As the Trail Turns

Pacific Crest Trail. In a bar, Sierra City. 2010. 1 am. Barstools. On my left sit two twenty-something dude hikers. On my right a man pulls money out of his weathered leather wallet. He doesn't see a lot of women come through and he's desperate for a lay. Behind me are his two big cousins. … Continue reading Barstools

Just a coupla nice Midwestern gals, Ohio. She comes up to me at a gathering, with dimples and glasses too big for her face. We laugh in an octagonal room full of squares. We bond over our FlexTrek Whipsnakes! then sneak off to get high and make fun of hiking culture. Before I have to … Continue reading D

I've turned into a burned teddy cholla. But not dead! Runs! Juices! Hikes! Dead in Bed! Then Runs bloody, swollen, burning, itchy, TOTALLY BATSHITSFDJKdfsjk. When I come out of this, TIME, JUICING, SLEEP, FORGETTING IT SOMEHOW, I will not be the same. I cannot think of hiking, it makes me cry. To be a prisoner … Continue reading TSW

"It's not you it's me" he says at Evolution Creek, easy crossing. My first trailmance is breaking up with me--after I tried to cross Evolution hard crossing and it was up to my tits. I held my backpack over my head which dislocated my shoulder and why didn't I take the easier way?? Buck Tooth … Continue reading Snot Nutella

Joey is from Canada and has skin like the Southwest. She is my first hiking partner ever.  I am so bumbly but she is Mother Teresa meets Chaka Khan. I follow her gorgeous bronze legs from the desert to the Sierra and stare drool-y eyed at her gap toothed smile that is Pippi meets Ghandi. … Continue reading Joey

Every year I saw Duffy. He lived next to the church in Sierra City. In the morning he'd put coffee and snacks out and we'd stand in a circle in his driveway and chat about whatever. One time he drove his van to meet us up the trail, on some obscure dirt road. He liked … Continue reading Duffy

Let me tell you how to be one of the greats. Hike madly fast while at the same time smoking pipe tobacco rollies. Roll while climbing, roll at 4 am, roll in your sleep. Cough to be my alarm and I'll lie there happy to be in my warm sleeping bag while you smoke. Then … Continue reading Rest Stop