Over 900 miles and I finally got a name for the trail

Trail names are almost like a rite of passage for hikers. They can come from personality traits, clothing, moments that happen along the way, and everything in between. It is also one of the most common questions: «What is the name of your trail?»

And I didn’t have one for the first 900 miles.

People definitely commented on that fact. Someone once asked me, «How did you get here and you still don’t have the name of the trail?» I have some ideas as to why it’s taken so long. First, because my real name sounds like a trail name and I was told several times that I should use it. Secondly, I haven’t been part of a group long enough to have moments that could make a name for myself.

It didn’t bother me though. I often told people that my trail name was just marinating and that it would happen eventually. I also told people that if I got within 100 miles of Mount Katahdin and still didn’t have a name, I would just name it myself.

Luckily, it’s not a problem anymore because I finally got one!

My route name

Without further ado, the name of my route is….

Sweet pea!

I wasn’t sure at first, but the group I was with was so happy and confident about it that I couldn’t say no.

Your next question, as it should, is probably: How did I get the name Sweet Pea?

Short story? I ate a whole casserole of baked beans and sugar snap peas.

Long story? Let me tell you the story.

The story behind the name

There we were, Music Man, fish fingers, olive oil and I, sitting and eating lunch next to an entrance station to Shenandoah National Park. We were about to leave when someone stopped and asked us if we were walking with NOBO.

This person, Nishka Santa, told us he was the camp host at Lewis Campground. He also mentioned that he would be doing magic on the trails at 5 pm for hikers. How could we refuse such an invitation?

When we arrived, he offered us hamburgers and hot dogs. As the resident vegan of the group, I asked if there were vegan options. He pointed to a box and said I could have anything I could find. What I found was a 20 ounce can of baked beans and a 15 ounce can of sugar snap peas.

The following are all the ways I made Nishka Santa think I was weird:

1.) I said I could put both in a pot.

2.) I drank the pea juice once it was drained.

3.) I said I would eat it all hot or cold.

At that time, Nishka Santa had serious doubts about me. And I don’t blame him! But then he said something I couldn’t ignore.

I was sure I wouldn’t be able to finish the entire pot of beans and peas.

Outwardly I agreed with him. Internally I thought, “Challenge accepted.”

It wasn’t long before I was scooping out the last bite of beans and peas. I proudly presented my empty frying pan to Nishka Santa and grabbed a plate full of chips on the way back to my place.

To which one of my fellow hiking group exclaimed, «That’s it! What’s up with Sweet Pea?»

From then on the name stuck.

The meaning behind the name

I’m leaving out some details, but that’s the sparkling version of the story that led to my name.

However, there are more meanings behind this.

The group also thought the name was appropriate because they said it matched my personality – a piece of the puzzle they had been trying to figure out when it came to figuring out my trail name.

What you may not have considered is that it also goes very well with the fact that I am vegan. A plant-based name for a plant-eater!

Which brings me to the last meaning of the name. I didn’t know it, but the sweet pea is also a type of flower that symbolizes friendship, kindness and gratitude. It feels good to me.

The impact of a name

Sweet Pea was probably never a name I would have chosen for myself, but it didn’t take me long to get used to it. In fact, I think there’s a warmth and joy to the name that I hope to embody here on the trail.

With the name of this trail comes another item crossed off my AT Bucket List. Now there are only a few things left and I’m not even halfway there yet!

I know this post is a little longer than the others. I appreciate you reading all of this. I hope it brought a bright spot to your day. Good luck and happy trails, friends!

And so we continue the adventure….

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