I had already been in camp for hours when four figures bounded into the rather large campsite on the tail edge of complete-darkness and quickly set up their tents. With headlamps extending just in front of us, we traded one of the most telling pieces of information on this trail of quick connections: our trail names. Hey, I’m Hot Thumbs. Before much of a pause, she adds, They say I’m good at getting hitches into town. We never wait long.
Living Our Humanity
It has been two weeks since I crossed the Bridge of the Gods and concluded my time on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). My roots are sinking back in the soil of my favorite relationships and places here in Portland. This feels so grounding; however, I am reconciling the ways my life and body feel very different from when I left.
Unpacking my Backpack
It was yesterday’s afternoon sunlight. I was on my way through Dawson Park to the Albina Cooperative Garden to mulch some tree wells. A middle-aged Black man waiting on the edge of conversation saw my smile and did not hesitate to say, Dang lady. You are FIT. You’ve been climbing mountains or something? I erupted … Continue reading Unpacking my Backpack
The Fire of Change
Trail update: On Saturday I hitched into Trout Lake, WA with a woman who had spent years mushing in Denali and made many visits out to Bethel, AK, my rural Alaskan home for 6 years. Small world! I pick up my last resupply in just a few minutes and will head off onto my final … Continue reading The Fire of Change
More Than 1/2 Way to Someplace
**Trail update: I just bypassed 100 miles of trail thanks to amazing trail angel transportation to shirt the Norse Wilderness Fire (Snoqualmie Pass to White Pass). Tomorrow I step back onto the trail in White Pass for what will be my final stretch of 120 fire-free miles (with one more fire hop and resupply on … Continue reading More Than 1/2 Way to Someplace
A Place to Leave Ashes
**Notes: With some fires growing in Southern Oregon, please wait on sending any mail to the White Pass address. It is highly probable that my route will change. I will do a mail pick-up in Snoqualmie Pass. I have weak wifi here so no photos for now. And no time for grammar edits so just … Continue reading A Place to Leave Ashes
Mail on the Trail
A HUGE thank you and a deep bow to everyone (financially and otherwise) who have helped this adventure be a reality for me! I will be eating and well nourished by your love and calories each step (and there will be a lot) of the way. I bought my bus ticket for Bellingham, WA … Continue reading Mail on the Trail
Counting on Huckleberries & Hope
Hope. I love Brené Brown's research that names "Hope is a function of struggle." As I've navigated numerous spaces of change this last year with so many of you, I've felt a renewed devotion to this statement (even in its difficulty).
Huckleberries & Hope 