Friday, July 26, 2013

One Step at a Time

Eight weeks ago today a section of trail gave way and I broke my fibula. Seven weeks ago Anish started her attempt to break the fasted unassisted PCT thru hike. We both share a love for the PCT, and we are both taking it one step at a time. I've been following her story since the beginning, and she is truly inspiring. 

For the past few weeks I have been working hard at getting back the strength I lost due to the injury.  My goal ... to be able to step back on the PCT and hike as a trail angel before the herd approaches. As Anish approached, I realized I might be ready to provide her with magic as she approached Ollalie Lake. 

As the day approached, a plan was developed. SlimeDog (my fella) would drive so I could save my energy for the trail, we would split the magic supply between us, SlimeDog would head out ahead of me on the trail with Gauge doggy, and I would head out a short time after that for a shorter hike. We would meet back at the Ollalie Lake Resort. 

When we got to the lake, I stopped in at the store to see if they had seen Anish yet. Nope. They were hoping she would come through, but they couldn't be sure she would. Anish averaged 43 miles a day through California, and we knew she was doing 50+ miles a day in Oregon. 

Not knowing if we had missed her, we got into action with our packs and headed out. SlimeDog and Gauge were long gone in a few minutes. 

For me the process was slower. I was suddenly emotional. This would be my first time back on a real trail since the accident, this would be my first trail with rocks and off-camber foot placements, and it would be my first time shouldering a fully-loaded trail angel pack.

As I headed out, I repeated over and over again to myself to take it one step at a time. While the trail tread was challenging, I soon relaxed as I became certain I could handle it. 


The trail was fatiguing, but the views as the trail climbed were rewarding. 

     Mt Jefferson just beyond Ollalie Butte 

At about the 45-minute / 1.65 mile mark I chose to go ahead and turn back. My longest hike so far had been 3.5 miles on pavement and/or gentle trail with no real elevation gain. With my return to work just a few days away, overdoing it was not an option. 

When I returned to the trailhead I relaxed and ate a snack, convinced Anish, SlimeDog and Gauge would be just behind me. After 30-minutes at the trailhead I hiked over to the store. The store crew is very friendly and encouraged me to just relax on the porch and enjoy the view. 

    What a great view from the porch

I wasn't there long before I was joined by IronMan and French Toast, two of the first thru-hikers of this year. Time flies when you are chatting with thru-hikers, and it wasn't too much longer before SlimeDog and Gauge showed up.

     French Toast, IronMan, Trapper Keeper (Ollalie PCT Angel)

While we were all chatting away on the front porch, Anish just seemed to appear. She has the gift of being super efficient while being personable and social. During her 25 minute stop she refilled her water, grabbed a quick charge for her phone, drank a strawberry lemonade powerade, ate some grapes, an apple, and some other misc snacks, did a quick resupply from the store and our magic bag, and headed back on the trail at what seemed like an amazing pace. I smiled as I watched her leave, she too just seems to be taking it one step at a time. 



Good luck to you Anish on the rest of your hike, I've sent an update forward to another trail angel in Washington. She knows you will be in Washington by this weekend. 

      Anish still looks strong!!


4 comments:

  1. Beautiful stories of amazingly resilient and determined women. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. It was great to meet Anish! And you're right, somehow she didn't seem rushed or hurried. She had time to chat, enjoy some fresh fruit, pose for a picture, chat some more and then... she disappeared into the wilderness like some kind of zebra-print ghost.

    French Toast and Iron Man were awesome guys and great to talk to. Seeing their faces with they talked about the things that they've loved the most (so far) on the trail... priceless!

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  3. I knew you would be out there on the trail in no time. You truly are magical to these thru-hikers.

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  4. Awesome job to both of these amazing women--Anish and trail angel! :)

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