August 19
Mile 2627.7-2650.1 (22.4 +8.5 to Manning Park)
My shoes are in tatters, my socks are threadbare, my legs move mechanically.
I have walked a very long way this year and seen so much beauty and wildness. Now all I want to do is curl up in Pat’s arms and go to sleep.
I cling to each mile I walk. I say goodbye to my surroundings, the mountains and trees that have kept me company. The blue sky and snowy peaks. When I reach the monument, I break into tears.
Then I am all smiles and laughter as McGyver appears and we are celebrating and taking pictures and reading the logbook. It is a beautiful hot day and I just finished walking from Mexico to Canada.
I set out for the final 8.5 miles to Manning Park. McGyver catches up in the last mile and we walk together. I think we are both lonely. At Manning Park, I sit for a while in the steam room. I think about Northern California and the last hot week on the trail, sweating in the forested valleys. This room is closed in ceramic tile and the hot wet air blasts from vents near the ceiling.
It takes a long time to get clean. I shower and do laundry and barely make it to the lodge restaurant before the kitchen closes. My meal is huge and festive. McGyver and I talk about the PCT and other trails over dinner, then make our way back to the lobby to wait for the 2am bus that will take us far, far from the woods.
Head for the hills 
Congrats! It has been a real pleasure following your blog these last 4 months. It has given me inspiration to pursue my own trials on the PCT hopefully next year. Thank you so much, and I look forward to following more of your travels. Good luck in Oregon!
What a hero! Congratulations on completing an epic hike.
Congrats! Beautiful story and experience.
And just like that, what started at an idea and a dream ends with a step into Canada and, I’m sure, an amazing sense of wonder and accomplishment. Thank you for sharing your trip with me. I want to go back from you Day 1 and read it all. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations on another epic hike!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!!!! I’ll miss your daily missives. Can’t wait to hear about the next adventure you undertake. You are an amazing woman.
Inspiring stuff. I’ve enjoyed your blog. Congrats on the journey
Congrats! I’ve enjoyed following along on your adventure. You’ve been an inspiration!
Congratulations !
Congratulations! Rest, recuperate and keep the beauty, quiet and serenity alive inside while you adjust back into life with your love! Oh and the cure for missing the trail? Plan your next hike!:-)
I came across your blog at about day 25 and have been captivated about your story. It has always been a long time dream of mine to do the PCT and as I get older I keep looking for the opportunity that it will happen (daughters marriages, and third one graduating from college). Your stories and descriptions have been so great, that I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for the next posting. You are a stud…4 months, by yourself for most of it. I truly wish you and Pat the happiest of marriages and that God will bless the rest of your life.
Congratulations! I’ve been following you since the early Sierra, but made sure to catch up on the previous days of your hike. What an incredible adventure! You did great. 🙂
well done
Your accomplishment is amazing. We have followed you all the way. You will have sometime getting use to being back in society, but good luck with your future endeavors, the sky is the limit.
SO EXCITED FOR YOU. QUITE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT. i’VE ENJOYED FOLLOWING ALONG. THANKS!! ENJOY YOUR TRANSITION BACK TO THE REAL WORLD. KEEP HIKING…
Oh ,sorry to see the blogs end😢 But what an adventure, I want so bad to hike the PCT. Amazing hike, you were awesome. !!!!
Way to go Stretch!! And way to go Spider for legging it most of the way with Stretch and and then providing support from afar when you were dealt a bad hand! I look forward to seeing you guys again somewhere down the line. Best of fortunes in Oregon this fall and winter.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey with your beautiful words and pictures. I hope your new life in Oregon fulfills all your dreams.
WTG you strong, strong young woman!!! Such a trek. Thank you for sharing your journey both physical and mental. Happy trails in your marriage, I know you will succeed and enjoy your journey. I wish the best for your future as you shared and kept our beloved PCT alive again with your epic tale. Peace 🙂
I was fortunate to find your blog early and have had the absolute joy of following your journey. Thank you! You are an inspiration to many, many people.
Congrats! Excellent writing.
Amazing! Well done! Thank you so much for letting us follow your journey on your blog.
Congratulations and thank you! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog the past few months and wish you and Pat much happiness and success in the days, months and years to come!
Thanks Jeremy!
CONGRATULATIONS!
thanks for sharing your travels. It’s been a fun and inspirational read the last few months. Congratulations!
I sent you a post after your PCT and settling into Oregon. Dont know if you received it or not. you talked about hiking and iI mentioned that you could get some serious alone time in the Siskiyous. iI want able to offer up any suggestions. Suddenly my mind clicked back on this subject due to another article and wanted to share the name of a person that has not only hiking that area but trails all over the NoCal Oregon area. Hope this helps you find your next adventure. https://jansjaunts.wordpress.com/california-jaunts/
I may be a year late, but I really enjoyed reading this. I loved your writing. Thank you for sharing these wonderful snapshots of your experience on the trail. I hope you and Pat are doing well in the Pacific Northwest. That’s definitely my kind of place. I have family there and my wife and I have travelled there a good amount and soaked up things we love there. Maybe we will move there someday as well. I also hope that you can find a good balance with the real world as required and that you find what you need on trails and in the mountains as often as you need it. Happy Trails
Thanks for your kind words!