There’s a saying around the Long Distant Hiking community. As a Thru-Hiker, you may choose to hike one trail or all three. But no one hikes only two! This has been my dilemma for the past two years. PCT was finished over a five month period in 2015. The AT was a two- year period from April 2022 through September 2023, not by chose, but by circumstances.

So now I’m left with the CDT. The jewel of the Triple Crown. It has been the elusive one. The trail that takes a bit more planning and close to six months to complete. One foot in front of the other for days on end. That sounds miserable, many of my friends and acquaintances say. How or a better question, why on God’s green earth would you want to do that?

Sometimes the answer to a question isn’t that simple. Honestly, this has been the dream since I finished the PCT. Prior to that trek, I never even knew what or where the AT or CDT were. But once I knew, it was embedded in my soul. All I could think about was hiking from Point A to Point B, knowing that God was with me every step of the way.

Thinking back on the PCT, it was a wild idea. The book “Wild” had become a New York Times Best Seller. Then it became a movie in 2014, just as I chose to embark on this journey. Hikers came out in droves to retrace the steps of Cheryl Strayed and Reese Witherspoon.

I pulled my permit in 2015, the first year that the quota was initiated. Fifty hikers a day were allowed on trail, and for good reason. The strip of dirt was overpopulated and peace, tranquility and solitude was surely, long gone. With over 4600 permits issued that year, I secured my spot and made reservations at Scout and Frodo’s in San Diego.

Scout and Frodo were the model Trail Angels, as well as previous PCT hikers themselves. They dedicated their home to many thru hiker wanna-bees who came from near and far. They offered rides from the airport, dinner, breakfast and a one-way trip to the Southern Terminus at o’dark thirty.

Looking back on my first day, I was a nervous Nilly! I had no experience in long distant hiking besides JMT and other hundred mile treks. But 2650 miles was the goal. What an adventure that was and here I am again, getting ready to finish this up!

CDT is an interesting beast. It is the longest trail with over 3100 miles of high mountains ranges, ridge-lines, glaciers, National Parks, over 100 river crossings just on the Gila and countless bears, lions and larger than life mammals. No wonder my family is questioning my decision to hike this incredibly beautiful space.

So with some trepidation, I am heading south from Chief Mountain and aiming towards Crazy Cook Monument. God willing and the creek don’t rise, I should be kissing the Southern Terminus prior to Thanksgiving.

So in a nut shell, why do I have this burning desire to hike the CDT? Honestly, I believe it was preordained, planned before I was even born. The good Lord had given me a passion that can’t be extinguished, and a desire to live life as His servant. With every breath I take, He will be glorified! That is my reason, my purpose and my destiny. Now all I need to do is obey.