REDPLANET
HOMELAND
A MAN’S JOURNEY TO EXPLORE HIS COUNTRIES GREATEST TRAILSI NEVER THOUGHT THAT HIKING 2700 MILES, LIVING OUT OF A TENT AND EATING RAMEN AND SALAMI FOR 5 MONTH WAS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD EVER DO.
I GUESS YOU JUST NEVER KNOW, WHAT’S NEXT IN LIFE.
A GREAT MAN ONCE SAID AND TO THIS DAY, HIS WORDS LEAD MY PATH IN LIFE.
“I DON’T KNOW IF WE EACH HAVE A DESTINY, OR IF WE’RE ALL JUST FLOATIN’ AROUND ACCIDENTAL LIKE ON A BREEZE, BUT I, I THINK MAYBE IT’S BOTH. MAYBE BOTH IS HAPPENIN’ AT THE SAME TIME”
- FORREST GUMP
I THINK THAT IS WHY I ENDED UP OUT ON THAT TRAIL. A LITTLE FATE AND A LITTLE DESTINY WITH JUST ENOUGH COURAGE AND WILLINGNESS TO STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN, OH AND WHOLE BUNCH STUPIDITY. I DO KNOW THAT FIRST DAY OF MY HIKE, THAT I HAD NO BUSINESS BEING OUT THERE ATTEMPTING WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO DO.
I WAS IMMEDIATELY FED A REALLY BIG PIECE OF HUMBLE PIE. HOWEVER, I LOVE HUMBLE PIE AND IN THE END I FOUND A WAY TO COMPLETE THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
THAT HUMBLE PIE I MENTIONED, WELL IT KINDA LEFT A SWEET TASTE IN MY MOUTH.
AND SO IT BEGAN THAT MORNING IN JUNE, 2018 - AT 555 AM ON THE US - MEXICO BORDER.
=WHAT LIES AHEAD =
THE PINNACLE OF LONG DISTANCE HIKING IS TO COMPLETE THE THREE MAJOR LONG DISTANCE TRAILS IN THE UNITED STATES.
COMPLETE A THRU-HIKE ON EACH, THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL, PACIFIC CREST TRAIL AND THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE HOLY GRAIL OF HIKING QUESTS.
IT’S CALLED THE TRIPLE CROWN.
MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THE TRIPLE CROWN BY AGE 55
QUEST FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN
PCT THRU-HIKE
OCT - 2018 - COMPLETED - 4 OCT. 2018
CDT THRU-HIKE
MARCH - 2022 - COMPLETED - 19 SEPT. 2022
APPALACHIAN TRAIL THRU-HIKE
FEB 6 - 2024
HIGHLIGHTS ON THE TRAIL
THRU-HIKE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
JUNE - OCTOBER 2018
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL - 2018
345 AM - CAMPO CALIFORNIA, PACIFIC CREST TRAIL - SOUTHERN TERMINUS - US / MEXICO BORDER
IN 2 HOURS I WOULD BE TAKING MY FIRST STEPS OF THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF MY LIFE.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW I ACTUALLY GOT HERE. I WAS SCARED, ALONE AND IN NO WAY DID I THINK I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IMPOSSIBLY MASSIVE TASK THAT LAY AHEAD OF ME.
535 AM - GEAR UP
BY THE TIME I HAD MY 67 POUND PAC ON MY BACK AT 550AM, I HAD ALREADY BEEN RAINED ON AS THE TEMPERATURE STEADIED AT 102 DEGREES.
I REMEMBER THINKING, “WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO”. I HAVEN’T EVEN TAKEN MY FIRST STEP, YET.
TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT YOU MIGHT BE THINKING AT THAT EXACT POINT IN TIME. BECAUSE AFTER THAT THOUGHT YOU START TO WALK, AND THEN THIS HAPPENS.
NOT 300 YARDS INTO THE HIKE, I TOOK MY FIRST TUMBLE. LITERALLY HEELS OVER HEAD DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE RESULT WAS A TORN OPEN BLEEDING BUSTED KNEE.
NOW IM HARD. I’VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS THAT MOST GROWN MEN WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE, TRUST ME.
I FOUND MYSELF, IN TEARS. RIGHT THERE, HAND AND KNEES, MY TEARS FALLING INTO DRY DUSTY SAND, WHICH I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE NOT 18 MINUTES PRIOR, I GEARED UP IN A PURING DOWNFALL.
I PULLED MYSELF TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT WHAT WELDY’S DO, I WIPED THE TEARS FROM MY FACE AND CONTINUED ON.
I WAS HEADED TO LAKE MORENA, APPROX 27 MILES AHEAD. AT MILE 23, YOU FACE ONE OF THE MOST VICIOUS SWITCHBACKS ON THE ENTIRE 2670 MILE HIKE.
THE LEGENDARY - HOUSER SWITCHBACK. A 1.4 MILE CLIMB TO THE PLATEAU LEADING INTO LAKE MORENA.
THREE QUARTER MILES INTO THE STITCHBACK, HEAT EXHAUSTION SETS IN AND I CUDDLE UP UNDER THE ONLY BUSH SUITABLE OF PROVIDING ANY SHADE ON THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THIS INCREDIBLY STUPID MOUNTAIN SIDE.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FEELING OF MAKING IT INTO CAMP THAT NIGHT.
NOTE IN MY JOURNAL. “ALREADY FEELING MORE CONFIDENT, ABOUT THINGS”.
INSTANTLY, THAT THOUGHT AND ANY ELLATION AS WELL AS CONFIDENCE THAT I HAD WAS INSTANTLY SHATTERED. IN 5 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES, I HAVE TO BE GEARED UP AND BACK OUT ON THE TRAIL. ANOTHER 27 MILE DAY AWAITS.
YOU NEVER GET AHEAD OF IT. THERE IS ALWAYS A NEXT IMPOSSIBLE TASK THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS. MOST OF THE TIME WITH LITTLE TO NO REST - A TRUE TO LIFE GRIND.
I IMAGINE THAT WHEN MOST THRU-HIKERS LAY DOWN AND CLOSE THEIR EYES THAT FIRST NIGHT THAT THIS EXACT THOUGHT IN SOME FORM OR THE OTHER GOES THROUGH THEIR HEADS. “WTF” AND “ONLY 2643 MILES TO GO”! I KNOW THAT WAS THE LAST THING I REMEMBER BEFORE I WAS FAST ASLEEP.
THAT 1ST DAY IS PRETTY MUCH AS ACCURATE OF A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE NEXT 5 MONTHS OF MY LIFE WOULD BE LIKE.
I HATED EVERY SECOND OF WHAT I WAS DOING OUT THERE. IT WAS AGONIZING. IT WAS PAINFUL. IT WAS SCARY, IT WAS LONELY, IT WAS INCREDIBLY MENTALLY CHALLENGING. I WANTED IT TO BE OVER. EVERY DAY THAT I AWOKE.
THEN YOU BEGIN TO SEE THE MILES START TO FALL, YOU START TO SEE THE DAYS GO BY THE WAYSIDE. IT’S AT THAT POINT, YOU REALIZE YOU'RE DOING IT. THAT THIS ROMANTIC QUEST WE THE THRU-HIKER START TO PLAN MONTHS AND IN SOME CASES YEARS BEFORE, ITS ACTUALLY HAPPENING. I GUESS IN THOSE RARE MOMENTS YOU TAKE IN THE BEAUTY AROUND YOU. IT’S ALWAYS THERE 24-7. THIS IS THE CONSTANT. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ASPECT THAT DRIVES YOU IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE HIKE.
THEN, LIKE ALL POSITIVE THOUGHTS THAT EACH OF US HAVE DURING ANY POINT ON THE TRAIL, THEY INSTANTLY ARE MET WITH WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS, DESPAIR.
FOR YOU ARE INSTANTLY REMINDED, THAT YOU’RE TIRED AND SORE AND BROKE DOWN AND TOMORROW IS YOUR FIRST 50 MILE PUSH THRU THE HIGH DESERT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, OR A 9K CLIMB OVER THE NEXT 12 MILES, OR A ASSENT TO 13K FEET AT FORESTER PASS. THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES WAITING FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THERE IS A SAYING AMONG THE LONG DISTANCE HIKING COMMUNITY.
“THE TRAIL WILL PROVIDE” IT’S TOTALLY TRUE. ONE STEP TURNS INTO ANOTHER, MILES FALL AND CONFIDENCE IS GAINED.
YOU CAN’T TRAIN FOR THIS TASK. MY ADVICE TO FUTURE LONG DISTANCE HIKERS. GET USED TO CARRYING A PAC ON YOUR BACK AND JUST START WALKING. THAT IN MY OPINION IS THE TRAINING ROUTINE ONE SHOULD FOLLOW.
ALSO, PREPARE TO GET TO KNOW YOUR YOURSELF. MOST LIKELY YOU ARE GONNA GET TO POINT WHERE YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS ALOT ABOUT YOURSELF THAT YOU DON’T LIKE. ITS THIS ASPECT OF THE TRAIL THAT CHANGES YOU MOST.
LIFE IS VERY SIMPLE ON THE TRAIL. EAT SLEEP WALK REPEAT. OUT THERE YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE OR YOU DON’T MAKE IT. SOMETIMES IT’S JUST SOMETHING THAT WORKS ITSELF OUT AND YOU GO HOME A CHANGED PERSON.
YOU HAVE LOTS OF TIME IN YOUR HEAD WALKING 13 TO 30 MILES A DAY FOR 5 MONTHS STRAIGHT. LOTS OF TIME TO REFLECT.
OCT - 2018 - 18.5 MILES FROM NORTHERN TERMINUS.
YOU WAKE THOSE LAST FEW DAYS, FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE DONE IT. IT’S RIGHT THERE. A PILGRIMAGE THAT A FORTUNATE HANDFUL OF SOULS HAVE EVER WALKED.
WINDING ALONG A MILDLY EASY PORTION ON ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS TRAILS IN THE WORLD. IT’S BEFORE YOU AND IT AWAITS.
WHILE YOUR WALKING THOSE LAST REMAINING MILES TO TERMINUS. YOU’RE REFLECTING A LOT. THOSE EARLY THOUGHTS OF DESPAIR AND ANGUISH. ALL THE BLISTERS AND BUSTED KNEES. HIKERS SNORING IN CAMP. RAIN, COLD, MOSQUITOES, HUNGER. THE ANIMALS AND VIEWS OF BEAUTY AND THE AMAZING PEOPLE YOU MET ALONG THE WAY, THEY ALL BEGIN TO RACE THROUGH YOUR HEAD.
ITS A FLASH THAT LAST DAY. THOSE LAST GLORIOUS SECOND TIL YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MONUMENT.
THEN YOUR ON AN APPROACH TO THE TERMINUS. A SHORT BEND AND THEN THE CLEARING. YOU SEE IT, YOU HEAR THE OTHER HIKERS, OR IT’S COMPLETELY SILENT.
I REMEMBER STOPPING JUST SHORT. MY BUDDY, DAVE KIDDER SHERWOOD, AKA TUMBLEWEED. SAID, “WELL MAN ARE YOU READY”. I REPLIED, “HELL YES LET’S DO THIS”.
BUT!
AS QUICK AS IT HAD BEGUN AND IT’S OVER. IN A FLASH IT’S JUST OVER!
IT WASN’T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE, MOST HIKERS SAY THE SAME THING. WE SPEND MONTHS WAITING FOR THIS EXACT MOMENT. IT WAS A EMPTY FEELING. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THAT MOMENT. YOU CAN SEE IT ON ME. IT WAS WEIRD. I ACTUALLY LOOK SAD.
HONESTLY, IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I HAD VERY LITTLE LEFT IN MY LIFE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
YOU’RE EMPTY, AND LIKE MOST ATTEST TO. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
DON’T GET ME WRONG, IT WAS ONE THE MOST AMAZING MOMENTS IN MY LIFE. IT JUST TAKES BEING BACK IN THE NORMAL WORLD FOR IT TO CLEAR IN YOUR HEAD,
THIS EXPERIENCE CAN ONLY BE COMPARED TO MY FATHER POUNDING MY AIRBORNE WINGS INTO MY CHEST ON GRADUATION DAY.
I REMEMBER THINKING THAT NIGHT IN MY TENT AT MY FINAL CAMP SITE. I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN. AND SURE ENOUGH. YOU IMMEDIATELY START DREAMING AND PLANNING FOR YOUR NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE.
SO, WHATS NEXT, YOU THINK TO YOURSELF. I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE REAL WORLD.
FOR ME I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS NEXT. LITTLE DID I KNOW WHEN I STEPPED OFF THE TRAIN BACK IN OHIO I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL FORM MY MENTOR AND GREAT FRIEND. HE SAID, “WELDY, GREAT JOB ON THE TRAIL, WHY DON’T YOU COME DOWN AND SEE ME. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU”
THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY LIFE WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
OCT, 2018 - NORTHERN TERMINUS PACIFIC CREST TRAIL - US / CANADA BORDER.
TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHS
PCT - 2018
VISUAL JOURNEY ON THE PCT
LUNCH BREAK ON THE PCT
