The Mary Badass

As much as I enjoyed the ferry from Juneau to Glacier Bay, the best part of it was meeting a woman named Steph. She had come to Alaska to crew for a friend of hers who was attempting to run the 414 mile Dalton Highway with the fastest known time. (Steph’s friend, Jenny, did succeed,…

I spent a lot of my life in fear and worry. I worried what other people thought about me, about having enough food and money, and having a place to live with my son. I never felt good enough and while I seldom showed it, I was afraid of almost everything. I can see it…

After finishing the Pacific Northwest Trail, Kelly, who had been helping me with resupply and providing rides to towns, drove me to Kindabird and SOS’s house where I was able to shower and wash my clothes. The next day we drove to Bellingham. Kelly went on her way while I stayed a week with MaryAnn…

People often ask me why I do what I do. There are many reasons for that. I’ll touch on a few of them here. For starters, I have the kind of body which thrives with physical exercise. Having exercise induced endorphins pump through my brain every day helps me feel better, and the constant walking…

I think it’s universal that most, if not all people, want to be recognized in some manner. Sometimes, especially in abusive situations, people try to be invisible. But in my experience, even these people crave safe recognition. Reflecting on this got me thinking how every person matters in some way. It also reminded me that…

Since I had gotten to Yellow Banks Camp, I knew I could make it to the end of the PNT on that fourth day on the beach. I had a few headlands with tidal restrictions to get around, but I had plenty of time to make them even though the walking continued to be slow,…

While hiking the coast of Washington, I had an experience that has changed me in profound ways. I spent a night camped at what is known as the Chilean Memorial. It is where the eighteen people who died when the schooner W. J. Pirrie wrecked in November of 1920 were originally buried. I don’t usually…

After leaving the kindness of Kindabird (Rosie) and SOS (Steven), I felt refreshed and ready for my final stretch on the Pacific Northwest Trail. I had what I assumed would be a four but possibly five day walk up the coast to Cape Alava, where the trail officially ends. This is the western-most point in…

Ever since I started the Pacific Northwest Trail last year, it seems part of me has been thinking ahead to when the trail might feel easier. Glacier National Park, where I the began the trail, and the area just west of that was difficult last year because there was still quite a bit of snow.…

The first thing I want to say is plenty of people do what I did without being scared. But the six hikers I encountered the day I went from Moose Lake to Dose Meadows all told me they had been terrified. None of them, including the group of four men, had been able to do…