In the great scheme of things, you don’t actually have much time on this earth with the people you love. So love them hard and love them fiercely, because this moment is really all there is.
Writing
The Joys of Hitchhiking
Once upon a time, before Uber and Lyft, there was a FREE method of car-sharing based solely on trust, kindness and curiosity. Hitchhiking isn’t for everyone, but it’s taught me one of the most important lessons of my life—that you can choose rational caution over irrational fear when making decisions and taking risks.
The Pros and Cons of Flip-Flopping
2,100 miles down, 500 to go! Flip-flopping (a.k.a. hiking a long trail in large, non-contiguous sections) is a style of thruhiking that really works for me because I like doing things my own way. However, flip-flopping does have its drawbacks…
A Second Chance at Mount Whitney
Back in May, after walking almost 800 miles north on the PCT from the Mexico border, I got to the base of Mount Whitney during a snowstorm. Realizing that a Whitney ascent wasn’t going to happen for me then, I sat in my tent and cried. The next day, I bailed out of the High Sierra, vowing that I would come back to do the John Muir Trail section (which extends from Yosemite to Mount Whitney) in the summer. I was determined to finish hiking my home state atop Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. The mountain had evaded me once but it was going to happen, dammit…
The Worst Day of the Rest of Your Life
When you’re working towards a big goal, you will inevitably experience trials and tribulations. Life doesn’t always go your way—and that’s a good thing. If it did, you wouldn’t innovate and grow. You wouldn’t appreciate the little victories nearly as much. So this is just a reminder that whatever you’re struggling with right now on your path is part of a bigger story. Zoom out and take a deep breath. You’ll make it through.
Surviving the “Halfway Blues” on a Long Hike
The “halfway blues” is a common malady for long distance hikers. The middle of a thruhike can be tough. The honeymoon phase has long since worn off and our days on the trail feel defined by routine and monotony. It’s at this point in our hikes that we have to remind ourselves of why we wanted to do this crazy journey in the first place…
Go Into the Mountains with Utmost Respect
“Go with the utmost respect,” said a section hiker named Ingo the night before I was to hike into the Sierra. Ingo knew better than anyone how dangerous these mountains can be. Last year, his good friend Strawberry went missing in the High Sierra. Ingo was the one who notified Yosemite rangers of her disappearance. Days later, the rangers found her body in the South Fork of the Kings River…
“Bro Culture” in the Outdoor Community
There’s been a lot of talk recently about “bro culture” on long trails and in the outdoor industry in general. Last week, I experienced it firsthand on the Pacific Crest Trail—and the outcome wasn’t what I expected.
It’s OK to Need People.
For the past two days, I’ve hiked completely alone for the first time on my Pacific Crest Trail thruhike. Sure, there are lots of other hikers around—but…… Read more “It’s OK to Need People.”
Girl Empowerment is Not a Liberal Agenda
A guy recently trolled my YouTube channel and bashed my “liberal agenda” of hiking to fundraise for girl empowerment nonprofits. Is it liberal to want to live in a country where all young women are raised to believe that their voices matter? The three women-run nonprofits I am hiking for are helping girls find their inner strength by challenging themselves in nature. They are working to ensure that more young women have the support they need to truly blossom. Mr. Troll calls this a liberal agenda. We call this self-actualization.
Janel Gazelle 