Another challenge for me with thru-hiking is that I don't feel useful while doing it. There's no team of people waiting for me to show up because they are counting on my unique skills. The goal to get to Canada doesn’t feel extremely impactful to me. While I know that self- discovery and growth are a large part of thru-hiking, there's something about primarily facing inward that doesn't align with my sense of purpose.

We arrived at Kennedy Meadows in the afternoon. If you've seen the movie "Wild," you've seen Kennedy Meadows. It's a place where there's a big front and side porch filled with dirty hikers eating burgers and drinking beers. When hikers arrive at Kennedy Meadows "fresh" off the trail, everyone cheers and claps to celebrate their arrival. It was such a funny feeling to be applauded as we walked up. I had this strange desire to do a backflip while holding my trekking poles (but of course that's something I can't actually do).

The next day we drove to Las Vegas, what an opposite scene from trail livin'! Easy had a very distinct desire for jean shorts ("JORTS"), so we popped by a Goodwill thrift store on our way into town. We ended up staying in "Paris" and had a blast eating delicious food and people watching. I went to the pool that afternoon and took selfies under the "Eiffel Tower." We both had only been to Vegas one other time and it was the perfect very different experience for both of us.

I told her about how I ask my mom to send me wishes instead of worries when she shares concerns for my safety. When I said this, her eyes lit up and she said "You are everywhere" to me. It was such an unusual and amazing compliment. She's planning a trip to Eugene, Oregon this summer despite her son's worries. I suggested she go in July instead of June because hopefully then the rainy season will be over. I told her about how beautiful the roses are in Oregon and showed her some pictures that I had taken in the Portland Rose Garden. When she saw the light purple Sterling Rose, she let out an audible squeal over how beautiful it was.

We decided to take a break from the trail for a few weeks primarily due to all the snow still in the Sierras but also because our tent poles went missing...

We used our vacation from our vacation as a time to see our families, relax, eat delicious food, and we even did some backpacking in the Gila National Forest in Southern New Mexico!

When we pulled up to the Best Western, Jim asked for our names so he could keep us in his prayers. We told him, and then Easy shook his hand. I reached my hand towards him from the backseat but he didn't shake my hand. It was very strange. I reversed my extended hand and got out of the car. I noticed a National Rifle Association lifetime member sticker on the window before we walked away. Jim gave his phone number to Easy in case we needed a ride back to the post office or trail in the next few days. As we walked away, Easy and I talked about how either his peripheral vision was no good or he wouldn't shake my hand because I'm a woman.