How does it feel to be a triple crowner?

I have been asked many questions over the past few months and my answer has been the same: I feel complete in this area of ​​my life. That niggle in the back of my mind that continually reminded me that I had more trails to go has calmed down. I have accomplished my mission.

When I started the Continental Divide Trail in 2021, I had no idea I would become a Triple Crowner. I figured I might eventually do the Pacific Crest Trail at some point in the future, but the Appalachian Trail wasn’t on my list. However, the transformative experiences that the CDT rewarded me changed the entire trajectory of my life. After sleeping under the stars, hiking through snowstorms, and dining with kind strangers, I had to see what the other trails taught me.

The most impactful lesson I learned on the AT was to be confident in my abilities even when others weren’t so confident. I have a tendency to underestimate myself, so if I know I can do something, I can probably do even more. This gift of self-knowledge resonates not only along the way, but throughout my life.

On the PCT I embraced camaraderie and friendship. Although I didn’t walk with a tram for my entire hike, I spent a good amount of time with friends I met along the way. At some points I chose to slow down to walk with others, while at other times I had to speed up to stay with the group. I’m usually not one to change my plans for the good of the company, but on this path that was exactly what I needed to do. The SOBO bubble was small but mighty and full of kind and generous people.

My adventures wouldn’t be so transformative if it weren’t for all the people off the trail who helped and supported me along the way. I want to thank everyone who collaborated to help me move forward these past few years. Thank you to my family for sending me packages and coming to meet me on the road. Thank you to the trail angels across the country who took me or welcomed me into their homes. Thank you to the trail volunteers who have worked tirelessly to maintain and improve the trails we love.

And thanks to all of you blog readers who have sent me messages of encouragement and gifts to make life on the trail a little easier. There is a lot to read on the Internet, so I am especially grateful to the loyal readers who read and commented on almost every post. Thank you for sticking with me all these days, weeks, and months along the way, even when I wasn’t posting consistently. I never thought so many people would be interested in my story, so THANK YOU!

And of course, thanks to Zach and everyone at The Trek for giving me a place to share with all of you.

A note on the Triple Coronation. In addition to all the other hikers who have encouraged me, I want to send a special shout out to the black hiking community. In some of my final photos I’m wearing a gold crown. This crown has a long (and fortunately growing) history. Akuna, the first black man in the Triple Crown, wore this crown first and has since passed it on to other black hikers, including Grizzly Smurf, who I ran into by chance on my CDT hike back in 2021.

Akuna and his crown

Grizzly Smurf moved on to the Triple Crown and graciously passed the crown to me so I could wear it when my time came. I am proud to be among this group of (probably less than 10) black Triple Crowners. I know there is more to come. I’m looking for the next future black Triple Coronador to pass it on to, so if that’s you, let me know!

As for what’s next, I’m not too sure. What I do know is that there are still plenty of trails and adventures on my list. The world is a huge place and there is still a lot of life to live between adventures. For now, though, I’ll sit down with Janitor and find out what the next chapter of life has in store for us.

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