Trail Therapy: The Unfinishable Race

Deep in the mountains of Tennessee, there is a race where ultra running goes to die. In the 30 years of its existence, only 14 people have finished the Barkley 100. This year, the course spanned 20 miles which competitors were required to do five laps. There's a 60 hour window to complete the race. And not one person finished. The founder said it's man against mountain. And mountain surely won this year. One racer said "You don’t come here to be victorious. You come here to be humiliated."

It's an attempt at the impossible and the .01% finish rate only seems to draw more interest. Would you be up for the challenge?

Trail Therapy: Do it for Yourself and the World

No one walks up one morning after half a life of the day-to-day and decides to start walking.  Except maybe Forrest Gump...  But after dealing with the passing of a son and daughter, Steve Fugate decided to do just that.  Though he never planned on continuing after his first cross country walk or after his second, or third, the journey became a part of him.  His message?  Love Life!  And what a great message it is!

Tragedy, despair, desperation, heartache, and devastation exist in all of our lives.  Fugart's message is to look beyond the sadness and the dark tunnels of your lives and find the light.  There is an enormous amount of good in this world and there are people who love you.  Whether they are family, friends, or complete strangers, there is good and it is out there waiting for you to accept it.

Fugart's journey has led him to crossing the United States seven times and has totaled almost 34,000 miles.  His dedication to bringing light into people's lives is inspiring and we should all strive to be more like Steve.  Reach out to people.  Smile.  Say hello.  Tell someone you believe in them.  Tell a stranger to have a wonderful day.  Because you never know which person is at a breaking point in their lives.  You don't have to know their stories.  You don't have to know their names.  But extending the good in your heart out to others will good so far making yours and others lives' more fulfilling and rewarding.  So make that a resolution to yourself to be a good person and help others find their own light.  Love life: nothing simpler than that.

Trail Therapy: The Wilderness of Netflix

How I Met Your Mother, American Horror Story, The Office...  Netflix is a TV lovers dream come true.  You can watch classic shows, watch blockbusters like The Avengers to your heart's content, or find some neat Indie films.  And I couldn't be happier that I can re-watch The X-Files again.

But Netflix has become a wealth of new discoveries.  When was the last time you browsed the Documentary section?  There are some truly amazing works just waiting for you to watch them.  And if you are like me and love watching travel and adventure dicumentaries, than Netflix has some amazing picks for you!

My current favorite is Nature: River of No Return.  It's about a newlywed couple who decide to spend a year in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.  Issac has studied wolves for 13 years and he has decided to take his new wife into the forests and mountains that he loves so much for an adventure honeymoon beyond their wildest dreams.  While following the wolves they discover the amazing compassion of creatures, the survival of family, and the rebirth of burned land.

Not only is this film a fascinating view into the lives of wolves, but it is pure adventure.  Venturing into the wilderness for a weekend or a week is one thing.  Finding a new home for a whole year is purely incredible.  They have their problems: cold, wind, snow, mosquitoes.  But their time was exactly what they wanted; an exclusive opportunity to live in the wilds of Idaho and study a misjudged animal in its new home.

I know I would love to do something like this.  Live in the forests with nothing but my pack on my back.  Moving week to week to better and safer places.  Become, if only for a year, nomadic.  Where would I live for a year?  My first choice would be the North Cascades.  Second choice?  Grand Tetons.  What wilderness would you live in for a year, given the chance?

Trail Therapy: What's a Podcast?

Twitter.  Tumblr.  Instagram.  Snapchat.  Social media has come a very long way in an incredibly short amount of time.  It's intimidating to say the least and equally as difficult to stay up-to-date.  As part of the original class of Facebook (as it's entering it's 10 year anniversary) I'm happy to say that I've caught up with technology.  Being only 27 it was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be.  But as I pave the way into making a dent in the social media scene, I've discovered a technological marvel that, I feel, has been sadly overlooked.

With the same time stamp as Facebook, podcasts are an extraordinary social estuary of knowledge and entertainment.  Similar to talk radio, podcasts are recorded broadcasts of conversations, interviews, and musical selections, just to name a few.  Since I've begun listening to several of these amazing podcasts, I've started feeling more connected to the adventure society.  If you're into podcasts of the outdoor nature, you've probably already heard of The Dirtbag Diaries produced by Patagonia, one of the most popular out there.  Profoundly philosophical and exciting, these detailed vocal illustrations provide a wonderful drive to live as an adventurer and pursue the most fulfilling and soul-defining life possible.

One such podcast I recently began following is All Who Wander, a hiking/backpacking/camping podcast about the Appalachian Trail.  The first two podcasts followed a meet-and-greet session with growing AT legend and adventurer, Jennifer Pharr Davis, who holds the speed record on the trail.  She reads an except from her book, Becoming Oydessa.  Her profound message?  Just get out.  Sounds like what I say all the time. She states that one of the reasons she decided on a speed record attempt was to get her name out there.  Because she wanted to show children the amazing experiences of being on the trail and she didn't think she could make as big of an impact without an extraordinary title to back it up.  Well she got her wish and she's reaching larger audiences more than ever.

But this isn't a shout out for Davis, although I was inspired to buy and read her book.  This is about podcasts.  When you read an interview or an article, you aren't hearing the voices.  You aren't hearing the inflections, the jokes, the sarcasm as they were delivered.  We get to hear the truth in the words and by constantly checking Twitter, reading small articles suggested to us on internet searches, and exploring the world as fast as possible through minimized descriptions, we're losing integrity of the spoken voice.  Podcasts are a way of slowing down, realizing that the world holds a deeper meaning for our lives.  Take the time to listen to something profound and really live by the words you hear.  So check out this forgotten art of social media and let it open new doors for you, as it did for me.

Some of my favorite podcasts:  The Dirtbag Diaries, All Who Wander, The Backwoods Adventure, and Backpacking Light.

Trail Therapy: A Hike for the Cure!

On April 24, Megan Bullers will begin the long trek from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail.  The lengthy endeavor of 2,650 miles will take her four-to-five months to complete.  With her father as her inspiration, she's hiking to raise money and awareness of multiple sclerosis.  More than 2.5 million people suffer from this disease, including Bullers' father.  She is prepared to head out on this amazing journey with the love and support of her father's voice coaching her along the way.  So donate if you can and check out her video.  She's inspiring and I'm looking forward to keeping up with her throughout her journey.

Trail Therapy: The Votes are In!!!

 

National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year voting results are in and the winner is: Kilian Jornet!

Jornet is leading the field of sky running.  And for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a combination of trail running and mountaineering.  As NatGeo puts it, "He is... blurring the lines between trail running and technical climbing at record-shattering speeds."  Climbs that take professionals whole days to complete, takes Jornet mere hours.  His records have inspired a new genre of mountaineering, trail running, and racing in general. He broke the Matterhorn record in 2013 climbing and descending the 14,692 foot peak in 2 hours and 52 minutes!

Check out his acceptance video!  He's so genuine!

Trail Therapy: A Dream that Almost Wasn't

24-year-old Luke Weaver just finished a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail.  If you're paying attention to the date, he just finished in February; almost four months after a traditional finish.  And if you've been watching the news, the East Coast has had a pretty vicious winter.  So to have this accomplishment under his belt and to have finished in such amazing conditions, it's accurate to say that Weaver is a man of courage and dedication.

To the day, he still battles with constant staph infections in his leg and his AT dreams began in the hospital.  Amongst his numerous surgeries and talks of amputation, Weaver began planning a thru-hike to celebrate his success in fighting his infections.  He had been fever and symptoms free for two years and he was having high hopes for completing the trail.

Weaver's thru-hike is termed a flip-flop, meaning that you hike half the trail in one direction and then relocate and hike the other half of the trail in the opposite direction. Some people will start in the middle and hike north or south and then start again from the middle for the other direction.  Weaver did the other option, which is a start at one terminus and hiking halfway then moving to the other terminus and hiking back to the middle.  As long as the trail is completed in one calendar year it is considered an acceptable thru-hike.

Weaver will be battling medical setbacks probably all of his life, but he has proven that he will never let that stop him from seeking out and fulfilling his dreams.  His passion and dedication is a great motivator to everyone hoping to undertake any great adventure.

Luke's advice?  A furry companion and a ton of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Trail Therapy: Is Snowboarding Dying?

Marc Peruzzi, an author for Outside Magazine, released an article yesterday conveying a depressing message.  The snowboarding sport is dying... and the industry themselves might be the ones pulling the plug.  Peruzzi grew up skiing.  He learned from his parents and grandparents and has passed on the sport to his children.  He dabbled in snowboarding a few times, but the sport never drew him in.  Although he chose skiing over boarding, he never stopped fighting for the rebel sport's continued existence alongside it's purist cousin.

But why is the sport dying off?  For the same reason skateboarding is experiencing the same fate.  Snowboarding was invented in the heart of the Midwest and in Vermont and that legacy has dwindled down to a few elderly rugged men decked out in flannel.  The rest of the sport hangs on the industry's chosen target audience: teenagers.  Enter baggy pants, scraggly hair, large shirts, flat-brimmed hats, and a bad-boy image.  Although not trying to stereotype snowboarders, Peruzzi does have a point.  If you look at a catalog or a video of Burton athletes, you won't find anything that depicts a mainstream sport for the everyday winter adventurer.  Today, the image is being perpetuated by the new found popularity of the sport in the X-Games, Olympics, and icons like Shaun White.  But even those brought into the sport through this outlet have since retired and moved on to real jobs and real clothing.  Look at Shaun White today.  He's not the Flying Tomato anymore.

But again the problem isn't the athletes or the participants.  It's the industry.  Peruzzi says "Industrialized snowboarding hates diversity."  And it's true.  Burton stopped sending product information and media photos to Ski magazines, because it didn't want that kind of publicity.  Jeremy Jones wanted to market backcountry spiltboarding to the older snowboarding crowd to bring them back to a more stress-free, low-impact area of the sport.  What did the big brands do?  Gave him the proverbial middle finger.  That doesn't really say much for the CEOs' integrity of the sport they support.

The sport has some other fundamental drawbacks; like it's more dangerous than skiing and your more likely to get a concussion or break something.  This is one reason young adults are backing away from the sport: and pushing their children to ski rather than board.  The biggest reason people stay with the sport?  It's fun.  I've been snowboarding many times and although I fall more times than I ever had skiing, it's a rush.  If we can perpetuate that idea into the minds of the heads of marketing for the big snowboarding companies, the sport actually might stand a chance.  It might be time for a rejuvenation of this crazy sport.  or it might be time for it to die.

*It is my view that Marc Peruzzi may not have 100% credible knowledge of the snowboarding mindset, since he's not active in the sport and by indicating that skiing is a way of life is limiting the realities that snowboarding, for some, holds the same powerful life desires.  However, he has worked in the industry for many years and has most likely seen first hand the deterioration of the sport and its followers.  While dedicated snowboarders may find his words inaccurate, there may be truth behind them.  Sometimes we have to look past what we don't want to hear, to find the message that needs to be heard.

Trail Therapy: Blind Victory

Most of us couldn't begin to imagine a life without our eyesight.  I know personally I would give up my hearing before sight.  But a choice between the two is only hypothetical and the reality is that if either were to happen to us, it would not be voluntary.

For one man, the lose of his eyesight was a traumatic and painful time.  At the age of 36, Trevor Thomas lost the ability to see.  After treatments and painful surgeries, nature took its course and forced Trevor into a world of darkness.  He began therapy to relearn basic skills, like how to eat, cook, walk, and read. He grew frustrated and yearned for a greater purpose of his new life.

So he started hiking.  And he rarely stops.  In 2008 he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.  Then thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.  Snow forced him off the trail during his thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail: Trevor's attempt at the Triple Crown. He recently finished the Mountain to Sea Trail in North Carolina, a 1000-mile long epic stretching from the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks.

With the help of some acquaintances and his Labrador, Trevor was able to complete all of these trail miles with flying colors: and interesting stories.  Like reaching the summit of Katahdin with a broken foot and 4 broken ribs.  Or crawling to find water.  All of these experiences since 2005 have only heightened his other senses and given him a sense of accomplishment in his life.  He is unable to recall faces or sights from his past, but when he holds his rock from Baxter Peak, or from that forest in North Carolina, he can tell you the exact moment he picked it up, the smells, sounds, and feelings of those momentous ocassions.

His trail name, Zero/Zero (play on 20/20), is a comical alias regarding his lack of vision. But I believe it means more than that.  Trevor Thomas has found a new light, a new line of 'sight' for his life.  He shares his experiences with his Facebook fans and he's sponsored by many different companies.  But he hikes because it's his passion and he loves sharing that with the world.  Zero days of regrets for what he's done to turn his life into a positive beacon of hope for others who have lost their vision.  Zero days of not loving life to its fullest.  And that, I believe, is a lesson we can all learn.

Trail Therapy: A National Park for Northern Maine?

One of the most coveted designations for a tract of land is that of 'national park.'  A rather difficult process, certain residents and landowners in Maine are pushing for this designation, despite only 59 parks have been given the title since 1872.  Acquiring land for parks is a hassle and takes decades, but Ms. Quimby hit the jackpot when she land she got after selling Burt's Bees, giving over 100,000 acres to the federal government.  The goal?  Katahdin Woods and Waters National Park.

Some of the land was restricted against hunters and snowmobiles, causing opposition towards the creation of a park.  Another reasons was the distrust of the government having control over the land.  Lucas St. Clair, Quimby's son, attempted to drum up support through a grassroots program and opened some of his land to hunters and snowmobiles, adding support back into the campaign.

Proposed park land, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Park would lie east of Baxter State Park, the home of Mount Katahdin, northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.  And the adjacent area would be a recreation area for hunting and snowmobiling.  Get support from people who focus importance on these areas, is, as St. Clair says is "the permanent protection of land for activities that go to the heart and soul of the region."

But why a national park and not just a monument or national forest?  The local economy is floundering and the "brand" of national park would help save the area.  It's the "gold standard" says St. Clair.  And even the most hardened voices of opposition are softening to the idea.  People still against it are worried about restrictions appearing against the forestry products industry.  Senator King is saying that the economical benefits may outweigh the loss of control over the resource.  The representative from the district housing the proposed area says he too is concerned about the economy, but wants a full plan before he backs one way or another.

The process may take thirty years, but those who support the formation of a park in the North Woods say that it's worth the wait.

Trail Therapy: Plastic or Perish?

It's begun!  States have finally begun enforcing a ban on plastic bags at retail stores.  The first state to convert?  Hawaii!  The law was passed last year and the state has been charging a fee for bag during 2013.  The actual ban begins this Friday, January 17, 2014.  The island of Oahu will be playing continuing the fee for 2014 and their ban will begin in 2015.

This amazing legislation came from the tireless efforts of the island's grassroots movement and it's the perfect place for such drastic measures to begin.  Hawaii is a outdoor mecca and a beach magnet: everywhere a "plastic bag tumbleweed" is sure to ruin the landscape.

What's the next phase? A fee for paper bags.  Hopefully within the next decade these changes will be country-wide!

Trail Therapy: Terror on the Mountain

On Tuesday January 7, 2014, the grandson of Vail founder, Tony Siebert died in an avalanche while skiing the East Chute in Vail.  The area is a popular sidecountry skiing destination which frequently has conditions prime for avalanche dangers.  Siebert's three companions survived with only minor injuries.

After 19 inches of snow fell on Vail, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center listed Vail's conditions as "considerable."  With this amount of foreseen avalanche possibility, staying off the mountain would have been a wise course of action.

Two weeks prior, a skier filmed an avalanche on his GoPro on the same route that claimed Siebert.  The skier saw his friend caught in the snow fall and was able to rescue him from danger.  The video is incredible and scary.

Lessons learned:  Nature is terrifying.  We need to respect her forces and not tempt fate.  Every month it seems, someone comes up with something new and death defying to attempt.  But at what cost?  At what point do we say enough is enough?  I, like every other adventurer, love the thrill of the unknown and the experience of an adventure that could potentially kill me.  But I still don't venture into the woods under a hurricane, or swim during a thunderstorm, or climb a mountain with high lightening warnings.  If the condition reports say that something is "considerable" to happen, it's probably smart to listen to them.

The passing of Tony Siebert should serve as a reminder that we need to respect our world and the dangers of exploring it.  His death is a tragedy in the legacy of skiing, but we should not forget the lessons learned from it.

Vail Avalanche 12/22/2013

Trail Therapy: Coolest Thru-Hike of the Year!

By the end of September 2013, Junaid Duwad and Luke DeMuth arrived home after what seemed like a daunting and exhausting trip.  It wasn't a lengthy business trip or a family vacation.  Their venture took them to the highest of highs: to the tops of the Colorado 14'ers.  A '14er' is a peak that rises over 14,000 feet. Weighing in at 58 peaks, Colorado has the most 14ers of any state.  Most people tackle one peak at a time.  A few courageous individuals will attempt to do them all; some in one calendar year.  But these two crazy guys plotted a course connecting all 58 in one epic thru-hike!

A thru-hike is the completion of a long-distance hiking trail in a single attempt, whether that's in one go or in one year.  The most common thru-hikes are the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail, better known as the Triple Crown.  A few shorter trails, like the Arizona Trail and the John Muir Trail have risen as shorter 'thru-hikes'.  I wouldn't be surprised if this trek (with some tweaking) might become the next thru-hike epic!

Junaid and Luke's GPS summarized they had completed 1,350 miles by the time they arrived back at their car near Longs Peak.  The completed the journey over 72 days gaining almost 300,000 feet of elevation.  Over the course of their trip, the tackled three 4-peak days and two 3-peak days.  Anything more than climbing one 14,000 foot peak in a day would be amazing for me!

Sponsored by several outdoor gear manufactures like ULA Equipment, Junaid and Luke hulled 30 pounds of gear on their journey.  The complete trail took months of planning; the process took the dedication of connecting miles of trails through public lands, national parks, and occasionally a few service roads.  Their biggest struggle was timing their passage into the Rocky Mountain National Park because of the government shutdown, which, of course, they didn't know would happen.  Luckily, they arrived the day after the park reopened.

Their favorite part of the trail?  The San Juan Range which ran along the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.  With only a few close calls with weather on the peaks, they successfully summited without incident.

The true definition of an epic experience, these men have created something that is unique and awe-inspiring. Maybe one day this trail will have an official title, trail markers, and aspiring thru-hikers that plan their summers tackling this incredible beast. But for now, we can just admire these young men and their daring to accomplish something never done before.  And maybe we will ask the question... What will they do next?

Trail Therapy: The Legend of Mick Dodge

The Legend of Mick Dodge

On Tuesday January 7, 2014, National Geographic is airing a new series called "The Legend of Mick Dodge."  The opening description of Dodge, "part warrior, part philosopher and part survivalist," only starts to depict the excitement awaiting viewers from this new reality show.

Mick Dodge grew up exploring the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State and was taught by his grandfather, the ways of the forest.  Dodge grew up with a respect for life in the wild and a passion for experiencing the balance of nature.  Although his time spent in the Marines trained him in man-to-man combat, he uses his skills solely for survival as he lives happily alongside his animal friends.

Mick stated his new life the way we all start our lives; barefoot.  "My feet became my map; my feet became my compass."  Mick's 'back to the beginning' mentality speaks to all of us adventurers.  We all seek a more primal way of life that holds health and tranquility in the balance with nature.  I'm excited to see what this show has to offer.  So tune in at 10PM on January 7th on the National Geographic Channel to find what drives Mick Dodge to live his primitive life.

Trail Therapy: Backpacker Magazine's Best of 2013

For 8 years, I've been a loyal reader of Backpacker Magazine.  I have kept every issue and sometimes reread their stories, reliving some of the most exciting and captivating adventures and lighting the way for my own adventures.  My passion for extreme adventure and exploration stemmed from reading about these trips and experiences.  Like all those years before, 2013 was a year to expand the horizons of exploration into the wilderness.  Here were my favorites from this year:

Best of Backpacker Magazine 2013

January - What Kind of Hiker are You?  The Wildlife Lover?  The Mileage Master?  The Limit Pusher?  The Multisport Maniac?  Family Traveler?  Peakbagger?  I don't think I'm any one of these exactly, but I know I have a desire to be all of these.  The passion that these ideologies portray is the dedication and conviction that we should all hope to have for something in our lives.

May - All Quiet on the Western Front   A survival story unlike any other.  War has produced some of the most extreme psychological effects and it's very difficult to cope with the tragedies of wartime.  For one veteran, a thru-hike of the PCT might hold the key to putting to rest the unsettling experiences in Iraq.  As someone who wants to thru-hike the PCT someday for enlightenment or self discovery, can understand the pull life on the trail can have.  This is a wonderfully deep and emotional journey both for the author and his friend, but for us, the reader.

June - Grand Traverses   Get high and stay high.  Epic trails that get you up on the ridge and keeps you there.  Views that never end.  This amazing collaboration of treks makes you want to get out into the mountains and have an adventure.  These were a few of my favorites: the Roan Highlands section of the Appalachian Trail, the Sawtooth Ridge through the North Cascades, the Great Northern Traverse through backcountry trails of Glacier National Park, California's High Sierra Route, the Teton Crest Trail, and the Great Presidential Traverse through the White Mountains.

June - Nirvana Now!   How would you fair on a four-day backpacking trip interlaced with the practice of yoga on a mountaintop?  I don't know about you, but that sounds incredible!  The author is skeptical and while he may not have been one hundred percent on board, his aching back sure felt good at the end of the trip.  There may not be scientific research or a team of experts backing the claim; but I believe hiking and yoga were twins separated at birth, finally reunited.  And it's about time.   Ever since I started practicing yoga, I'm able to hike farther, hike stronger, and feel more rejuvenated after a trip then ever before.

August - Hidden Montana   Think you've seen the wilds of Glacier and Yellowstone?  Well, time to throw away your guidebooks.  Some of the best trips are off the beaten path.  This article highlights the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, the Mission Mountains, the Sawtooth Range, Snowshoe Peak, and a thru-hike of the Northern Cabinet Mountains.  Sounds like a lifetime worth of adventures in one amazing wilderness expanse.

Trail Therapy: The Circle of Life

Risk is the forefront of extreme adventure sports.  No athlete becomes involved without knowing and fully understanding these risks.  Cave diving, rock climbing, mountaineering, surfing: all sports with extreme risk.  But the risk is sometimes what makes the thrill all the worthwhile.  Since the beginning of the climbing generation, humans have been pushing the limits of our imagination. James Whittaker, Yvon Chouinard, Douglas Tompkins, Edmund Hillary, Reinhold Messner have all become household climbing names for there incredible.  We commend these individuals for their vision and for seeking out new thrills in which to broaden our horizons.

One such thrill is the Slipstream rout up Mount Snow Dome in Jasper National Park, Canada.  Its reputation proceeds it with the dangers of extreme weather conditions, intense vertical climbing, and certainty of death.  Several journals depict the difficulty of this route.
A Long and Slippery Slope
The 2nd Ascent

In April 1989 mountain climber William Holland was on his descent from Slipstream when a cornice let loose under Holland's feet and swallowed him into the mountain's snowy depths.  A seasoned climber and mountaineer, Holland understood the risks associated with such an attempt.  But the pull of the

21 years later, in August of 2010, hikers found the partially buried remains of William Holland, at the base of the glacier, almost a kilometer from the location of his fall. The mountain that had taken this man from his family had given him back.

 

After 21 years, Holland's family finally have the opportunity to cope with the death of a loved one.  Holland's daughter, Laurel Holland, is writing a memoir about her father called Spindrift. Dealing with death is a human inevitability.  But under most cases, death comes with certainty, cause, and reason.  There is no doubt or lingering hope.  In rare cases, like Laurel Holland's, hope is kindled by the lack of proof and years pass with the thought of a better tomorrow.

The Holland family has lived in constant wonder for 21 years and finally the healing process can begin.  Laurel Holland's book is a tale of finding peace and coming to terms with loss.  Read about her memoir to see how tremendous tragedy has turned full circle to convey personal closure and humility.

Spindrift: Memoirs of a Climber's Daughter

Trail Therapy: Happy Birthday Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!  In honor my father's birthday, here is one of my favorite memories of time spent with my dad.  This was a backpacking trip we took through the "rocks" of Pennsylvania!  The weather was great and we got to meet a bunch of thru-hikers!  So cool!  Thanks Dad for always making my life an adventure.  I'm so glad we've been able to share moments like these my whole life!

Green!  Everywhere you look!

White Blaze ahead!

PA rocks!  No seriously, they do..

My amazing dad!