Back on trail

Everything is so green

Its hard to walk away from someone with whom you spent every day and night of the last four months, hiked nearly 800 miles through the desert and snow, took a three week road trip across California and made some the best memories of your life with. Even harder when it is your husband. This is the very struggle I went through. Daddie Gizmo and I discussed the very real possibility of one of us sustaining an injury while hiking before we even left Dallas to begin the PCT. We agreed that if one was injured, the other should finish. When it came time to put this thought into practice it was much easier said than done. I am in love with the hiking lifestyle, the simplicity and peace it fills me with, the beauty I am constantly surrounded by and the camaraderie found on the trail. DG and I shared some of the best moments of our entire relationship while hiking this year and grew in ways I never expected, both individually and as a couple, a team. Last week we decided that I would go back to where I feel more at home and myself than I have in my entire adult life, to trail, and Rob would go to LA temporarily. He would work on buying a vehicle and I would continue north to Canada. Early morning on Friday we put our packs back on for the first time in a month and traveled the mile from our campsite to the bus stop in Mammoth. Here we would each board a separate bus. Rob would go south and I north to Reno. I opted to begin the trail again in Sierra City, skipping any snow. Our farewell at the bus stop was quick as we were both getting emotional about parting ways. A four hour bus ride and 90 minute drive from a trail angel later I was dropped off at the trailhead at 3. It only took as long as getting out of the car and sitting on the side of the road to put my hiking shoes on to begin to feel a deep sense of heart break that I was going back out without my partner. All the memories and feelings of what we have experienced together flooded me as I hiked that afternoon through tears. I know I am capable of completing the hike without him, but I had not expected to be so emotional about being apart. Not knowing when I would see him next made it even more difficult. I hiked five miles in that afternoon straight up the mountain and set up my tent where I had a wide view of the Northern Sierras and could watch the sunset while laying in my tent. As I lay there I felt so comfortable and at peace feeling the wind blow on me, watching the sky turn pink and listening to the chatter of birds. That didn’t alleviate the pain in my heart I felt being there without Rob.

Stunningly beautiful campsite

The next morning I was roused by a fierce wind that indicated it was time to get up and moving. On trail and climbing by 7:30 I was still missing Rob terribly. I am not usually the sappy one in our relationship and my overwhelming emotions were actually really surprising. I thought I would get out and be so happy, hike my heart out and call him in four days when I got to Quincy to say I was continuing north. That’s how I envisioned it, but the reality was as I hiked that morning I was beginning to doubt that I should continue north. I turned south to head off trail then north again as I struggled with what to do. Finally, I sat in the corner of a switchback looking over the valley and Sierra City.

Sitting in the corner of a switchback

Taking in the scenery as I hike off trail

I bawled and thought long and hard. An hour later I had made a decision to turn back, hitch back to Reno and somehow – by bus, flight or car – return to Rob and meet him in LA. I told the trail goodbye for now and that I love her so much but I want to come back to it it with Rob. I hiked very slow back to town, savoring the last moments on trail and stopping often to just soak in the quiet and scenery. This really is a beautiful part with how lush and green everything is. The mountains are covered in manzanita. I saw a massive deer ten feet from me munching on some grass before I popped back out on the road at 1:30. The way things fell into place from there made me believe I made the right decision. As soon as I got to the road a passing car offered me a ride for the mile into town. Within that time I mentioned I was going to Reno today and they replied that they are going to Truckee after eating some lunch and I am welcome to join them. Amazing! Truckee is an hour drive from Sierra City and only 30 minutes from Reno. I didn’t even have to hitchhike which was a great way to start the 491 mile journey to LA. We arrived in Truckee at 3 where things continued to go my way when I was able to hop on a 3:50 bus to Reno. While I waited for the bus I looked to see if I could get a flight that very evening to LA. With all stars aligning I booked a 6:40 flight from Reno that would have me in LA and in my husbands arms by 8:30. I couldn’t believe how all the pieces fell into place so effortlessly. I had fully expected to have to stay in Reno Saturday night and get back somehow Sunday or Monday. When I told Rob I was coming back he was really really surprised but very very happy. We are turning our PCT journey into a section hike now. We won’t be able to complete it this year, but with any luck we can get back out there together before the season changes. There is always next year..and now that we are living on the west coast (though currently homeless) it will be easy to go back. So now we choose the next step of our adventure and continue to make memories together.  Today we are looking for a place to rent for a month anywhere in the country that is out of the city. We want to cook, relax, rehab the knees and be connected to nature and each other. Life is good 😊