings a thousand tiny cuts on my legs. The wind throws fistfulls of rain in my face. You are made up of mostly water, I remind myself. This is your element.

Post Triple Crown Gear

Posted on: Monday December 18, 2017 Appalachian Trail Continental Divide Trail Gear Lists

Complete Gear List

Summing up the CDT

Posted on: Wednesday September 20, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

I didn’t realize how spoiled I was on the PCT. Beautiful trail the entire way. Little roadwalking. No cows. And I didn’t camp alone a single night. A bad day on the PCT is a good day on the CDT. The CDT is not a nice trail. And while several people have congratulated me on conquering it, I didn’t. I survived it.

Learning to quit.

Posted on: Friday September 15, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

On the CDT, I often wondered what it would take to get me to quit. Snow, mountain lions, almost being struck by lightning… They all made me consider it, but somehow I kept going. They say never quit on a bad day, but Wild Land has a theory that it’s better to eat wild game that’s had just one bad day. And so I wondered on the CDT, would it be that one bad day that would take me off trail? Luckily, it’s nothing so dramatic.

The great Sandwich Van adventure

Posted on: Friday September 8, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

We call border patrol in Waterton, to declare ourselves inside the country. He gives us all a little phone interview and then we are legally in Canada. We celebrate with poutine. And then it is time to go. Waterton is expensive, so Glimmer books us a cheap motel in Cardston and we hitch there, getting a ride instantly.

The End. (East Glacier to Waterton )

Posted on: Sunday September 3, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

In the middle of the night, a bear crashes into the campsite. At least, that’s what I think, until I reach for my bear spray and find my phone instead. I can’t figure out what it’s plugged into, until I come to enough to realize I’m in a hostel, the bear is Wild Land, who can’t sleep in the boys room and I’m inside. This does not bode well for reintroduction into society if I can barely handle being inside for one night.