I can't complain.
I have an amazing life and I'm healthy.
I have loved ones in my life and they too are healthy.
But I can't help but be rather disappointed that my AZT thru-hike was cut short. WAY SHORT!
We made it 70 miles before we felt it was time to stop.
The Coronavirus took us off trail and back home.
It was a hard decision yet I feel the right one.
When we started the trail there was barely any talk of the virus besides the fact that a few people in the United States had contracted it and we were reminded of our good hygiene habits. We didn't worry, we'd be away from the world, isolated on the trail. Were else would be a better place to be healthy?
About 5 days in were hearing that some major cities were asking their residents to stay home. Non-essential businesses were temporarily closing.
Yet, again, this didn't worry us since we were on trail and away from major cities.
Then the news trickled in. REI was closed. (Hikers pay attention to this.) Restaurants were closing. The Grand Canyon, which the AZT treks through, closed all its concessionaires and campgrounds. Many Trail Angels, the amazing people that help hikers out with shuttling, lodging and anything we need, were announcing they were staying home.
Shit was starting to get real.
Slowly it seemed the world was shutting down around us.
Then word got to us that stores were being wiped of fresh foods, meats and toilet paper. This was alarming to me, what if we roll into town and need food and it was all gone?!
As I hiked each hour and each day I contemplated when was the right time to bail the trail. I wasn't getting news each day only when we came to town and after day 5-6 that wouldn't happen again until about day 9-10. No news isn't always good news.
On day 8 we arrived at a location called Kentucky Camp where a camp host gave us more negative news and we were able to gather some of our own.
We made the decision to jump off trail and head back to Tucson. That was March 20, 2020.
Today is March 25th and I'm home. Missing the trail more than I would imagine. But I'm healthy and safe.
I have an amazing life and I'm healthy.
I have loved ones in my life and they too are healthy.
Giving In After a Week
We made it 70 miles before we felt it was time to stop.
The Coronavirus took us off trail and back home.
It was a hard decision yet I feel the right one.
When we started the trail there was barely any talk of the virus besides the fact that a few people in the United States had contracted it and we were reminded of our good hygiene habits. We didn't worry, we'd be away from the world, isolated on the trail. Were else would be a better place to be healthy?
About 5 days in were hearing that some major cities were asking their residents to stay home. Non-essential businesses were temporarily closing.
Yet, again, this didn't worry us since we were on trail and away from major cities.
Then the news trickled in. REI was closed. (Hikers pay attention to this.) Restaurants were closing. The Grand Canyon, which the AZT treks through, closed all its concessionaires and campgrounds. Many Trail Angels, the amazing people that help hikers out with shuttling, lodging and anything we need, were announcing they were staying home.
Shit was starting to get real.
 |
| Mt Wrightson |
Then word got to us that stores were being wiped of fresh foods, meats and toilet paper. This was alarming to me, what if we roll into town and need food and it was all gone?!
As I hiked each hour and each day I contemplated when was the right time to bail the trail. I wasn't getting news each day only when we came to town and after day 5-6 that wouldn't happen again until about day 9-10. No news isn't always good news.
On day 8 we arrived at a location called Kentucky Camp where a camp host gave us more negative news and we were able to gather some of our own.
We made the decision to jump off trail and head back to Tucson. That was March 20, 2020.
Today is March 25th and I'm home. Missing the trail more than I would imagine. But I'm healthy and safe.
Comments
Post a Comment