How Thru-Hiking Ruined My Life - Part ∞
Content First Appeared on The Trek
It has only been 6 months since my hike last year in 2025. After a series of unfortunate events, and with us being a mere 130 miles from the southern terminus, we decided to call it quits. When we started in April, I had some sort of vision that this would be my last big hike. Yet, here I am, year after year, having a longing to be back on the trail. The first blog I wrote when I started the Continental Divide Trail sums up my reason for hiking quite nicely, so why change it? You can read it here.
There were so many moving parts that we couldn't control; it felt like our hike was stolen from us in some ways. We kept having to change plans. Change hikes. Plan a move. Move our pets. Yet, I think it was still joyful, and it was a learning experience. I managed to redefine what it means to complete something. I was able to spend time with my partner. I tried out social media and blogging while on a hike. And, on the trail, I had my first sponsorship opportunity with BearVault (read one of my blogs here). Now, I don't think I'm going to quit. I think I'll keep hiking year after year, depending on my capacity, and see what the outdoor life brings to me. Even if happiness doesn't necessarily bring me currency, I think it draws out something else important, hope and purpose.
Post-Hike Journey
In December, after Neapolitan was stuck in a motel room in San Diego for two weeks, we took a side quest to Hawaii to spend time with my cousin and Uncle.
We also drove a lot. We drove from Montana to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and back to Montana. We visited friends and family for the holidays. I would pack up my suitcase, pack up a cooler, unpack, repeat. In total, we drove about 3,000 miles with our pup Kona. I'm not sure why we thought that would be a good idea. Then we drove to Washington (another 600 miles) and lived there out of a car and bags for a bit. I wish I could say that I love this kind of lifestyle, but honestly, I detest living out of bags, which is hilarious, because I love living out of a backpack. I think backpacking feels really easy compared to a car with a dog and a load of things that we accumulated in different parts of the United States.
So we made things work for us. We were tired. And we managed to move to one of the most difficult states in the U.S. We moved to Oahu, Hawai'i.
Hawai'i Living
I would love to say it somehow got easier, but it didn't. We were living in a studio size AirBnB for a month in February, but we were in the middle of downtown Waikiki.
Which felt a bit like a luxury after being out on trails for so long. Also, at this point, Chris' recovery was going really well. He was starting to feel like he could use his ankle again. Yet we weren't quite going on hikes or adventures because we were still waiting for all of our things and the car. So we spent a lot of time planning and looking for apartments. I started applying for 100s of jobs. Reached out to my network, landed an awesome social media contract with an environmental nonprofit based in San Jose, California.
And...we got a great apartment. That needed a paint job. So we also painted it. And our things arrived. My car arrived with a cracked windshield. Basically, everything that could go wrong went wrong, as I expected. As I learned on the trail, hard things just happen, and we roll with it.
Post-Hike Depression & Journey Onward
Why are you depressed? You got everything you wanted? It's important to consider my privileges, and yet, here I am getting depressed because shit happens. Privileges layered with lots and lots of challenges that I've had to overcome in my life, so now I have my midlife depression spells here and there. And I wish I could say I have some magical elixir that I could give all you hikers and you people something to heal that. But honestly, just do stuff you love. Stop doing the things that you feel like you're supposed to be doing, because honestly, the people doing that stuff probably don't want to be doing it either.
I was told that Hawai'i life makes you move more slowly. In some ways, it does. I think that since I didn't find a job as quickly as I would have liked, I took more time doing yoga and going for walks. We went on several outings to the beaches. We have been on paddleboarding trips down the riverbeds in Hale'iwa. I went on some hikes. I also started poking around and found something else that lights my soul up.
Work Life
On top of social media stuff, I started consulting at a wedding company amidst planning my own wedding. Is it odd that it felt so natural to plan my own? And it was even odder to realize I love getting organized, helping with florals, and prepping for the events and day of coordination too. I was offered a job as a social worker, and I said 'no'. Can you believe it? I also said no to other jobs that just didn't sound appealing. I don't want to sit in a tiny cubicle and only ever be at my computer. I like both action and inaction. I like computer work, and I like running around at events. I like hiking, and sometimes a great town day. Even if I need the money. I think that says something. Let's start saying no to more things that don't serve us.
Reflections
What did I learn? I hate moving. I hate job hunting. I love weddings and wedding coordination. I am finding my feet and turning my gears with social media, and I am really enjoying it. I started building my own webpage. So why am I back here? Why am I blogging for The Trek? Well...dear friends. I am hiking again, but this time, for a shorter journey.
Thru-hike Itinerary
What crazy shenanigans am I up to now? Well, anyone who knows me well knows I am only missing a small 150-mile section of the Sierra to be 100% complete with thru-hiking the PCT. I've hiked this darn thing two times, and I'm ready to be done. I also previously hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail when I first got into backpacking back in 2017. So I'm using this summer to clean up old goals and wipe my slate clean, and do some fun new stuff if I've got it in me. What's also super special about this experience is that my hiking trip in the Sierra is expected to be complete right before my birthday. Truly, I couldn't have planned it better. What a great way to start my 35th year on the planet. 🌎
Birthday Backpacking Trip
Haleakala National Park in Maui (18-20 miles)
Tahoe Rim Trail (165 miles)
Sierra & Etna section (550ish miles) + Climb Mt. Whitney
Possible Bonus Hike* (102 miles)
So, help cheer me on. It's been a rough go, and I definitely need the support. ✌️
Other Exciting Updates
As of April 2026, I have officially been recognized as part of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. So per my usual...
Whose land am I on? Learn why it’s important to respect the land we travel on.
