Why the hell am I walking the John Muir Trail alone…again?

When I think of the Sierra Nevada, I see marmots, 13,000-foot mountain passes, and waterfalls. I smell the sweet evergreen perfume that only nature can produce. I hear the crunch of the earth under my feet (sometimes snow) and the sound of rocks and shale falling down a slope. I also remember the many days and nights I spent on the 220-mile-long John Muir Trail. The ups and downs, both literal and figurative, resulted in waves of sadness, struggle, triumph, pain, perspective, and a feeling of pure happiness in ways that are difficult to describe. In 2021 and 2022 I finished the tour in sections, half with friends and half alone.

Well, “the mountains are calling and I must go,” as Mr. Muir once said. So I’m planning another trip on the JMT again, this time walking alone.

My goal is to do 10 days of fastpacking, a combination of trail running and hiking. For more background and statistics on JMT, read my previous post, Blogging Take Two: From Timberline to JMT.

Here are my top 3 reasons why I’m doing the JMT solo

REASON #1: I do it for the children

I firmly believe that helping others is an important part of living with integrity. And while backpacking can be considered selfish, it doesn’t have to be that way. During my JMT walk in 2021/22, I hosted a fundraiser for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Since then, I have volunteered for the organization every year at their annual walk. I wanted to continue supporting this amazing organization during this year’s JMT walk. The MHF has been around since 1995 and has helped children with cancer and their families overcome unimaginable difficulties. No one should have to go through the journey of childhood cancer alone! Please consider learning more about the foundation and donating to my fundraiser, through which 100% of donations go directly to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation. DONATE HERE

REASON #2: Life is too short

It may seem cliché, but life is too short. If you get stuck in the rat race, you won’t realize what you’re missing until you realize you’ve missed opportunities to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Don’t get me wrong: I am fully aware that packing for a long backpacking trip is a privilege and not accessible to many. I also have an amazing family and support system, without whom I couldn’t do what I do. That being said, I could easily tell myself “someday” I will do this or that. Or maybe «I can’t because I have no one to go with.» Instead, I have the vision and I make the plan. Once there is a plan, the walking part is (relatively) easy.

Whether I live 1 more day or 100 years, I want to look back at the end of my life thinking:
«I did that. And hell yeah, it was great!»

At Mather Pass

REASON #3: Self-care, goals, and perspective are part of who I am.

I have lived through trauma and have had experiences that I do not wish to write about in detail yet. After discovering backpacking, my life changed for the better. I no longer felt like I was in a dark tunnel; Things seemed clear and bright. I was able to reflect on what I really had control over and felt like I had regained my old self again. Only now he was even stronger than before! I enjoy setting goals and working to achieve them. Backpacking regularly has become part of my identity and something I feel I need to do for my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Nature is my church.

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Happy trails!

-«Star»

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