PCT 2023 - The Final Chapter
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Hey all - me again! I'm back with the final chapter.
On April 19, 2023 I turned north from the Mexican border and started walking. This is the rest of that story one year from the start.
After trail I struggled mentally more than I thought I would. At first putting these vlogs together and reliving the experience was fun for me. But when the shine wore off and life set in, a second, stronger wave of post trail depression hit. I had been clinging to things I probably shouldn't have been and living too much in the nostalgia of it. Or doing what I've always done best - bury the feelings of loss and grief so deep it all comes spilling out two fold later.
I wrote on my Instagram after donating a few photos to work, "It’s like the whole of last year was a fever dream. I slipped back into the corporate world a little too easily, a little too comfortably, making trail feel less and less real... It’s a confusing process navigating this new life. Feeling so full and empty and grateful and unsatisfied all at once." That feeling still holds true as I post this.
But enjoy this final chapter. You'll see my highest highs and lowest lows.
This was a hard one to put together. But I'm happy I did. As I closed out my instagram post mentioned above - "Today feels like proof that it happened. Today, my journey lives elsewhere - memorialize beyond my hard drive, my walls at home and my own memory."
To my dad, you were my biggest cheerleader and I couldn't have done any of this without you.
To my sister, thank you for making me laugh along the way and supporting my wildest dreams no matter how extreme they are. I promise more concerts, less hiking in the next year.
To my brother, you were the first person I told that I got my permit. You calmed so many nerves knowing you had my back always.
To my aunt, I am so lucky to have you as a second mom. You support my dreams more than I deserve.
To my "real life" friends, holy moly me oh my the messages, the unwavering support and reassurance that I was making the right choice in life kept me out there. Buckle up for the next one.
To the people I met along the way - you made this a journey of a lifetime. I'm so freaking lucky to have crossed paths with all of you and whether you like it or not, you have a friend for life with me.
Finally - mom. Everything I do is for you. I'm living my life to the fullest like you told me to.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I've loved following along, and marveling at the beautiful scenery and the joy and humanity you shared on the trail. Looking forward to more from you if you ever feel inclined to share another journey with us. Thank you, and good luck.
Thank you so much for following along! I’m hoping to share more (and different) adventures from the east coast this summer
So happy to see this video! I followed your videos since before you started, with the gear videos, and enjoyed them all. And yes, yes, come back and do some of the PCT you didn’t get to last year!! Looking forward to it! Thanks SO much for your stories!
Thank you so much for all the support! I have BIG plans for when I return to the PCT. In the meantime thinking of some east coast hiking videos :)
You are awesome. I've loved following your journey
Thank you for following along! I had so much fun sharing my journey
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I started watching your journey due to a mutual friend we have (Mollie). And I really feel this. When I hiked in 2019, it was a constant battle of pain management beyond anything I could have imagined. Towards the end (7 months total) I was so done with hiking and told myself I never wanted to backpack again. It was beautiful and absolutely the best time of my life, but the pain you experience everyday is so blinding and makes it difficult to really appreciate the experience in the moment to its fullest. I remember being so jealous of those other hikers that just seemed to be able to pull 25-30's with what seemed like little to no issue. Now that I'm far enough removed from my hike, I tend to look back on it as all rainbows and sunshine, but I know that's my brain downplaying the struggle. However, I would absolutely do another thru-hike at this point - there's just nothing else like it and it's truly fulfilling. I hope you get the chance to return sooner rather than later!
I love Mollie so so so much 🥹 thank you for following along! Thru hiking is definitely the best and worst thing to ever happen to me. I think about it constantly to the point of obsession and the nostalgia is definitely clouding how much I hated being out there at times. But the freedom… nothing compares to it. I would absolutely do it all over again and I hope you get the chance to do one again too!
I miss it so much. I still find it hard to watch stuff from trail.
😭 same friend but here’s to years and years of more adventures