Uncategorized – Page 3 – wandering chardonnay

Route 66 water kicks!

So I almost forgot about our water situation a while back. Things happen fast out here. So we were hiking through El Mapais conservation area, it was a day of snafu’s. 20170504_185700 First I miscalculated what I thought would be a short cut. Then we hiked by multiple ponds, not getting water, because we had planned a 22 mile hike to a well. Camping at the well meant water that night and for the next day.

Unfortunately I did not read the comments on the water report that stated the well was dry! The next “possible” water was 20 miles away and we had none. So we hike another 2 miles to the freeway and caught a hitch to the nearest gas station….where we had Soda Pop, of course!! A nice guy bought us chips and cookies, he had thru hiked the Appalachian Trail!

We spent a bit too long there leaving just as it got dark with plans to stealth camp as we were still a ways from town. So we whipped out our headlamps and began night hiking Route 66. However New Mexico loves it’s fences so finding a spot was, well a challenge. Thought we found a spot under an overpass, but it was right by the rail lines…not safe. So we climbed what Kelsey called a ladder(it was actually a drainage screen). Back on the road we noticed rail security coming our way and hid behind some bushes! Once he was gone we climbed a fence finding a nice sandy spot to cowboy camp (Sleeping outside without an overhead shelter, such as a tent or tarp).

Cowboy camping

Ladder?

All in all it turned out to be a great spot. I slept great considering I’m not a fan of cowboy camping. Oh the joy of thru hiking….you just never know how your day will go, or where!

Rolling on…..

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Well, Pie Town has great pie, but the sweetest thing there is the local residents! Anita at the Toaster House is the nicest lady. Thanks for great place to rest and recharge. Jeremy and Jennifer a local couple invited ALL 10 of us hikers over for a great stir fry dinner. Then the whipped out their guitars played and sang, they have skills. We were well taken care of. Jeremy quote: “Now you all are out here on this trail to find yourselves, or whatever…..we are here to help you on your journey.” There are so many people who were very generous with their help out here it is beyond words.
20170502_162748
We finally escaped the Pie Town vortex, mmm pecan pie. Headed out towards a town called Grants. We took the alternate route which included a long dirt road walk but Western New Mexico’s gorgeous, rolling terrain, a lot of ranch land covered in ponderosa pine and juniper, with spectacular views of natural sandstone bluffs. There is also a lot of cows, cows we share shade and water with.

20170504_092523 — Moooover, we want water too!

Fingers crossed my water filter still works. It may or may not have frozen with dip in temperatures. It’s questionable if they work after that. I do have iodine tablets as a back up. I have to get better with handling my water issues…..more on that later!

Have wine will hike

Hiking, Life, Uncategorized

From time to time people ask me about the name chardonnay. I give people the side eye who ask if it’s my real name. No. It’s a nickname, cycling, playa and trail name. Typically I only use my given name at work. I started using the name back when I was cycling, I liked carrying Chardonnay on my bike for adult beverage stops. When I went to TTITD it just felt right to use chardonnay as my playa name. When I found out about trail names I was certain what mine would be. And yes it is chardonnay with a small c!

Did you know Chardonnay is the most diverse-and most planted-white wine grape in the world? Full bodied, bold, beautifully crafted and quite mature…..I identify with all those descriptors. See chardonnay is more than a nick/trail name, it’s my alter ego, a better version of me.

wine-register — Signing the register……Chardonnay and mashed potatoes!

When I hike I pack in (and out) Chardonnay in cartons. I’ve even had it shipped in a mail drop (thanks Leslie) to celebrate at the PCT northern terminus. Bandit wines and Wine Cube (easy to find at Target) are great for hiking, they are lightweight and can be recycled. They also have Merlot (what up Brenda) and Cabernet Sauvignon which are great for day hiking and camping. But when I thru hike I tend towards Chardonnay. Pack up some cheese and Nut Thins crackers and boom, instant motivation to get to camp!

Even got to do some wine tasting on the Appalachian Trail (Delaware Water Gap). Checkout The Renegade Winery out of Stroudsburg, Pennslyvania great wine, good people!

chardonnay everyday……happy trails!

20160820_181853_resized — Chardonnay in Gatorade bottle…….Babybels and crackers, classy.

A change is gonna come

AT, CDT, Hiking, Life, PCT, Uncategorized

Hey everyone!! I know it has been awhile since my last post. I finally got back home to California and needed to get a job ASAP. I have a very long to do list, car registration, place to live, find 2nd job and still maintain a social life. Don’t even get me started on the CDT to do list, so-many-details. So I’ve been busy with life.

I have written a couple of posts, they are hanging out in drafts….I keep changing my mind, I’m wishy washy like that. I’ve been wrestling with the idea of writing a post on race & diversity. I just don’t know, one must choose their words carefully when dealing with said topic. That and everyone is hypersensitive right now. People have asked about being a solo black female on the trail. With almost 4000 miles of hiking under my shoes, I have to say race has not been an issue.

My whole life I’ve participated in activities that were mostly white. That’s just my life. From hockey cheer-leading (yes we cheered on the ice, I get that question so often)to skiing to road biking. I’ve never let participants race determine if I was gonna give something a try or deter me.

Of course I’d love for more African Americans to experience the joys of being in nature. It’s good for both mental and physical health…and just plain fun. I’d also love to see more representation in ads and magazines. But until that happens. Make A Plan and go for it! (I’m talking to you people of color) Every camp out doesn’t have to be a epic adventure, maybe just an over night. Represent! Take a buddy with you. Please don’t wait until you see someone who looks like you before decide to go. Just go. You can do it. African American clothing designers, how about some hiking gear! I enjoy answering backpacking/hiking/camping questions, lay them on me. I’ve had this blog since what, 2014 and still people are like ‘I couldn’t find any African American hikers’. I was inspired to thru hike by just reading some blogs by some tough ladies who tackled many a trails. They were all white btw.

On the PCT I hiked with some great…. people (yes mostly white people). We hiked and talked about our families, hopes, dreams and silly things. We all want the same things, but most importantly we talked, that’s where it starts. See when it comes to race on the trail…..let me put it this way. When you are cold, got miles to go, scared, and trying not to slide off the side of a snowy mountain; your trail buddies skin color isn’t really important. You just make it happen….together.

Pushing through the tough parts

AT, Hiking, Uncategorized

So I had this whole post about how much I hate shelters. And I do, they are claustrophobic, dark, creepy and then there’s the mice. I’ve been avoiding them, and hoping the Ridge Runners didn’t catch me tenting.

See yesterday was a really long day. It started with me encountering 2 wild boar! I thought they were bears at first till it turned and growled in my direction. I back peddled up the hill so fast ( with a little motivation I can move uphill pretty fast). It kind of had me jumping for the rest of the day. Even jumped when I saw a turkey. After a couple of long climbs in the rain, I was pretty bummed to stay in a shelter. Everyone at the shelter was super nice and a father and son even got me water and hung my bear bag. I was still grumpy.

In the morning I grab my pack headed out in a huff. When I got to the top of Clingmans Dome it was all fogged in, no view. I wanted to be mad but I didn’t have the energy so I just sat there under the dripping trees. That’s when it hit me, even without a “view” it was so quiet and peaceful…..and perfect. Then why so grumpy?

Lately when people asked me about the PCT I would say how great it was. I guess I’ve kind of been waiting for this to be that. But that’s just silly. The AT is a whole different adventure. The shelters, the climbing, even the scary giant boars are all part of the journey. But this just seems tougher right now.

When I finally hiked down out of the fog I got some great trail magic from a local church group. It really made me feel better. Hopefully after a shower I’ll be able to look at everything differently.

How’s chardonnay today!!??

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Hey guys!! For those of you still following I have not fallen of the edge of the earth. Nope. But getting back in the swing of things has been harder than I imagined. So – Very – Hard. I’ve been an emotional wreck. What you say, but you look so well adjusted. Nope I’m a good faker, I miss the trail, bad. I’ll be honest I did not prepare properly for reentry by any means. But heck things are looking up or so I like to think. I got a job!! Woohooo! Now I have to find a place to live, pay down some debt, you know some adulting.

Oh and in other news (if you haven’t heard)…….I finally went to the doctor and…….Closed Fracture Of Distal Fibula (broken ankle). So there’s that. Now I have to see a surgeon. But I’m trying to be all optimistic about it, so yea, it will be fine. In time for me to start training for…………………… the Appalachian Trail! Yes, I know I said the Camino. but the AT is right there and I really want to do the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) in 2017. Hey I’m a Libra, it’s my birthday month so I’m just weighing all the options. Changing my mind tomorrow is totally possible. One way or the other I am working my butt off this winter so that I am ready to hit the trail (any trail) next spring. Mark my words.

Hardest thing right now is staying off my ankle. So hard. Went for bike ride today just to get out. Bad idea. Biking in the city is just depressing and dangerous. I’m seriously giving thought to moving out of the city and SoCal. The Pacific Northwest is calling ……

Post trail dust off and reacclaimation

Life, Uncategorized

Well I’m back in San Diego. Physically I am anyways, my mind and heart are somewhere else.

So let’s see the Burn was way different for me this year. The weather was crazy, windy, dusty, cold (this has been the coldest summer on record for me, seriously), and the art was stirring, but there were SO many people. Going to the burn right after the trail might have been a bit over ambitious on my part, I admit. At least I had some down time in between and wasn’t just dropped directly into that or I may have lost it. Honestly it was a bit more intense than I thought it would be.

No sooner than I got to the playa I got in a tiff with a dear friend. We worked it out but I really internalize it and just wanted to hide out in my tent sanctuary, that did not exist. (note to self there is no such thing as a minimalist burn) It was very conflicting having so few things for months then being around all the excess on the playa. Also, even though self expression is stressed at the burn, I felt more ‘myself’ on trail. On the playa there is a need to ‘dress with flare’ that seemed like a mask to me. Nevertheless I got myself through it, left my Brooks Cascadia in the temple with a note that took forever to write with all the crying. Those were great shoes, letting them go was like closing a chapter I didn’t want to end. The random connections didn’t really happen this year. Reconnecting with new/old camp mates and distant friends was much more what I needed and enjoyed.

Now that I am back in SD the finality of it all has hit pretty hard. Trail life was, well simpler, everything now is overwhelmingly complicated. Agh. The weirdest things have been throwing me for a loop. It is hard i’m sure for people to understand the difficulties associated with coming off the trail. Like driving, I hate driving now, i just do. Why does everything have to be attached to an address? Why am I so broke but, I have so much stuff? Agh. All I really want to do is climb in my sleeping bag and hide. But I cannot, because I have “things” to do. That and it is like 100 degrees! (i am loving that part!)

Luckily I have friends who are allowing me to crash at their home while I “get it together”. Thanks Colleen and Mike. And yes, I am “getting it together” albeit slowly. First, I need to get a job or two even. Because………..wait for it…….I’m preparing for the Camino de Santiago!!!! A girl’s gotta have a dream!!!

You get me, right?

Uncategorized

The trail is, well, tough. Physically it is so demanding. Hiking basically a marathon a day really takes it out of you. At this point there are hikers limping around everywhere. Everyone just trying to get on to Oregon. My feet are so hating me right now, for real. All the limping from my sprained ankle caused a tendon strain on the other foot. Geez, oh well what’s there to do….hike on!

Mentally the trail can be even tougher. It helps that we are all a bit crazy out here. Hikers get other hikers and the draw of the trail. Hurt and going back on trail, of course. Tired but hiking 30 miles, why wouldn’t ya. Out of food or water, here take mine. Let’s talk about weird stuff to get out of our own heads, yep. Everything will be fine….just keep walking and don’t die. Gotta get to Canada.

Nero Zero breakdown

Hiking, PCT, Uncategorized

Made it to Kennedy Meadows, that is major. The gateway to the Sierras! 700 miles without a Zero! Financially that is great because I can’t afford all the the hotels and time in town. The last few miles into KM were long and winding, but I was pumped every time I got a glimpse of the Sierras! Walking up to the General Store (where I would camp, shower, eat, and worry) was great the hikers sitting on the patio cheer for you as you walk up, nice!

bear canister- thanks for the loan

Staying 3 days in KM was not in the plans….but, first I needed to pick up my bear canister that I got through the loan program. You only need the canister mainly through the Sierras, so they loan it to you and you mail it back when done! Second, I needed the rest and the opportunity to socialize with other hikers. Chatting with other hikers was good and bad, though. It was nice to know that other people struggled or disliked the same sections that I did. Sitting around the deck or the fire at night laughing and learning about everyone is a big part of this experience. However, the guys quickly picked up on my nervousness about the Sierras. They made a point in telling me all the scary hypothermia stories they could think of. This combined with the incoming storm, plus watching people pull rope, ice axes, gloves and well, winter gear from their packages sent me into a tizzy. Bring on the wine!!

My wine peeps!

KM General Store

Quickly realizing I might be unprepared for the mountains, moreover my finger less gloves might not cut it. Luckily, I was able to score a ride into town with another hiker and headed straight for the outfitters!

So headed into the Sierras, hopefully I won’t freeze to death. But I made it through the last snow storm. So send me lots of warm vibes!

tent inside teepee, yes!!

Attempting a Thru Hike

Hiking, PCT, Uncategorized

Now I understand why people say ‘attempting a thru hike’. There is no guarantee you are going to make it, period. So many temptations, injuries oh and the mind games.

Once in town it is very hard to not want to stay….for awhile. The comforts of food, shower’s, and well, clean water make it tough to hike on. Momentarily I am taking a nero (short mile day) in Wrightwood, this place is great…..they have water and stuff!

There are so many people off the trail already due to injuries, blisters, shin splints, hips…you name it. So thankful every day my body is holding up, for now.

Now the mind games….walking for hours with nothing to do but think, well it can be tricky. Without all the things to distract you like work , tv, computers, people….your mind is going there. Sometimes it’s rough, I call it trail therapy.