200km!

09 April, 2022 (Sat)

   Kristi is doing fantastic. A couple of days ago she was in Montezuma. Thru hikers have such divers backgrounds, stories, even countries, and yet they have a sort of kindred spirit. They get to experience this journey, open, free, testing one’s limits, keeping safe, helping each other, sharing, going ahead, falling back behind, laughing, and oohhh’ing and ahhhhh’ing at the majesty that is God’s creations for us. There is gear discussions, and cool gadgets to see. Learning what is absolutely necessary, and things they plan to leave in the next hike box. (Boxes of things the hikers no longer find useful enough to pack one more step are discarded into these boxes, and any hiker coming behind her can take what they like, or leave something) I know, brilliant! 

                                                     At Montezuma with fellow hikers.

Ahhh food! 

Kristi was able to purchase some chicken that 

she barbecued.

They’ve been climbing in some mountains but she’s had a great time. Yesterday she hiked with 9 or 10 different people part or most of the day. Here’s a fabulous picture of her:

Look closely and you’ll see the mile marker 

beside her on the ground. 200km! She said there

are many people from other countries. That’s 124.7 miles! 

   Yesterday when she sent me this picture, I had a huge wave of gratitude wash over me. I’m so thankful that she gets to do this. I’m amazed by her fearlessness and tenacity. I love hearing her talk and tell me stories. My kids have always loved to come home from their adventures and crawl into my big bed with me and tell me their news. After dates, dances, movies, etc.  Somewhere I have a picture of ALL of the kids in my bed chatting it up. Heaven. So to hear Kristi tell me things that are happening is healing balm for me, and not new to us. 

                                          Kristi said last night they camped up on a mountain 

                                          and she had a 360 degree view.  Beautiful. 

   Kristi said that in one place they had a plastic chair and a bucket she filled with cool water and how glorious it was to take off her shoes & socks and plunge her feet into the water and just sit there for a few minutes and soak her feet. Such a small thing made her so happy. Appreciation for small simple things are constant. She has been very blessed to have few real problems with her health, although she has seen many hikers with some serious injuries. Besides some terrible blisters, another problem is tendinitis, possibly from not enough preparation prior to tackling such a big hike. But also she is noticing a common thread to some of the issues is the new 'zero drop' shoes that are supposed to be the 'cool' shoes to have but are not so great after all. From October 2021 to 18th March, 2022 Kristi worked for Amazon Prime and ran boxes to help prepare her body for the hike. She was lifting, packing heavy boxes up stairs, and steep driveways, etc. She was able to test out several pairs of shoes that she's been reading about, and finally settled on the best pair for her, right before she left. She will likely go through 6-8 pair during her hike. 

   I may have touched slightly on the phenomenon that is ‘Trail Angels’. These are people who have had (or do have) children, spouses, or grandchildren who have hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and been blessed by the generosity and goodness of others. A few days ago Kristi came across several cases of gallons of water from Costco on a pallet near the trail, left at a place where water is scarce and someone may need a refill. Trail Angels are smart like that. 😊

   Yesterday Kristi came across one of these Trail Angels in person. His Trail Name is ‘Cheshire’ for his big wide happy grin, I’m sure. He was there with his dog and had set up a tarp for some shade, and had a bunch of fresh pineapple 🍍, apples 🍎, and watermelon 🍉. Here Kristi is seen taking a much needed break with a sweet chunk of pineapple. 

Cheshire is on the left, Kristi, and Metric on the right (he is from the UK). 

Apparently these trail names are serious business! 😁

   Many stories are shared along the trail of the appearance of trail angels with water, cookies, homemade granola bars, fruit, cold sodas etc. Some don’t see them often. And some seem to find all kinds of treasures. What a great concept! People are good! I hope I get to be a trail angel 😇 while I’m visiting Kristi on the trail. 

   The other night when she camped with the guys and Puke and Rally 🤣 (I laugh whenever I say that) they decided Kristi’s trail name should be ‘Signal’ since she’s always checking to see if she has a signal so she can chat with Ryan or me. I like it! It has so many meanings. 👍🏻 I like to think of her as a beacon of light signaling the way ahead.