Two years ago today...

Sometimes it seems like a different lifetime...

Sometimes it feels like yesterday... 

It's all the same really.

Life goes by so quickly.

Embrace and love the amazing journey.

It's worth it.

:)

The tops of mountains...

I went on an awesome journey this weekend. I realize as I write that how very inadequate my words are. I throw out the words 'awesome' and 'amazing' all the time as though everything I do and every day I live is somehow the greatest thing EVER and everyone else is just getting by while I have a grand, adventurous life. 

Truth? My sudden decision to move to New England seemed quick and wild and daring to many people... But it was something I had been praying about for a long long time. It just came together fast. Living in Massachusetts gives me opportunities to climb big mountains and experience crazy new things in the city... But it's not always easy and fun and sometimes I am frustrated and angry with myself. My life isn't all adventures and excitement... But I NEVER fall asleep at night without remembering why I am so very blessed and thankful for the opportunities I have. 

I say those things because they are TRUE, but also because I am now going to tell you about my ridiculous weekend! Lucky you!

Original plan: drive to New Hampshire (like 2 1/2 hours) and hike the Pemi Loop (I THINK that is what it is called!). This would be about 32 miles over about 10 4,000 ft peaks from Saturday afternoon until Monday afternoon.

The reality: It was COLD, those mountains are HIGH, and my legs aren't used to lugging me and my big old pack up mountains anymore. Sure we climbed Mt. Moosilauke a few weeks ago but that was with a single daypack between us and 3.5 miles up and then 3.5 down to a warm car and rest for the feets. This weekend? 20+ pound pack (I really don't know, that's a guess...) and 3 days. MY FAVE!! Seriously.

So, cloudy summits day one and tough climbs to the ridge, stealth camp at something like 3500 ft meant COLD winds all night, BUT a BEAUTIFUL (but cold and windy) day across the Franconia Ridge and AMAZING views that I didn't get to see when I passed thru on the AT last time. Then? Sitting atop Mt. Garfield and deciding to head into the valley rather than over 4 more mountains. 

Was it what we planned? Nope. It was better in some ways! And those mountains have apparently been there a while and aren't going anywhere so I'll go back sometime. :) in the end, 25 miles, 6 4000 ft peaks, a little less than 48 hours... and no blisters! Success!!

A great adventure... New adventures coming soon. I am blessed. 

Oh, and here's the view from the Franconia Ridge!

Cities, mountains, walking in cities and mountains...

This is my life these days. True.

I haven't bought gas in 2 weeks... Since the New York Turnpike. Weird. Partially because I have had a very nice chauffeur (not a REAL one!!), mostly because I just walk everywhere. Weird, but true. I am learning to be a city girl!

Last weekend I got to return to two of my very favorite parts of the AT.  It's funny sometimes because it has been so long since the trail that it often seems like it is all one big experience and the little parts kind of blur together.  Last weekend though I got to return to two great places that were part of my journey... 

First, from Friday to Monday we spent the weekend in New Hampshire at Matt and Erica's lake house.  PERFECT.  Two years ago last  weekend I spent a few days at their house when they picked us up from the trail and treated us to a great weekend.  This year my summer was crazy and busy and the last few weeks have been kind of overwhelming at times so it was nice to have some down time... no expectations, little thought about the future... just some peace. 

Then on Monday before heading back to Lowell we climbed one of my favorite mountains.  

Mt. Moosilauke.  

OK, not really one of my favorite mountains but I do remember being REALLY excited to climb it on the AT because it is BIG (4,800 ft) to an Ohio corn fields girl, and beautiful and it made me feel like I had accomplished something BIG.  Last Monday was the same.

Last time I was there it looked like this...

This time?  This time it looked more like this....

OK, that is not really the summit of Moosilauke and I didn't take it yesterday, but you get the idea!  It was SUPER foggy and somewhat rainy... but I am so glad we climbed anyway, because it was a great day.

Last time Moosilauke kicked my butt on the way down.  BAD.  This time was lots easier (probably because I wasn't carrying an extra 30 pounds on my back!)... I knew what to expect, but my legs were still sore... some things never change!

Big mountains will (hopefully) never stop being amazing to me.  

I do love a good climb up a mountain. This coming weekend the plan is to do the Franconia Ridge in the Whites. SUPER EXCITED to put my pack on again. It's likely to be an interesting trek... We'll see!!

So... It's city life for this girl for now with bits of mountains and wilderness mixed in. I'm excited about life, what the coming days and weeks will hold. I'm just simple old me... Living a strange and different life, and feeling so amazingly blessed to get to do it.  Truly truly blessed. Transitions aren't always easy and I know this one won't be the exception to that, but I am so happy to have made a decision and followed my heart, wherever the path leads.

Blessed.

PS. I moved to Lowell, Massachusetts. 

I think I forgot to mention that along the way! Yay! Eeek! Yay!!

ooops, I think I'm in love

... with a computer.  It's a problem!

Ok, not really but it has been AGES since I updated my blog and as I sit here in the STAC at Wright State U waiting for my DVD to burn it seems like a good time for an update.  Right?!?!

SO... hmmm... well, I don't update my blog because really my life isn't all that interesting... AT ALL.  This spring was full of substitute teaching and Target.  Thrilling.  I did manage two trips to Massachusetts, which were pretty great!  On the second trip I got to do awesome things like hang out in Boston and ride the duck boats and eat cannoli and hang out with a friend that makes me smile a lot and sit on my butt and drink coffee, OH and go to my cousin's wedding(which was lovely).  Fabulous.  I got to see a dear friend from Brazil in Dayton for a few hours which was crazy, but good.  I baked a lot of brownies.  Ummmm... I climbed trees once and went on a couple day hikes... but mostly I just subbed and folded shirts and hung out.  See?  Thrilling!

Today finds me starting week 4 of working as the Assistant Coordinator of Discovery/Odyssey for the Office of Precollege Programs at Wright State.  I write it all out like that to make it seem epically important... but really I make videos and make sure kids don't hurt themselves at rec/lunch/swimming/extended care.  Its like daycamp/summer school... but I'm here so of course it is way cooler than those things.  =)  I spend a lot of time in the STAC working on iMovie and I tell you what... I need to find a real job so I can get me a mac... I am in love with this computer!  (Maybe I'll try to steal it... seems like I could just walk out with it right?!)

So, yeah, that's what's new in my little corner of the world.  I am still trying hard to find a teaching job ANYWHERE, but being an overeducated, semi experienced gal isn't really working in my favor.  I'm still hopeful but making contingency plans just in case... important things like maybe hiking out in Colorado or New Hampshire or Maine or... ANYWHERE... you know, important back up plans that SHOULD involve getting health insurance or a steady income but instead involve saving up as much as possible and then hanging out in the woods.  I'm a realist!  hahaha

The next couple of months are gonna be unpredictable, but who knows.... maybe something epic will happen.  I could find a JOB, move somewhere exciting, or go on an adventure. I'll let you know!  But for now, I'm still here in Dayton, trying to pry myself off of this computer and hoping the sun comes out today.

Hope your day is full of warm sun and smiles!

Weird....

Today is April 27th.

Today is my wonderful friend Carrie's birthday.

I'm really bad at remembering birthdays.  Except Carrie's.

I remember her's because I texted her right after I took this picture...

I was on Springer Mountain, headed out for a few weeks on the Appalachian Trail and I was letting her know that's what I was doing... since I didn't really tell anyone I was leaving!  She replied something like "I'm having birthday lunch with Sarah (or something)... and I thought... Jeesh, worst friend ever, I totally forgot!!

But there it is... two years ago I started hiking the AT. That's insane.

I got really really dirty....

I saw some amazing views....

I climbed some real big mountains....

I REALLY messed up my shoes (and feet)...

And I ended up walking to here...

I could tell you all the things that I learned while hiking north (and south in VA) and along the crazy trails I've hiked since.  I could tell you about that amazing journey and the hundreds of  things it taught me.  Instead I will say this, now, two years after standing on Springer Mountain...

Life is a journey.  

I may not have expected to walk all the way to Maine and a few hours after that first picture I may have been wondering if I would even walk to North Carolina.  Yet I did because life is a crazy, unpredictable, unexpected journey.  And its beautiful.

Life is about being patient.

Sometimes I get frustrated by where I am, by the slow slog to get to where I want to be, by what seems to be unending roadblocks in my way to my dreams.  Then I just remember, be patient.  Every day I drive at least 30 miles back and forth to work (usually closer to 50).  That used to be about 2 days of walking!  Sometimes life moves fast, sometimes it moves slow... its a journey, I'm learning to be patient.

Life is unexpected.

The very first night on the trail I spent at Hawk Mountain Shelter.  I made friends that lasted for a few weeks and met someone who (except for giving him a break in VA from my presence) I walked with all the way to Maine... and is still an important part of my life.  I didn't expect that but I am so blessed by it.  Life is full or surprises and twists and turns... I'm learning to appreciate the unexpected.

Two years later?  I'm not a dirty hiker girl anymore (well, not every day- she's hidden somewhere in there though!).  I don't carry my entire life on my back, and I (mostly) go to work every day rather than follow the trail.  But I look back at that crazy journey with so much appreciation for the things I learned, for the things I continue to learn.

I am blessed.

According to science and the calendar spring is here. Sure it's cold and windy today in Ohio. Sure I spent the day at school and Target, but it's the first day of spring. I didn't need anyone to tell me that... I know because my heart (and feet) want nothing like they want to be in the woods. Too many months indoors, in shoes that don't make sense and clothes that are (mainly) khaki and red. Too many months of temperature control, running water, and stale air.

I know it spring because I long for the woods. I wonder if that will ever stop, that longing to take a long walk on a wooded trail. Will it ever lose its wonder?

I hope not. I need to plan some hikes! Wanna come??

Thankful for Mondays...

It's a rainy Monday morning in Dayton today, the kind of day you want to spend in bed but can't because you have a million things to do. Life... Monday morning.

I haven't blogged in ages because I am pretty boring these days. Probably no one even out there reading anymore, eh? Crickets... Silence!!

I recently got back from a great trip to Massachusetts. It was peaceful and simple. It may not have been full of excitement, but it was exactly what I needed after the ridiculousness of the last few months. It was perfect. Except the snow... Boo on the snow. Although at least they know what to do with snow and don't get all worked up about it like we do here!! It was redeemably pretty and I just stayed inside and looked at it!

I briefly started a new job. I thought it was a good fit and it definitely is the job I have long wanted. Yet it only lasted a week before I was so exhausted I got sick and had to quit. Ah well, next time....

My family is ridiculous, my friends are nuts-o (mostly in a good way), and Target and substitute teaching are keeping me busy. I'm still searching for my next step, keeping my options open, still waiting to see what's coming. Frustrating at times for sure but working to stay positive an look for the beauty in these days.

Another Monday, this one so different from the last (and last Monday was pretty good, crazy but good). Mondays are hard after long weekends and vacations and even though I start this Monday exhausted at least I know this... Another week of possibility stands before me, time to get out of this bed and see what the day holds.

Anybody wanna hire me?!

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with my life lately.  I haven't stood on this mountain in Vermont or any mountain for that matter in quite a long time now.  Well, unless you count standing on the side of a mountain on the PA Turnpike, but I don't!

I was just wondering the other day as I was walking through the Target parking lot in the cold wind, whining about having to scrape my car windows to go home what this place looks like now, covered in snow.  I hate the cold, but someday maybe I'll go check it out and see what it looks like in the winter.  MAYBE.

I neglected to do a goodbye/hello reflection for the beginning of the new year, since I was in New Jersey for my grandpa's funeral.  Honestly, in the midst of everything I didn't really think too much about the New Year... I spent it with my family in my grandpa's house watching Abby and Nick do the "Gangam Style" which was quite different than my usual New Year's but interesting none the less.  (Those kids are crazy!)

So, 2012 passed behind... with its ridiculous 5 jobs in 12 months, 400 miles of hiking in Arizona and a trip to the belly of the Grand Canyon that was beautiful and hard, nearly 500 miles of hiking on the East Coast that were lonely but AMAZING, being annoyed and entertained by my family, and making fun new friends while holding on to my friends who have endured my crazy antics.  In 2012 I learned how to succeed at things I didn't plan (like The Long Trail) and fail at things I planned on (like the Arizona Trail).  I learned what makes those Starbucks baristas so happy all the time (unlimited free caffeine) and what Target is like after its closed (creepy!).  I learned how to live without planning more than a few weeks ahead and how to make plans for the future without knowing what is coming.  I learned what its like to live with your heart in many places and how to love a place I didn't know I missed.

2012 was nuts sometimes, but mostly just happened... with its craziness and unpredictability.  2013 is just as unpredictable and I'm excited to see what's ahead... cause I have NO idea what is next.