African American thru hiker – Page 4

And they’re off….

20170413_091458 — Leaving the border, southern terminus.

It’s now Day 2…..and we are thoroughly scratched up from playing “find the trail.” First day went great, even though it was plenty hot. I was only carrying 1.5 liters of water so I beat to the first water cache about 13 miles then camped about 2 miles after that. Water is heavy, yo. So, I like my Nemo air mattress, not love; only because I’m concerned about popping it. It miss my Zlite I could just throw down anywhere. Got a good nights rest even with Border Patrol barreling by at about 1am, shining a spot light on my tent.

Kelsey and I started day 2 realizing were off trail. (Kelsey and I met on the PCT, hiked part of the AT together, so it only seemed right we start this challenge off together! ) We had to go through A LOT of brush to get back on trail that morning. I brushed by a cactus, ouch, they were in my shirt and my arm. Think I’ll live. Made it to the second water cache, met Youngblood, he is a young guy hiking alone, and did the PCT last year. We discussed the lack of shade and trail finding difficulties. I got 3.5 liters to get me 20 miles to the next water. I cameled up (drank 1 liter), so I should be fine.

Water cache!!

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.

Freedom of the road (trail)

AT, Hiking

Most posts like this begin with ‘it is with a heavy heart….or I am sad to say’ but not this one. Ahem.

Nope….I am HAPPY to say I am getting off the trail!! I’m not quitting, I’m just done. Honestly I’m just over it, for now, really. So grab a beverage and I’ll explain.

So hiking up Mt. Greylock (the highest peak in Massachusetts) I was moving at a snail’s pace. Not because I was tired or in pain, I just had zero desire or motivation. If you’ve read between the lines of my posts you might have picked up on this, or not. My last post took forever to write because I kept trying to put a positive spin on it. Question was who was I trying to convince?

Don’t get me wrong, this has been one heck of an adventure. Had such fun, in camp and in town….but on the trail, not so much. I met some real characters out there and learned some lessons. Like, it’s important for me to make decisions based on what I feel and need not based on what others think/believe I should do. It’s my journey after all.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams…..but remember the map is not carved in stone.

The things I’ve seen and done on the AT I won’t soon forget. People showed so much kindness and generosity. The miles I’ve completed and memories are many. But I set out to conquer the AT, which no longer seems that important to me, at this time. Turns out life adventures aren’t all or nothing, you know.

On the PCT I wanted all that came with being a thru hiker, the good/bad, highs/lows. I was getting to Canada no-matter-what. See, to complete a thru hike you have to want it, from within. This time around, my want meter was at a strong meh.

Now, Kathadin is still waiting….. and I will get there, eventually. Things tend to happen as they should, right?

At the moment I’m on a train, headed west (what a novel way to see the country)….researching the CDT(Continental Divide Trail)!!!

Story is not over yet……stay tuned.

Where’s my motivation

For those of you keeping track….I’m now in Massachusetts! If there was a sign for CT to MA I missed it, guess I was enjoying the scenery and sweating. Man is it toasty, making the green tunnel (the trail is pretty much always under tree cover) nice. But the bugs have kicked it up a notch. Not a fan of insect repellent but the itching is maddening.

Seriously, I’m getting to the point in the trail where i just want to hurry up and be done. Some days i feel like I’m just trudging through the woods, trying to get to the next camp site. Just trying to stay motivated and positive becomes work. I forgot how much your feet hurt at this point. (Forgive me feet) Did have a great night hangin with the boys last night. Being around other hikers certainly helps morale. I’ve been hiking daily alone. Somehow my slower pace has put me in between the packs. Climbing up then having to pick my way slowly down steep jagged rocks is taxing. (Ankle concerns make me move more cautiously)

With only about 600+ miles to go things are gonna start getting more challenging. Guess it’s time to dig deep. A thru hike is never all rainbows and butterflies, I know that. However being dirty, tired, in pain and stuck in your own head for hours is well draining. And yes I’m a tad bit home sick, which is unusual for me.

Must keep focused on the light (or mountain) at the end of the tunnel. One step, one mile, one day at a time. It’s all part of the experience. I’m coming Kathadin….albeit slowly, with all the gusto I can muster.

Small world

AT, Hiking

So Pinkie Chick had her own little adventure! I had attached her to my pack shoulder strap, at some point i looked down and there was nothing but the string she was attached to!

Sad day indeed. I certainly couldn’t go back, as I had no idea where it might have come off. So I headed on to camp. Now normally I’m on trail by 6:30 a.m (more or less). But I decided to sleep in the next morning. When I did get up I hobbled down to the stream to get water for coffee. Shooting Star was there filtering her water. I’ve seen her on trail but we had never met. Just so happens the couple that drove me into town a week earlier to get my shoes, they were in town to see……… her!!

She says ‘ hey you’re chardonnay, I have something for you!’ Guess what she pulls out? Pinkie!! Someone found her and passed her along in hopes she would catch up to me!! So it pays to sleep in!!

pinkie

Bye NY…Hello CT

AT, Hiking

For some reason I thought the rocks would stop after Pennsylvania or at least New Jersey, nope. New York has plenty. My ankles are killing me.

Things are different as you move further north. Not just the lack of good sweet tea, but southern hospitality is so over. Asked a guy for a ride…..he just rolled up the window, seriously. Just as I was about to give up on NY a cyclist rides up. I told him I needed a ride to town 12 miles away and I need to be there in less than 2 hours before the post office closed. He couldn’t help with the ride but he gave me a giant awesome bagel filled w/cream cheese! (He had hiked the AT in 2012)

bagel

While I was eating my bagel I ran into Edna & her husband. They were more than happy to give me a lift to town AND back! So I got my package (new kicks) and was back on trail in no time. (Oh they were from Pennsylvania, just sayin).

Got sweet camp spot that night on West Mt. I could even see N.Y. City. Wish I could get pics but on my camera phone it just looks dark. But here is the spot!

tentny

Then I got to hike thru the Trailside Museum & Zoo (yep the trail goes right through the zoo), before crossing the Hudson River. It was kinda funny the looks I got from people in the zoo…..even though there was a Thru hiker display!! Slow Sunday hike today to give my ankles a break.

Ran into Two Peas, and met Tink and Addie as we huffed up the mountain. Hiked the next to days with Tink & Addie (she got a trail name pretty quick, she earned it doing 17 miles right out the gate, awesome!). Those ladies were fun to hike and hitchhike with! After our State Park camp/shower I had the best hike day.

Took us a while to find out way out of the park. We debated just bushwhacking our way up a hill, then came to our senses. Addie said that morning in camp ‘I could really go for a hot breakfast’. Seven miles later….boom, trail magic! Grrr was making hot bagel, egg & cheese sandwiches right at the shelter!!! He liked my kiwi tail, I had 2 sandwiches!

After that we really breezed through the miles. I parted with Tink & Addie and did 8 more dance miles. They are getting off trail tomorrow and I am headed into Connecticut. I’ll miss those two.

(Me checkin out the view, wet socks/shorts hangin off my pack, geez)

Well New York really brought it. But time to move on…a new state will be good for morale. Oh and Kathadin is waiting!!!

People who need people

AT, Hiking

So the trail is nothing if not about all the people. I’ve met people from around the world…a lot of Germans and Canadians. But certainly a bunch from right here in America. I’ve been trying to take more people pictures (when I remember). Less views, more people as it really is the people you remember most.

I’ve hiked the last week with a married couple from Florida Two Peas, they’ve been on trail since February 14th! They are really nice. That’s a lot of love to be able to spend that much quality time together.

Then I hiked for a while with Tink and her friend Marilyn (she’s just out for couple of days with Tink who is flip/floppin like me). Great ladies from St. Louis. Tink can really keep a good 3 mph pace…even up hill. I love it…it really challenges me to hike faster & better.

Met a lot of SoBo (southbound) section hikers to today. One guy trail name 44, hiking Connecticut to West Virginia, told us a lot about this sections history. And a nice couple (I forgot their names) that tipped us off to warm showers and free camping at the State Park. So after 5 days I got a shower!! Man what difference a shower makes. Now if only my clothes dry by morning! Yea, trail life.

Can’t forget Topknot, from Austin, I was hiking with him for a bit. He is a great hiker and doesn’t mind sleeping in! But he got off trail to see Ke$ha in Philly! He’s so awesome he got a selfie with her! He’s a fan! Now there’s a side trip!

Who will I meet next on the way to Kathadin!??!

Solid as a Rock

AT, Hiking

This week in trail therapy……resiliency. So Pennsylvania tried to take me out. I was feeling good and headed for the New Jersey border. Stopped to get a rock out of my shoe, when outta nowhere one foot slips and my ankle rolls! It really hurt, could barely put weight on it. It took me an hour to go downhill half a mile. Luckily another hiker Midnight Strider came along and carried my pack. Thanks man.

After a lot of hopping around I finally got a hitch to the Church of the Mountain hiker center. Great bunch of people there….I even went to church. (I could use little help from above) After a day and half of rest and prayer I was ready to get back on trail. No sooner than I got into New Jersey a rock reached up and tripped me!

Pain – then step, ouch, step, ouch. That’s when the tears came. I was an hour away from the road and I knew I had to decide…quit or keep going. Could i walk 800+miles like that? The AT had broke me.

Ok not really, but it did come down on me pretty hard. That’s when Kelsey says ‘well you did walk 1000 miles on fracture last year’. Yep she was right. So I swallowed a handful of ibuprofen (with brown water) and hobbled myself on to the next camp site.

I’ve decided I’d throw out my nonexistent schedule and let my body pick the miles. Somewhere around 18 miles the pain comes back that’s when I stop for the day. So I probably won’t hike with Kelsey for awhile….that girls on a mission – crushing it! Tomorrow I’m hobbling my bent, not broke self into New York, BOOM! Kathadin is waiting….

******Other than the rock incident and the brown water (i’m pretending it’s tea) New Jersey you got some pretty nice views.

The Zen of Thru Hiking

AT, Hiking

People sometimes ask if I am hiking alone. The answer is yes and no. You can meet someone hike together then go over a month without seeing then; hike with a group for a while then due to a number of reasons (pace, breaks) not see them for miles/days. Then they pop up outta nowhere the whole time they may have never been more than five miles away from you.

So with the heat I’ve been hiking alone as most people are hiding from the heat. I can deal with heat, no problem. (Yes, Pat i am drinking water!) So I have to entertain myself. In the mornings I just like to listen to the birds chirp and the sounds of nature.

By midafteroon I need some motivation. So, time for a trail dance party! I break out the tunes, usually a dj dance mix from TTITD or some other festival. Then I bust a move on the trail. Swinging my trekking pole or using it as microphone! I must be a sight.

The other day I tried listening to an audio book, The Way of Zen – Alan Watts. But it turns out, the more I concentrate on what is being read the slower I hike. Good for that slow end if the day hike I guess. Hiking is very meditative, more on that later.

Lastly sometimes I just entertain myself with made up scenarios about why I’m out here. Like my small town was captured but Russians, I escaped, and now I’m trying to make it North to the American free zone. I know, totally the Red Dawn plot, whatever.

One must busy the mind or it goes to weird places out here. Sometimes it goes there anyway and you just go with it. Ahh thru hiking.

Trail challenges

AT, Hiking

The last couple of days have been, well, great! The sun has been shining and the Pennsylvania rocks haven’t been that bad (knock on wood). Plus got trail magic …..Gatorade floating in a stream! Great for a hot hike day!

Made it to the midpoint, well not my midpoint but still the trail halfway. Still momentus with my PCT mileage and AT miles I have hike over 3000 miles! Woohoo, yeah me.

At this point in Pine Grove Furnace there is a half gallon ice cream eating challenge. Um, yea I passed on that. But these guys did not!

There is also a challenge out on the trail called the “four state challenge” and it consists of crossing from Virginia into West Virginia, West Virginia into Maryland, then Maryland into Pennsylvania within twenty-four hours. I passed on that too due to crappy weather. Oh well I’ll have to come up with my own challenge!