Introduction 👋🏼

Three months ago, I was laid off from what I thought was going to be my “forever” dream job.

Three weeks ago (by way of a little magic, a little persistence, and a little technology), I scored a coveted last minute long-distance hike-thru permit to walk the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

Three days from now, I embark on what is certain to be one of my greatest adventures.

The painfully huge and aggressively rowdy elephant in the room? I’ve never back-packed before.

Details, am I right?

But I’m taking on this challenge with the same recipe by which I take on most things that have ever really mattered in my life:

• 3 parts naïve confidence
• 3 parts humility (for flavor balance)
• 3 parts stubbornness (for texture)
• 4 parts passionate research (let information soak for at least 7 days before mixing)
• 2 parts dreaming, project planning, and acquiring toolkit
• 2 parts piloting new tools and processes
• 2 parts pre-accepting the things I won’t be able to anticipate
• A dash of checking my sanity with the humans who know me best to make sure I’m not completely crazy
• Garnish with a little wistful charm and add salt and pepper to taste

So far, it’s served me well.

I plan to share updates from the trail on this blog. And look, I’m not trying to rewrite Wild or give you a play-by-play of the trail conditions each day, or pretend I’m a seasoned hiker now ready to offer tips and tricks and gear reviews from my vast experience in the great wild.

I’m sharing on this platform to simply offer one thing: me.

If you’re here because you know me, you already know that I’m a sharer (and if you don’t know me, nice to meet you – I’m a sharer). As a daughter, as a friend, as a partner, as an artist, as a professional, as a spiritual seeker, as a HUMAN – my default setting in this world is to know and be known as deeply and openly as possible or appropriate in everything I do.

I am a naturally communal being, and admittedly, most of the time my decisions, actions, and plans generally revolve around the ones I love. But this – this adventure, this sum of obstacles, this sojourn – this one is just for me.

So here in this virtual space, I plan only to serve up just that – just me.

Simply, honestly, joyfully, painfully – me. In almost real time. On a very long walk. For about 2650 miles.