Ok...I know it only took me, ummm like 7 months to write this post. I'm sorry to all those who were eagerly waiting. It's really simple to sit down and write a blog post, but why the procrastination??? Perhaps I just wasn't ready to turn that final page of the journey over. As I had told others who'd ask when I was going to finish my blog, "I'll finish it when I'm ready," was always my answer, it was my journey, and this is how went:
Day 137
14 miles
PCT mile 2668-THE END, Manning Park, BC, Canada!!!!!
Well...nature won last night...I laid in my tent long enough listening to the squeaky trees and worrying about the wind and my mortality, that at around 11pm I got up, threw everything out of my tent, dragged my tent out from under the dead trees that most likely were going to fall on me and end my PCT journey 1 day too soon, ending up on uneven ground sloping down, but sure I'd sleep much better here then my previous choice.
It was a bittersweet morning packing up camp. Just a mere 6 miles to the border...and then I'd be there, Canada. It's like one of those days where it doesn't seem real, like a hazy dream, is this really about to happen?!?
I beat the group out of camp, well Stomper left first, but I followed suit shortly after. This journey was about me and my solo trek from Mexico to Canada and I wanted to walk the last 6 miles to the border alone. In those 6 miles I replayed the whole 2660 miles in my head and what it took to get me there. Memories brought smiles to my face, tears to my eyes, overwhelming gratitude to my soul and sadness to my heart. I took in every breath like it was my last and filled my body with the wilderness that had become a part of me, that had taught me more about myself than I could not even begin to comprehend in that moment.
And then it was there! The monument! Canada! Just like that...no words can describe, I was numb. But a happy numb, this really happened.
Hornsby was there...happy to see him (it had been 5 days since I saw him last, but knew he was only a few miles ahead) we were able to celebrate this moment together. We had quite a journey, I first met Hornsby on day 75 in Burney Falls...little did I know the miles and days we would stick out together. We were what was left of the Caboose Crew...Buffalo finished days ahead, and Sanford somewhere still behind us.
We soaked in the moment of the border, took pictures, and witnessed as the others came to the same place as us, an end of a never-to-be-forgotten life changing journey.
The rest of the crew:
Eventually I was getting cold and needed to start moving again. The trail doesn't just end at the border...we still had 8 miles left to get to the nearest road and civilization. I continued on. Three miles later I came upon a BIG surprise:
I was speechless and awestricken...My mom and my brother, Eric, flew into Seattle yesterday, drove to Manning Park, Canada and then hiked 5 miles south onto the PCT this morning and waited for me!!! They knew I would finish sometime today, but really played the wildcard and waited several hours in the middle of the Canadian Wilderness for me to show up.
What an epic way to end an epic journey. I hiked into Manning Park, Canada, with my brother, Eric, and my mom by my side.
Best trail magic of the whole trail.
I am forever grateful to all my supporters...it would have never happened without all the love and strength I gained from all of you at home believing in me and this journey. So many of you made my resupply days unexpected and fun!!! The simple messages I got along the way...made tough days melt away. Thank you all,
Love,
Happy Feet
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