Why Am I Doing This?

Friends, Family, random people...so it begins.

The idea of hiking the PCT took hold of me about a year and a half ago, after reading Cheryl Strayed's WILD (hence my blog title), and I wasn't able to shake it. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous and absurd it sounded, the more I knew that I had to do it. Something about this called to me in a way that nothing ever has.

I'm not a writer, or rather, we're all writers, but I'm not a Writer. Creating a blog seemed like the easiest way to keep people up to date about where I was on the trail, and that yes, I was still alive. Originally, that's all this blog was going to be--an interactive map. I don't want to assume that people will want to get deeper than that, but since I have the platform, I might as well keep a log--for myself if nothing else.

I'm doing this to push my boundaries; to get out of my comfort zone; to find myself by losing myself, and all the other reasons someone would choose to do a long-distance solo hike. This is a journey of self-discovery, but more than anything I'm doing this because I have the opportunity and I'm not getting any younger! Who knows what will happen along the way, or whether I will finish where I anticipate, but what I get out of it will be exactly what I needed, I'm sure of that. I'm envisioning that this will be the hardest thing I've ever tried, but also one of the most rewarding.

Please join me as I undertake this challenge--tell me how crazy I am; write me positive messages to keep me going; join me for a portion of the hike; or feel free to send me letters/junk food along the way! :)