20/20's New York odyssey The post Soul Blazing Near The Big Apple appeared first on The Trek ..read more

How one trail will always lead you to another!  Planes, Trains & Automobiles You would be surprised by the hoops some hikers have to go through to get to a terminus. I’ve been very lucky again to be brought to the start of my next trek by familiar faces, my grandparents! This isn’t my first thru-hike, but this is my first East Coast exploration! I think a little introduction & context is in order before I start “keeping it real & in the loop” with what’s going on! ... The post Giddy To Go: DeepEnd on The AT! appeared first on The Trek ..read more

The adventure starts the moment you leave your house with a heavy pack and nervous energy for the journey ahead. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) starts in the southwestern corner of New Mexico. This area, known as the Bootheel (pronounced Heel), isn’t the easiest to access. But somehow, hundreds of hikers flock to this remote area each year to begin, or end, their walk of the Continental Divide.  In the last week of April 2024, I gathered my gear in Buffalo, ... The post Getting to Lordsburg for the CDT appeared first on The Trek ..read more

Does anyone know what they’re doing with their life? I graduated college in June of 2023, and like most new grads I started a full-time job almost immediately. Soon enough, I found myself only seeing my friends, catching up on chores or sleep, or engaging in activities I enjoyed on the weekends after enduring a long and mentally draining 40-hour week. I couldn’t believe that I was expected to live like this for the next 40+ years until I retired. ... The post Stop Normalizing The “Grind” and Normalize Walking Outside for 5 Months appeared first on The Trek ..read more

But why? After I got off the trail, I was genuinely happy to be home. It was good to get back into the groove of home life,  being back with my partner, our dog and seeing friends. There were chores that needed to be done – spring cleaning and the like. And since I was home before planting, I turned my garden over and weeded it. Even planted some onion sets. I went through my phone and deleted some contacts that I knew I would not use again. ... The post If Not Now, Then When appeared first on The Trek ..read more

Welcome back! If you haven’t had the chance to read my last blog titled, “Stay Gold in Tehachapi,” I would suggest you read that article as well. If you have, then you already know that Packrat, Bird, and I stayed at Jason’s “Stay Gold” house for a couple of nights. Check out my last post: Stay Gold in Tehachapi We were under a high wind advisory for all of Friday that included the potential for tornados. ... The post Days 50 – 53: Miles 558.5 – 603.3 appeared first on The Trek ..read more

Not the kind that’s interested in younger men. Not my graduate school mascot. Cougar as in the kind that screech like actual demons in the night. Cougar aka The Mountain Lion. Let’s talk about manifestation for a second. Whether you believe in this stuff or not, that’s fine – keep reading. I have toyed with the idea that when a person is really in tune with their being and their surroundings, they have the ability to either predict coming events or will them into actuality. ... The post Cougar appeared first on The Trek ..read more

When I’m home, I pretty much take water for granted. It’s always available, cold and on ice if desired. But it’s a different story on the trail, especially during the 80+ degree days of this past week. I’ve been drinking 3-4 liters/day, and I’ve been nearly continuously anticipating the next source of water. Which brings me to the subject of this blog post, springs. Pennsylvania is blessed with some lovely little springs. Rain water percolates through the soil, ... The post In Praise of Springs appeared first on The Trek ..read more

Day 41 – Stan Murray Shelter to 19E 11.1 miles “I woke last night to the sound of thunder; how far off, I sat and wondered” –  ‘Night Moves’ – Bob Segar At 4:40am I was woken up to lightning and the distant sound of thunder. I laid in my sleeping bag and debated when I wanted to get up. I tossed and turned all night long – no surprise – and really wanted a few more zzzs. ... The post And the Wood Comes into Leaf appeared first on The Trek ..read more

Day 40 – Hughes Gap to Stan Murray Shelter 10.1 miles Back to the scene of the crime. When I last left Hughes Gap, I was in a head space.  It was snowing and cold. Nomad had gotten off the trail and the prospect of me staying at the Clyde Smith Shelter for 8 hours by myself until dark was just too much to bear. So home I went. And 27 days later,  here I am again. ... The post Hello, It’s Me appeared first on The Trek ..read more