The Mary Badass

Finally about three in the morning my headache dissipated. I got a little better sleep after that, but the sun is up here by about six and it’s dark by seven PM so I didn’t sleep for long. I wanted to get an early start to be able to reach the next water camp spot…

I stayed the night of the 20th in a camper with my friend who then dropped me off in Sierra Vista. There I met a trail angel who drove me to the closest place I could access the trail. We couldn’t go to the normal starting place because the road was under construction, so I…

Thanks to Mary Badass I had a new experience today. I had an interaction with someone who had been upset with me. I did my best to explain the meaning of my words and I told them I was open to hearing whatever they wanted to tell me. In fact I welcomed hearing from them…

As promised, here are more of my pre trip ponderings inspired by Vermont’s muddy roads. As I drove home on those potholed filled roads I could not help but think about the importance of a good foundation. Each year when spring arises certain sections of Vermont’s dirt roads become almost impassable. Local road crews come…

Before I left Vermont, mud season had once again turned the dirt roads to a morass of ruts, potholes and sucking mud that could grab and hold a car in place. Add to the top of this a spring snowstorm with a layer of ice underneath and the roads become almost impossible to navigate. These…

It has been a long while since I have posted anything here. During that time I have been on many journeys, both internal and external. Some experiences have been filled with joy. Others have been excruciatingly painful. But all have been a blessing in their own way and have brought me to a place I…

I get asked a lot if I get lonely hiking by myself. The answer is “of course I do.” But the truth is I have felt lonely for most of my life. I was lonely growing up in an abusive family. I was lonely all through school where I was often teased. And I was…

I like it when I know where I am headed in life. Having some idea of how the following day will be structured gives me a sense of security when I go to bed at night. As someone who has spent much of her life self-employed, I like creating some structure for myself to keep…

I have seen a surprising amount of wildlife on the NET in Connecticut. I often see hawks soaring along the cliff edges. Every day I see deer bounding through the woods. Probably as a result of this, I have also seen a few tiny deer ticks crawling up my arm or leg. I hope one…

The NET crosses a lot of private land. When it became a National Scenic Trail some people stopped letting the trail cross their property. They were afraid of what government involvement might mean for them as private landowners. Other people were fine with the change and some even welcomed having hikers cross their property. I…