Category: Outreach

September 11,2016

My New Story that my amazing body takes me up stunningly beautiful mountains whenever I want helped me fulfill a wonderful accomplishment today!

We kept going past the Montclair Shelter, a good stopping point for a comfortably short day, to Camel’s Hump!

Tricky rock climbs, slabs, and straight-up trail made our approach up the 4,080 feet to a windy, cold summit.

But…

Wow! What a place!

360 degree view, perfect visibility, and even a siting of a surprise mammal, perhaps a flying squirrel. read more

September 11, 2016

First, I remember the World Trade Centers. May all the significance of that day be sanctified and elevated to its spiritual clarity, in perfect timing.

Now, for my current story. It’s 6 a.m. Thunder rumbles in the distance. The severe weather that motivated us to choose yesterday’s early stop at the Birch Glen Shelter has finally arrived.

I have no idea how many hikers are bedded down in this structure. After we had gone to bed, granted 7 p.m. is early, two college orientation groups of 8-10 hikers arrived!
They were graciously quiet, except for their clumping boots. It was a remarkably quiet night! Apparently, college freshmen sleep through the night! read more

September 10, 2016

It’s hard for me to admit and write about my Old Stories, those beliefs that could sabotage  my outer journey and yet open gateways to my inner journey. I’m up for walking my walktalk, so here goes!

Yesterday, we walked 11 1/2 hours through dense forest, up some steep and rocky mountains. 14 miles was enough – a big day. But, I was fine! We had reached our destination, Battell Shelter. We knew it had a caretaker, and we had heard that another  couple had already taken space in the shelter. No problem, we would tent nearby. read more

September 2, 2016

I’m happy to be walking the Appalachian Trail again because of all the beautiful scenery I forgot! Today was a good example of that. 

We started the day near the summit of Peru Peak in a chilly cloud, which made the spruce woods enticing and mysterious. I celebrated getting my warm jacket at just the right time, as this morning’s temperature dipped.

The path continued to not just one, but two lakes – Griffith Lake and Little Rock Pond – neither of which I remembered from 2007! We reached Griffith Lake at “late breakfast” time, cooking up our corn mush topped with maple syrup and cayene pepper. read more

September 1, 2016

This week, I’ll complete a second pass of the 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Georgia, and Central Virginia, thrice, 60 miles of my VA ridgerunning section, about 20 times. 

August 29, 2016

My passion for exploring inner journey work with other hikers may be one practiced by just one of us in my “intimate” partnership. My dream is to have an intimate life partner who shares this passionate occupation with me.

For today, I am happy to have a FB friend converse with me about this as a colleague! She validates and understands, and does it herself. I like that!

August 28, 2016

Pete, at the Catamount in Bennington, VT, checked us in at 9:45 a.m.!

August 26, 2016

We found out that we like to eat our hearty meal of quinoa and chicken- or cheese! – after walking for a bit in the morning, instead of at night.

After walking all day and reaching camp at dusk or even after dark, something “light” like our cornmush seems just right!

August 22, 2016

That’s what the hiker we met this morning said. Her story is that she walked from Springer to Katahdin, reaching the summit in Maine on August 4th.

18 days later, she’s already reached 725 miles in a southbound return to Springer!

“How are you doing,” I asked. Her reply, “I’m physically doing great. I’m emotionally broken. I don’t have time to talk with anyone and I hike all day and night.”