Welcome!
I am an artist who hikes. A hiker who arts. A traveller who revels in the journey without undue devotion to the destination. I hike to be somewhere, not to get somewhere. Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Expect reflections on long distance hiking, art-making on trail and off, hiking culture, nature and my undying love for backrests.
I’d already applied four time for a JMT permit. I’d been flexible, willing to start anytime in August. I’d donated to the PCTA, hoping a bribe would work. I’d crossed my fingers and visualized a permit.
A permit never materialized.
Already in 2023 I’d begun to believe that I’d have to hike the entirely of the PCT just to complete Phase 2 of my Triple Tiara journey, the John Muir trail. That was the plan that year when, apparently, the bribe worked and I secured a permit for the PCT. But then the snows came and sent all aspiring PCT hikers to their blistery fate on the CDT.
So this year, I didn’t even try to get a JMT permit. I just put in for the PCT, paid my bribe to the PCTA and planned to hike from Tehachapi to Truckee, maybe catch the Tahoe Rim Trail while in the vicinity.
Things happened (heat dome, anyone?). It didn’t work out quite as planned, but I did hike the Sierra and enough of the JMT—Lone Pine to Sonora Pass with a side trip up Mt. Whitney gasping and wheezing the whole way—to call it success. Done. Nothing left of my tiara except the Colorado Trail.
YAY!
Did I mention I warmed up for the Sierra (hardest hiking I’ve ever done, BTW) by hiking 525 miles on the Appalachian Trail (Grayson Highlands to Harper’s Ferry followed by a train ride home)?
I remembered why the AT is beloved and some people never hike any other long trail. It’s where magic happens.
