I’m not sure when or why I decided to hike the John Muir Trail. The thought of thru-hiking a long trail has long been intriguing to me, but life tends to throw up hurdles and often we push our dreams and desires to the side in favor of what seems important at the time.
Because dedicating months of time to a thru-hike seems like an inconceivable reality for me, the John Muir Trail provided a balance between responsibility and freedom. While I’ve never left normal life for more than a couple weeks since I started my career, 23 days seemed doable.
I set out to find a way to make this dream a reality. YouTube videos, blog posts, maps, conversations with local outdoor enthusiasts and retailers fueled my knowledge and excitement as I collected the necessary gear and knowledge required to attempt such a feat.
It was months before I finally committed, booked a flight, told my coworkers and began training for long days and high-altitude.
And before I knew it. I was at the trailhead.
Everyday on the journey was filled new and exciting discoveries. I never knew what was around the next turn or over the next pass. I took each step, approached each challenge and each day with excited anticipation and was never disappointed.
“Just doin’ stuff” became the montra of those I spent time with, camped with and shared these experiences with. Inevitable, someone would ask, “what are we doing tomorrow?” Casey, a trail boss, with no sarcasm in his voice, would answer simply, “we’re just gonna do some stuff tomorrow.”
We did a lot of stuff, mostly walking, on the JMT.
I didn’t write much while on the trail. I try not to lie to myself when I hit the trail. I’m unlikely to read a book or write a poem or story while I’m on the trail. It’s been over a year since my hike and I’m just finding the words and motivation I need to describe small parts of my experience to others.
