Can it get any better? When I left Sonora Pass, many thru-hikers had jumped ahead due to a fire near Markleeville. Fortunately, the fire was moving away from the trail, and I had the green light to carry on. God has been keeping such a watchful eye over this journey and protecting me daily. 

  Sonora Pass is a magical place. It is unlike any other area that I have hiked! I have never been to Bryce or Zion but from pictures I have seen, this section of the PCT is much like it. There is an obvious influence from volcanic activity of yesteryear. The mountains are so colorful at every turn. As I crested the peaks, I could see the Sierra’s in the background and this extreme environment ahead. It was truly the most beautiful section that I have trekked, to date, on the Pacific Crest Trail.

  I was honored to have my friend Mary join me on this section. She is an avid hiker and up to the challenge of hiking 15-20 miles a day! We experienced every emotion from joy, peace and solitude to pain, suffering and exhaustion during this leg. Neither one of us had any idea what God had planned for us!

  Honestly, I felt like Jesus’ bride walking through His perfectly colorful and fragment garden. The wild flowers were in full bloom with every color of the rainbow represented. From the orange and red tiger lilies to the deep purple lupine to bluest columbine to white and yellow mariposa lilies, and so many other brilliant arrays of garden flowers. There were fields of mule ears  that extended as far as the eye could see. Natures toilet paper, soft on the bottom and biodegradable! 

 I believe that God had orchestrated this master plan that I was right where He wanted me and this was the confirmation. Every moment I could see his workmanship, from the lack of smoke in the air from the fire that was burning a few miles away, to the most intense sunrise and sunsets that I had ever witnessed. God had painted a perfect view of his love and grace and I was in the midst of it all!

  During these past weeks, I crossed another milestone of sorts. Entering Desolation Wildrness, one of my many stomping grounds, I hit the 1,100 mile marker of the trail. It’s not quite half way but it is one of the places that I return to year after year and have questioned many thru-hikers about their adventure. Now as I trek through this place, many prospective hikers are asking me questions about my journey. It is quite interesting to be on the receiving end of questions like “are you hiking solo”, do you carry a tent”, “aren’t you afraid”, “when will you finish”,… I love sharing my story with others and get a kick out of their shock when I tell them yes, I am hiking solo; Yes, I have a shelter and highly recommend one; no, I am not afraid because I have the Lords protection; and I plan to be in Canada by mid-September, 160 days after I started. 

  So what did I learn during this past section? God showed me patience. He made me more aware of everything He created for me. He brought me friends to hike with that would teach me to slow down just a bit so that I wouldn’t miss all his blessings. He made me focus on Him so that I could be more aware of how truly powerful God is. I witnessed his tender side as I took time to smell the flowers, and when I laid in my tent at night, I kept the door open so I could see the sunsets and sunrises in all their glory. The little things are so important and sometimes I don’t take time to really take it all in. Yes, I need to be to Canada before winter sets in but more important than the destination is how I get there! Thank you God for teaching me patience through your beautiful creation and sharing the power of my friends who helped me along the way. 

  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:11-12

As per my Brit Guide, this section is the toughest route of the entire PCT. Seriously? I thought the highest passes would be the hardest. So off I went, a bit skeptical but up for the challenge. I had a zero day and was definitely rested. My good friends Judi and Dee sent me off in fashion, turkey sandwich and good company. My personal trail angels Eva & Keith had done everything and anything a thru-hiker could ask for, washed my clothes, fed me, massaged my feet and provided me all the comforts that one cannot find in the wilderness. 
Back on the trail, I was in Tuolumne Meadows! How much better does it get than that? Lush green grasses, deer grazing, bear forging on twinkies, and men fly fishing! As I meandered down the trail, I remembered traveling this trail a few years prior. All of a sudden, it came back to me. This is a super crazy steep section of trail! No switchbacks, just straight up and knee breaking downhills! But beautiful waterfalls and scenery that reminds me that I am in some kind of special place!

  With good, comes better! I love this part of the PCT. It truly is God’s masterpiece! How much better can one place be? It has everything from meadows, grasslands, granite rock faces, abundant water cascades to unruly bears, prairie dogs and mosquitoes that have terrible manners! Okay so the critters are literally out of control! You are required to carry heavy canisters that keep critters large and small away from your food! And if you dare to question authority, well the price is $150 for non-compliance! I carried a bear canister and did not risk the fine! Most of us did as we were told. 

  
As I covered the 76 miles in four days, I often asked myself, “what’s your hurry?” The difference between a backpacker and thru-hiker is the miles you pack in , day in and day out. I typically wake up at the crack of dawn, 5-530am, hit the trail no later than 630-7am and hike for 11-12 hours a day. Sometimes I don’t get into camp till 730-830pm, build my house, fetch water, dehydrate something yummy for dinner-not, make my bed which includes inflating my mattress, rolling out my sleeping bag, wiping myself down with towelettes because the water is either too cold or its too late to take a bath in the prestine River or frozen lake, eat my scrumptious dinner, journal, pack my lunch for tomorrow, determine what’s for breakfast and finally hit the sack at 9-930pm (hiker midnight). Then up the next morning to work, another 18-22 miles. Yep, the joys of hiking daily. Is it fun? Well, it’s more like a job but it has rewards that money can’t buy! 

  
Yes, I truly love my life on the trail! God has opened my eyes to things that He can see. As I was sitting on the shore of Wilma Lake, rainbow trout were jumping out of the water like they were Dolphins on display like a Sea World follies ! If only I had a frying pan to catch them in, I would have cooked them up to order! Love fresh fish! But they were safe as I have no fishing license, let alone a line or lure to bring them in. But there were others, much smarter than I, who were eating some delicious lunch on the lake!

  
As I hiked this section, I met a beautiful woman named Dos. She had hiked the Appalachian Trail two times prior and was well on her way to add the Pacific Crest Trail. She had just finished the Florida Trail and I was amazed by this gal. She is my age but looks like a teenager! We spent four days sharing our love for the trail and God was once again, showing me I was right where He needed me to be! 

  
On my final day of this section, I had managed to somehow keep pace with all the youngsters of the trail. Barista, Full Roll, Easy Over and others who started with me and we all ended at Sonira Pass within an hour of each other! As I was nearing Sonora Pass, Mom and Dad were waiting for me, on the trail! They had sandwiches, potato salad, chips and the all important beer! Oh life is good! The last couple of days, I have been spoiled by bubble baths, manicure and pedicure along with getting my hair deep conditioned and colored. Gotta look good on the trail. 

  As I return to the trail today, there has been a fire threatening a trail closure. I had considered jumping ahead but really did not want to miss this section from Sonora Pass to Echo Summit. With the help of my dear friends Janice and Bertha, they committed to drive me to the trailhead with my hiking buddy Mary. Please pray for the firefighters who are working tirelessly to protect the homes in Markleeville and this beautiful landscape! 

 So what have I learned this past week?  God will be there if we take the opportunity to find Him. He has opened my eyes to nature, both big and small. To the waterfalls and the mountain springs, to the lakes and ponds, wading through the creeks and rivers and all the glorious trees, bushes and shrubs. My ears hear all the quiet chirps of birds to the loud cries of warning sounds from woodpeckers and quails. He has opened my nose to the distinct smells of the conifers to the recent cut down trees that had blocked the trail. And God has opened my heart to all that I meet on the trail! I had an encounter with a hiker who stated to me, ” if I had met you a few years ago, I would’ve never talked to you!” God knew I would meet this hiker at this time, at this place and where we would both be open to one another! Thank you Jesus for designing me, refining me and developing me into the woman who you desperately wanted me to become. And for being ever-so-patient! 
 Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10

I have arrived to the land of milk and honey. When the Isrealites left captivity and were guuded to the promise land, this is what i have been experiencing these past weeks. My breath has been taken away, not from the lack of oxygen at 12000′ (yet it could have a small part in it) but from the beauty at every turn!

    
My friend Atsuko has joined me and is sharing this amazing trail with me for the next 150 miles. I have so enjoyed her company and having someone who is just as overjoyed to see Gods handiwork as me. Leaving Kennedy Meadows we encountered our first water source, the mighty Kern River. It is so powerful yet there are tubs that you can soak in and wash away your cares. I found a natural jacuzzi with bubbles and a perfect seat to rest in while my body was massaged from head to toe

 Everyday has been a journey of getting deeper in my relationship with Jesus. He has given me this enormous strength to get over tall mountains and cover long distances. As I headed north, it became apparent that the altitude was not the only obstacle but the weather was quite unpredictable! Daily we had snow flurries, mostly in the afternoon, which is a blessing compared to rain. Our first task was getting over Forester Pass 13118′ which is the highest point on the PCT. We went to sleep with snow on the ground, and woke to frost on our tents and very cold temperatures  This amounted to a perfect ascent day as we stayed cool and never overheated! The climb was gradual until the last false summit. Then we truly had to dig deep to get to the top. I am deathly afraid of heights so when we came around the last bend and the trail was blocked with a snowy cornice, I was ready to head back to the desert! Atsuko, my trail partner and super hero, plowed her way over a boulder field and guided me safely to the top. 

  Needless to say, God was with us every step of the way. Once over the tallest and most technical pass, we had snow fields that obliviated the trail. Fortunately there were many foot prints that guided our route and with the help of micro spikes, we made it slowly off the mountain. It snowed again that afternoon as we arrived in camp, cold and wet.

   Most thru-hikers resupply by exiting the Sierra’s by way of Kearsarge Pass. It takes you down to Onion Valley, off trail seven miles with a 4000′ descent. Atsuko’s husband Curt and friend Steve volunteered to resupply us. They made the ascent up Kearsarge Pass and met us at Kearsarge Lakes with all the food we needed for the next 100 miles. Needless to say, we were the envy of all the thru-hikers! I asked if they would be willing to be our Sherpas all the way to Canada? I’m still waiting for a reply but it’s not looking hopeful.

 Loaded with ten pounds or more of food but very grateful for our provisions,  we slowly trudged towards Glen Pass 11946′. We had been warned that this pass was, let’s just say, a bit sketchy. With the recent snowfall, the north facing slope was covered in snow. The approach was arduous but just place one foot in front of the other and you do make progress. As we stopped for one of our many breaks, we heard what sounded like thunder. Never a welcome sound as you reach a summit! As I looked to the east, I could see dust building as this gigantic rock fall had been activated. We watched in awe as boulders the size of cars were tumbling down the steepest slope towards a huge boulder field below us. Once again, we were protected as we were safely on the opposing slope observing this force of nature. After a good minute or two. the dust settled, the earth stopped shaking, and we carried on to the top of the pass.

 Prayer is a mighty and powerful thing! I am rest assured that I do not have to do this alone, but as I was flubbing my way down this mountain of snow and ice, I know Jesus was with me every step of the way. Not a scratch or a twisted ankle came my way and before I knew it, Atsuko and I were back on solid ground looking over the Rae Lakes basin.  If you have never been here, know that there is not another area so beautiful as this with the magestic mountains in every direction, the beautiful meadows that adorn this place, the crystal clear waters that house trout swimming in all directions, and the curious critters, marmots, chipmunks and picas looking for their next tasty morsel of grass, pine nut or occasional scrap left behind by a hiker. It is definitely heaven on earth. 
During the next week, we summited a peak a day. Pinchot Pass 12142′,  Mather Pass 12000′, Muir Pass 11789′ with snow on both north and south faces for a total of three miles, Seldon Pass 11898′ and finally Silver Pass 10910′. Each one had its own set of obstacles and rewards but as we continued north, I knew the awesome mountain scales were just a memory. I am definitely without a doubt a true sucker for tall mountains! There is something to behold when you are atop a wondrous force of nature, that allows you to lose your breath by the sheer magic of its’ beauty! Mountains make my heart beat like nothing else! One of God’s best creations, in my eyes, are the mountains that surround this trail. 

  As I bidded farewell to my friend Atsuko, I was back in my element of listening and meditating more with the Lord. When I left Reds Meadow, I had the option to take the direct PCT route or the revered JMT route that has much more elevation but has amazing access to lakes, rivers & waterfalls. So of course, JMT won out! As I left Reds Meadow in the morning, I met a nice hiker named Noah who just wanted to talk. Being the trail ambassador, I obliged and we shared many hiker stories. I moved on and met a young gal on the trail who was overwhelmed with all the trail was dishing out. I stopped and offered her a hug and shared some of my insight of the trail and we both laughed and carried on. God was everywhere from the people I met to the amazing beauty. As I was headed up to Garnet Lake, there were these color prisms that were reflecting off the clouds. I had never seen anything so spectacular that I shared it with others on the trail. They had not even looked up to see this Godly phenomenon. 

  My final day as I hiked into Tuolumne was sheer delight. It was day 18 without a zero day! I was totally exhausted but with the helping hand of Jesus, somehow, someway I made it up and over Donahue Pass and safely arrived at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge for beer and potato chips! Then my dear friends, Judi and Dee arrived with peaches, oranges and more beer! They know me, oh so well.

  So what did I learn from these past weeks? So much! But what God kept putting on my heart was community. He has introduced me to an amazing group of believers on the trail. Hikers I can pray with, share my heart with and love like family. I realized that wherever you are, in your neighborhood, outside your front door, at work or church, in your yoga studio or on the trail, there is always a place for us to share love and receive love. My community on the trail is young and old, likeminded and not, but what we all have in common is we love nature. We know that something great happens when we experience a place that is so remote, somewhat  inhabitable yet we still venture out and take a chance, knowing that we are never truly alone. God protects us and brings us together. He knew we would need each other and He also knew, we would be there at this moment! I just love that about our Lord. He has ordained every day of our lives and has placed people into our path. It’s our responsibility to make the most of each encounter and to be Godlike. I am thoroughly embracing my new position as a trail ambassador. Smile at everyone you meet, take every opportunity to help others and shine Gods love! Easy Peasy…can’t wait for what’s next. 

  The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in the sun-scorched lands and will strengthen your frame. He will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

I have officially completed the first section of the PCT, 702 miles of desert. It took me 50 days to hike from Campos to Kennedy Meadows but it seems like a lifetime when I look back and realize how many steps I have taken, the mountain tops I have conquered, the countless cacti and lizards I’ve communed with and the numerous friendships I have made.           

Leaving Tehachapi was bittersweet. My incredible husband and best friend George, along with my amazing dog wonder Zack, visited me and whisked me away to Las Vegas. George’s brother Sergio and my aunts and uncles Darle and Gerry, Gil and Ronnie all live there. What a memorable time we had together with our family but especially Sergio. He was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and thank God, we were able to spend three days with him, listening to stories of his life before coming to America, bowling a perfect game of 300, looking at his collection of minted coins, reminiscing of his lifetime hopes and dreams, but most special to my heart was his love for Jesus Christ! For the past ten years, he collected food from local stores & markets for the homeless and needy, then delivered and handed it out at his church daily! He had such a servants heart and I was so blessed by hearing his love for the community and the people that God so loves.  Sergio went to be with our Father in heaven while I was hiking my final miles in the desert. I will always remember that morning as one of the most peaceful days on the trail. The birds were just waking, the sun started to appear and the dew on the desert schrubbery was ever so present. I was speaking to God not knowing the fate of Sergio but I did ask if he was with our Lord, to help me finish these last miles with strength and fortitude. And I did finish injury free and quite strong!   

These last miles in the desert were a great reminder of the trail in its entirety. The day I left Tehachapi was the epic climb. All the hikers were talking about leaving early trying to beat the heat while giving themselves plenty of time to get up the pass. So in perfect disbelief, I left at 11am. Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. But the wind, now that was a different story! Have you ever tried climbing a trail but the wind is blowing in your face so hard that you literally are standing still? Or better yet, you are walking uphill and you get a force of wind that hits your back so unexpectantly that it actually pushes you to the ground? Just imagine that for your first day back on the trail in five days. Oh the joys of a thru-hiker. And the power of our mighty God! 
   
Fortunately the wind did not last and finally I was able to have the true experience of hiking in the desert. The tempatures rose to the nineties, the water was nowhere to be found, along with the obvious fact that it was bloody hot and I was incredibly thirsty! We had a section of trail that was predicted to be waterless for over 40 miles. So what do you do? You carry as much water as you possible can and your pack is much heavier than it should be. But this is the wonderous PCT which means incredible trail magic is about to occur. A young thru- hiker Shutterbug’s dad, who I named Nomad Maxx, has been following his son along the trail. Any hiker who is in the bubble that surrounds Shutterbug which includes myself, is privy to the gallons of water that Nomad Maxx is providing. Needless to say, he has single handedly saved hikers from unbearable thirst, possible dehydration and certain death! Well maybe not death, but definite passing out. Along with water, he leaves the most juicy & crunchy apples along the trail with an occasional treat for me (Lindor chocolate) melted but tasty just the same! 

 
Outside the heat and waterless stretches, I have embraced all this glorious desert. The beauty as they say is in the eyes of the beholder. But anyone who has experienced a sunrise from the desert floor or a sunset on top of a ridgeline understands what I speak of. I had many times I was stopped in my footsteps just to admire the scenery. When I think that God first created this with His mere breath, when He spoke “let there be light and there was light” just boggles my mind. The fact that He created this beautiful and inspiring magesty for us to experience, to live and explore, seems a tragedy not to be walking through! When I lay in my tent and gaze up to the stars and He knows everyone of them by name, countless and numerous stars and galaxies that are still being created, it’s no wonder there are so many people hitting the trails.  

 As I finished my last few steps in this desert section, I think of Gods mighty strength and love for all of His creation. My lesson learned this week is the most important of all and that is faith. Just as I sit in my tent and write this I think of the fact that God always provides! When I was tired and knocked down by the wind, He picked me up and carried me to my next destination, appropriately just outside the Wind Farm. When I was wondering how I was going to carry enough water for two plus day of hiking, he brought Nomad Maxx with a carload of water! When I was on my last breath and wasn’t sure how much more I could travel, He painted the most inspiring sunset which made me forget how much my feet just wanted to rest. And near the end of the desert, this amazing couple Chief and Chief’s wife set up their trailer and provided foot baths for all the weary hikers that came hobbling in! Why does God do this? So we know Him and trust in Him and realize that we do not have to do it alone! With faith, all things are truly possible including hiking 702 miles in the desert!    

“I know what it is like to be in need and I know what it is like to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every or any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything in Him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:12-13

  
A final note. I am now entering “The Sierras” and there will be no internet for possibly two to three weeks! Therefore my blog will be on hold till I search out a connection. I would love for you to pray for the safety of myself and my many trail companions as we attack the numerous high elevated passes. There has been many late storms as of May and much needed accumulation of snow. It will truly be an experience of a lifetime and know that God will protect and provide. Godspeed and keep the faith! 

Slow and easy, that’s what this section has been. I left Hikertown at 10am which is slug time for a thru-hiker. Never ever would you get on the trail later than 6 or 7am, but it was a flat walk across the desert following the aqaduct for miles. Welcome to road walking. I find it harder to walk roads than to hike up and down mountains. I’m not sure why? The monougtany of seeing the same thing for miles or not seeing the trail meander, can kill you with boredom! But once you let your guard down, is when God gets your attention. We were 6-8 miles into our hike when we saw her. A Mojave Green Snake! She was apparently dead being she didn’t hiss or move. We cautiously went up to her as she layed still on the roadway. I had never seen a Mojave Green before, just heard of their deadly venom. It was actually sad, seeing her motionless. My trail friends Treeman and Hedgehog were with me and I could tell Hedgehog was quite upset about it. She bent over & moved the snake off the roadway, laying her in the desert as to provide her a proper burial. 

    
During these past 40 days on the trail, I have had a chance to truly witness God’s smallest of creatures in action. Ants are fascinating how they are so organized and are able to burrow through rock solid dirt and somehow turn it into fine sand. I watched as an ant carried a fellow dead ant on his back, as if he was returning him home. Beetles are funny solitary bugs. You never see them together! They just walk across the trail with their butts in the air and their head scraping across the ground. They remind me of thru-hikers. We are basically solitary, leaning over with our eyes on the trail and a big shell on our backside!

  
Then there are the lizards. It seems that the smaller they are, the faster they run. I see them lounging on rocks, basking in the sun, watching over their kingdom, and doing push-ups as if they are preparing for battle. They do like to chase each other, and there are many variety of lizards out here. There are moles and squirrels, chipmunks and skunks and the beautiful and noisy birds. I believe I am falling in love with all of God’s creatures, big and small.

  
I am getting close to finishing the first of five sections of the PCT, 702 miles of desert, Campo to Kennedy Meadows. I was so concerned about this desert section, that it was going to be too hot, too flat, too much desert, but it has been an amazing and beautiful place. I will always remember it as my beginning, my baby steps that are building my foundation for the Sierras which lay ahead. I truly have been in awe of this vast and ever-changing place, and thank God for bringing me here, teaching me to love and accept this wonderous creation that His son wandered through for forty days. I do believe my relationship with our creator has been strengthening during my walk in the desert, and this will help guide me towards Canada. 

Less than 150 miles before I arrive at Kennedy Meadows and venture out into my beloved Sierras. So what have I learned during this past week? Take it slow & easy, and be present in every situation, every moment and every step. God has given me this time to feel his presence, to see his creation, to smell every scent along the way, to hear each bird chirp and to love all that God loves! I will forever cherish my first forty days in the wilderness, with all the highs and lows, and all the lessons I have learned. Thank you Lord for being with me through it all and loving me enough to show me who you truly are! 

  
“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir

So much has happened since Wrightwood. This is the first internet connection I have had in over a week! I think I’m entering the place I truly want to be. While I was hunkering down in Wrightwood waiting for another storm to pass, my wonderful friends Judi, Bertha and Cherryl wined and dined me. I felt like a pampered princess with foot massages, facial masks, fresh food galore and some of my favorite wine! I never expected such treasures to occur on this journey and to have friends visit me and spoil me, is such an added gift. Thanks girls!

   
After the storm, I headed out of Wrightwood and the first day was a climb up Baden Powell.  With the fresh snow, it made for an interesting trek. The snow was light but quite slushy, but with trail runners and light socks, I had very wet feet. Burr! But oh boy, the forest was incredibly beautiful with the snowflakes and fairly clear skies. On top of Baden Powell, I was looking down on the clouds, almost like heaven above earth. It was spectacular. Words cannot describe the vista from up above, mountain scape 360 degrees with fog rolling in below and birds flying above. Nothing but Gods glory shined on me!
   
These past miles were interesting with the ever changing landscape. We started high atop the mountains and followed the Angeles Crest Highway for miles. I passed the 400 then 500 mile marks, more milestones along the trail. I had many things to keep my attention on the trail like the notorious poodle dog bush, the evil nemesis of the trail. It smells like a combination of eucalyptus and marijuana but has a reputation of sending people off trail to the ER. It can cause blisters and inhalation issues if you touch the stuff. There are sections of the trail that have been closed due to this terrible bush but thanks to the PCT Gorillas, they spent many months trying to remove this stuff from the trail. One caution, it grows back and don’t smoke it! Some crazy hikers who thought it was marijuana attempted to pick and smoke it with horredous results! 
   
I had some incredibly long trail days trying to knock off the miles but in the end, I realized that my body is adapting to the trail and 20 mile days is quite doable. It also helps that I am motivated by my stomach knowing the faster I hike, the sooner I can get to real food! God has given me strength to stay focused and strong, however still have time to appreciate what He has created. 

    
Diversity during these past weeks has been a theme. As I leave the forest, and see the approaching desert, somehow the two still enter mingle. There are cactus flowers that show up among the forest, desert in the distance, oak trees with lots of poison oak, sandstone slicing through the ground, and so much beauty in every direction. 

  
Storms have been a common theme since Idyllwild. It seems that winter has arrived a bit late this year. As I left Aqua Dulce, another cold front hit with a vengeance. As I attempted to climb up and over the mountain time and time again, the wind was blowing at 30-40 mph and then the sideways rain pelted me! I finally had enough, found a ravine and waited it out. Full roll, a wonderful young man, stopped during the downpour and tightened my tent so I wouldn’t blow away! Hiker trash amazes me with their kindness and how they take care of each other. 

  
Now that I am defrosted and sitting in the confines of Hikertown USA, I have so much to be thankful for! The lessons I learned this past week is that God will always provide. When it was snowing outside, my friends came and reserved me a room. When my water ran dry, there was a mountain spring flowing across the trail. When I heard that my dog Zack was not doing well and had my first cry on the trail, a very caring young boy offered me a hug for free! When the rain turned from sideways rain to freezing rain, God stopped it long enough for me to set up my tent, get my wet clothes off and slide inside my nice warm sleeping bag. And as I was warming up, the skies opened up and what a downpour it was! But I was safely cocooned in my Six Moons Lunar Solo tent. I love that tent. And lastly, as I walked down the mountain, my beautiful trail friend Bear Bait was waiting for me with a lovely smile. 

  
But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore I may boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

I’m back in my hometown of Wrightwood. In the 80’s, this was my stomping grounds. My son Billy went to kindergarten here, both my children learned to ski and this was the place that I entered my career with the State of California. Very fond memories and entering the San Bernardino mountains has been one of the highlights of my hike to this date. 

  
As I left Big Bear, the PCT followed the north rim of the lake. It reminded me much of the Tahoe Rim Trail looking down on the water below. It was stunning and a beautiful backdrop before heading into Holcomb Valley. Just a bit of nostalgia, Holcomb Valley was known to produce the largest find of gold in Southern California. 

  
The trail has been good to me this past week. I entered the area of much water, Holcomb Creek, Dry Creek and the Mojave River. Long went the days of carrying liters upon liters of water as the creeks and rivers were flowing. What I wasn’t expecting was the barren landscape due to the past fires. 

  
As I past through this area, God spoke to me in such a way that I will never look at a fire scarred area the same. He shared with me that when I accepted His son as my savior, my sins were washed away! Just like a fire that sweeps through the forest, all the old is removed, the rotted trees are devoured, the brokenness of the terrain is refined, the infestation of mold is radicated, and it is all made new again. Reborn! I could see the beauty of the new growth, the pine saplings that were pushing up through the earth, the tiniest flowers sprouting, the birds and bees returning to this once scarred area ready for renewal and rebirth. Only God can see the goodness in something that we find ruined, and accept what is truly beautiful in His eyes. 

I had so much time to reflect on Gods word, His kindness and love, how He has protected me during these past weeks. He showed me that balance in life occurs when He is the cornerstone, the centerpiece of our life. As I was nudged to take this photo, I only saw a pile of rocks but when I looked at my photo, it was so clear that there was a cross perfectly placed on the cornerstone of these boulders. God has to hit me over the head at times to get my attention, but this brought me to my knees! When I quiet myself, only then can I hear His voice and follow His lead. 

  
This has been a week of incredible blessings. I have found water easily, my strength has surpassed anything I could imagine, I have met new friends and seen old trail friends that I thought were far ahead, and God has brought me a super hero trail buddy to keep me company. Deborah who goes by “Doc” or as I call her “Running Bear” came into my campsite a few nights ago tired from hiking 20 plus miles. I told her she was welcome to share my tiny sand spit as I planned to cowboy camp, that’s camping without a tent! We hit it off and ends up she is a friend of Jules, my past hiking partner. We have hiked over 60 miles together in the past three days and we plan to head out of Wrightwood together. I love hiking in solitude, but I also enjoy sharing my adventure with a friend. The past couple of days we have managed to chase down a very large black bear, hike in 50 mph gusts without being blown off course, sleep in a den of scorpions for a very short time, five minutes to be exact, and share much laughter on the trail. 

  
So what have I learned this week? Quiet myself. In the midst of noise, pressures and daily humdrum, it is difficult to hear God’s voice. However, when I take time to stop and listen, I can hear God speaking to me ever so clearly. He wants to have a deeper relationship with me, more that I ever knew and I am so enjoying our time together! 

  
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Can I just start by saying, this past section kicked my butt! I’m not sure if it was the four days off I enjoyed or the fact that the tempature jumped to 100 degrees? But anyway you slice it, it was brutal!

  
We had a storm that brought fresh snow to the top of San Jacinto and all sensible hikers, yes there were others that were rescued, left Sunday morning. It started out fine but once I climbed, the trail turned to slush, snow and ice. I have never seen trees rain ice nor have I seen ice crystals on the ground, but it was an interesting combination of beauty, amazement and much route finding! And that was only the beginning.

  
The terrain changed so much over the 100 miles I covered from mountains to desert to bush whacking overgrown reeds and desert willows to pine forests to high desert chapperel. After climbing to over 9000′, I had the pleasure of enduring the biggest decent of the entire PCT. Some 8000′ in less than fifteen miles which isn’t that extreme, but the torment of seeing the desert floor all day, yet not reaching it till late afternoon. And to make things worse, I had my first rattlesnake encounter! As I was checking out this incredibly large and juicy lizard to the left of me, Mr. Snake was thinking dinner was only a strike away. Just as I turned the corner, I saw the snake and he saw me. I screamed, Mr. Snake rattled, and that juicy lizard got away! 

  
With all the ups and downs, I have had much time to reflect on God’s glory. When I have had my moments of desperation, God reminds me that we are in this together, that He will never leave me nor forsake me and He has plans for us to touch the hikers along our way.

  
Even in the desert, there are plenty of oasis’ along the way. My father had asked me when I was going to be at Whitewater? I honestly had no idea, nor did I remember reading about this preserve in the middle of nowhere. As I was stumbling down one of my many steep grades, I see this sign for Whitewater Preserve, 1/2 mile off trail in the opposite direction, south to be exact. Because of Dad, I wandered over to see what all the fuss was about. And wow, what a beautiful and unexpected oasis. I soaked my feet, slept on the grass and relaxed for the afternoon. Much needed rest from the desert heat!

  
What I have learned during these last hundred miles, is that we truly need each other. There is a community of people on the trail and even though I may spend much time walking alone, I always know there are others nearby. When someone needs a little encouragement, medical attention or just a smile, God has placed me right where He needs me! Last week, many people left the trail. Most of them had problems with the heat, some could not bare another day trekking on blistered feet and others may have wondered why they are on this blistering hot trail anyhow? I know that when I have a bad day or fleeting thoughts of sleeping on a comfy mattress, being clean from head to toe or just not suffering, I remember that I have a purpose to spread God’s love on the trail. And as long as I am able to do that, then I will continue to hike. I am sure that there will be more revealed as long as I am willing to complete the journey that My great Lord and I have begun.

” … It has not yet been revealed what we shall be … 1 john 3:2

Before I close, I want to thank all of you for your words of love, your warm thoughts and most especially – your prayers. I am able to read all the comments within a week or so but typically do not have service to respond. Godspeed and may we all continue to walk in God’s love. 

Oh no, she’s going back to the beginning. Every year, as the PCT season begins, there is the Annual Zero Day PCT Kick off or as a thru hiker calls it AZDPCTKO. 

My friend Eva picked me up from Idyllwild, and has been spoiling me all weekend with Sushi, Machaca and lots of love! Then Dee surprised and hooked up with Eva and I, and with the excellent driving skills of Keith, and the mediocre navigation of Siri, we all arrived at Lake Moreno!

  
The Kick Off has many ultralight vendors along with informative presentations on things like Water Report, or lack of, Overuse Injuries, Flora and Fauna of the PCT and don’t forget the smells of thru hikers! There is a reason they left the doors fully open during the presentations! 

  
But honestly, there were two distinct reasons why I had to attend the Kickoff this year. # 1 reason, I wanted my prestigious 2015 PCT Bandana and #2 was I had a small but significant issue with my tent. Last year when I purchased my very lightweight Six Moons tent, I had not yet purchased my one size 120cm hiking poles. Unfortunately for my tent, it does not fond of my too tall poles and has put too much stress on the tent. During a extremely windy situation at Sunrise Park which was day five on the trail, my tent tore! So as I explained my dilemma to the owner and designer of Six Moon tents, he graciously offers to exchange my torn tent with a new tent that accommodates my super long hiking poles! I love Six Moons and Tom. You guys absolutely rock. 

  
So bandana-check, new and improved tent- check, now I can just relax and see what other cool things might find their way into my pack. Gossamer had a couple of items that I was interested in. One thing I purchased last year was an extra storage pouch for my phone that attaches to my pack. My trail friend Jules, aka Breeze has been eyeing that so I was able to pick one up for her. In addition I found an ultralight trowel for digging. Yes, I do poop in the woods and my trowel was quite heavy so it’s all about saving ounces at this point and for $10, I saved 3.2 ounces! Also, they were selling this amazingly small bear canister, no, not to put a bear inside but to keep the bear out of my food! It weighs 1.4 pounds instead of 2.4 pounds and retails at $59.95 but being they were ready to pack up their stuff, I scored the display canister with cool stickers on it for $40. God was blessing me with more than I could imagine. What a day! 

  
So all in all, a super fabulous trip to the Kickoff including participating in my 2015 Class Picture! If you look closely I am wearing the only white jacket in the photo. Go figure, I stand out in the crowd! 

God’s graces are incredible. Ask and you shall a receive; new tent, lightweight trowel, cool bear proof canister, class picture and bandana, gift for my trail friend, but the greatest is the love of friends who travel many many miles to make me feel loved and extra special! Thanks to Eva and Keith for driving no less than a thousand miles to love on me! And Dee, can’t wait to see you on the trail with your new pack! Love is the number one commandment! And boy oh boy, did I get love this weekend! 😄

The adventure continues. Another 70 miles trekked and I am still standing! This last few days on the trail have been the most grueling so far. I’m not sure if it is the intense climbing, day after day or the lack of sleep is finally catching up after two weeks, but I had a tough couple of days of it. Without my trail friend “Breeze” I probably would not have been smiling as much but she is a riot! She flew in from New Zealand and entered the trail the same day as I did on April 10th. We hiked the first few days together, then I jumped ahead and we met again at Warner Springs. I call her “Breeze” because every time I see her, she is as welcome as a summer breeze. When the climbing gets tough, I hear her behind me laughing! She says it’s a nervous laugh because she knows she is in for some additional torment. It makes me smile knowing that someone else is suffering as bad as me. Don’t get me wrong, but its just the reality for this stretch of the PCT.

  
The desert terrain has changed a bit and is entering some higher elevation now. I must admit that I will miss this incredibly beautiful landscape that is so expansive. As I climb from one section to the next, I thank God that I am here. With every step, each breath and bead of sweat, I can’t help to marvel over how God has designed me. Just the mere thought of this overwhelms me and brings me closer to how truly amazing He is! What a great and wonderful God we have!

  
 As I head north, I am starting to enter the mountains of San Jacinto and San Gorgonia. For Southern California they are the big daddies and are still getting snow flurries and some light accumulation of snow as of last night. I am seeing more and more hikers on the trail the last couple of days as we are bottle necking waiting for a storm to pass over us. So what do hikers do when they are waiting out storms? Well a few of us were invited to Brie and Kellyn’s cabin for dinner and some wine. Yes, it is one of the perks that come along when a storm is brewing. 

But the trail is waiting and honestly, I am ready to jump back on. It’s funny that once you get into your groove, sitting around is truly much harder than hiking. I am treasuring my time relaxing with some new friends and catching up with others that I have met on the trail here in Idyllwild. What a charming town and glad I was able to clean up and eat something not dehydrated ! And of course, drink some beer! 

So what have I learned these past few days on the trail? God knows me better than I know myself. He knows that He has plans for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, but I need to conquer some mountains to get to the true riches of His kingdom. And with that, yes I may suffer a bit, but as long as I continue, there will be much growth in my character. And I will become the woman that He designed me to be!

  
We know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance grows character, and character gives us hope. Romans 5:3-5