The grey clouds hang low in the sky on this uncommonly warm day in Northeast Iowa. It is January in the plains of the MidWest, yet my mind is filled with images of sun soaked views from mountaintops.
The Pacific Crest Trail has inbedded herself in my body, mind, and soul. It must have happened over those four and a half months that I walked with her, slept next to her, and found my “clan.” The dusty desert must have seeped into my pores. The high mountain air entered my blood through my lungs. The deep shade of tall firs colored my perception of life.
From the age of 17, I dreamed that I would one day walk her entire length, from Mexico to Canada. And in the time between April 20th and September 4th of 2009, I was able to realize that dream. But during that time, so fully engaged in every single second of each waking day, I did not imagine I would walk with her
again.
The following summer, the Continental Divide Trail beckoned. I answered. This time with a companion. Tim. We had only been dating for a month and a half when I asked him if he would be interested in joining me for
a hike. He agreed, and ~2,700 vivid miles, and some months later, he asked me to marry him. I said yes.
The summer of 2011 found us busy with wedding preparations.
The winter of 2011/12 finds us busy with hike preparations.
We plan to start a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest trail on April 24th 2012, our 7 month wedding anniversary.
We will apply for our permits today.
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