Life of a Gal Named Liv

& another 50.4 in three days. It’s crazy how easy pulling miles is getting! This short section was quite the treat, with 2 of the days being a “NERO” (near zero AKA days where you only hike part of the day).

& the themes would have to be trail magic & eclairs!

445.65 total so far.

DAY 26: Horse Camp to Hikertown (9.5 miles)

Woke up early, around 5 to the sun just starting to rise. As I got ready for the day a beautiful pink sunrise overtook the sky. I headed out from camp, and scurried down the hills towards town. Unfortunately the trail was very overgrown, so my backpack and tent bag got a bit torn up. With the past few days being stormy, I didn’t have any phone battery left to take photos (since I run off a solar panel). The clouds started to break away, out came the sun & down I went for my first snack of the day. I ate a trail mix flavored pro bar, (talk about calorie loading!,) and conveniently-my phone turned on. Ladybug and I had been debating on what time to attempt the aqueduct, and since he was already in town in looked like I may be doing 25-30 miles instead of the 9.5 planned. After a quick physical assessment of my body, I promptly decided to do the 9.5, take a rest day at hikertown for the afternoon, and hike the aqueduct early AM the next day by myself. With the relief of only having a few miles left, I took the remaining miles slow to decrease the impact on my knees. I’m super grateful I brought knee braces, since there has been some pretty intense downhill sections on this trail! As many of you know my right knee has screws in it, that often rub and causes issue (from when I broke my Tibia and Fibula in high school). My left knee I hurt (after the broken leg) in volleyball, when trying to compensate with my left side for my weaker right side. Anyways, the downhill went fine and eventually I hit a chill dirt road.

When I was bent over taking a photo, Carolyne said a hello and we quickly became friends! About ten minutes later we came across what HAD to be hikertown. About a dozen old western style buildings in a “U” in the middle of a field. We opened the gate, tried to find whoever the heck was in charge of this place, and got settled in.

I snagged a “cabin” for $25, which was a single bed and a chair (no electricity). The bed was bare, but good lordie it was a bed!

“Whirley bird” , Carolyn’s friend, arrived at Hikertown & a few minutes later a van pulled up to take us to the corner market, and off we went to eat fried food & enjoy some shade. It was great chatting with the girls, after being only with dudes the past few weeks! The hot food was expensive but tasty. As we were about to get in the van to head back to hikertown, a trail angel arrived in the parking lot with a car FILLED with food. Turns out he hiked the PCT in 2021 with Carolyn’s sister, and was there to surprise her (the rest of us just got really lucky)!

Spent the afternoon drinking (Truly’s & Bubbly’s) eating (mini eclairs, chips, and fresh fruit) and chatting with the group before taking a hot shower (in the most ghetto outdoor shower I have ever seen) and settling down for the night. I booked my Airbnb, and then started doing my evening chores. I was THEN surprised with even more food from some folks who rented a house in the complex, and then with MORE when “Cinderella” the trail angel handed me a heaping bowl of pasta in mushroom sauce. I don’t know how many calories I ate, but it had to be a record. I fell asleep fat and happy.

DAY 27: HIKERTOWN, the Aqueduct, & Tyler horse canyon (24 miles)

Unfortunately my watch died, so I only had 3 alarms to wake me at 4am, rather than the 5 alarms I usually have – so you guessed it I slept in until just after 5. I rushed around my cabin trying to pack up without making too much noise. The lovely trail angel Cinderella offered me a pastry, but sadly my morning nauseas was in full swing. Right before sunrise, I got started and immediately got on the wrong side of a barbed wire fence! Rough start, but another outstanding sunrise turned the day right around.

Walked on dirt roads and along the LA aqueduct for about 14 miles before coming to TRAIL MAGIC. Somehow Cinderella had pulled it off & had a full breakfast and cold drinks waiting for us. I chatted with “stiches” and “rooster” for a bit, ate the amazing homemade breakfast, and then took a short siesta. Carolyn, Whirley bird , Cinderella (and his partner, Prince Charming) and I had nice conversation before I decided to take off around 11:20 to wrap up the remaining 10 miles.

I was smiling, nearly skipping, to my folk playlist while I walked through fields of Joshua trees.

I took another snack break, ate a nutty buddy and peeked on the PCT Facebook page…& there it was… a guy offering to fly people in his plane if they wanted to travel north instead of attempting the Sierra section. Not thinking anything would come if it, I messaged him… AND… I booked a private plane from Inyokern to Roseburg for the end of the month! It’s going to be around $250 for a five hour flight over some beautiful country. This was such an exciting (unexpected) birthday surprise! With nobody around to share the good news with, I yelled a “yippppppeeee” and my grin got even bigger.

The next couple hours I enjoyed the breeze (or should I say very strong winds) of the windmills, taking photos of all the flowers, and my music. The last 6 miles were much more hilly and actually on trail- a nice change of pace. Once I got my tent set up down by the creek, I stretched & ate some M &M’s in the sun. The evening was very peaceful & it was a great way to wrap up year 26.

DAY 28 (17 miles) Tyler horse canyon to Tehachapi

Happy birthday to me, meant no alarm & stretching in bed while drinking coffee. Nice and slow, with the creek flowing in the background. As I peeped out to see the world around me, I was presented with a beautiful mini bouquet of flowers in a Gatorade bottle. Thank you ladybug for the sweet gesture, so thoughtful!

I attempted to scarf down some oatmeal, but got sand in it & had to toss it. After a quick chat over coffee with my “neighbors”, I finished filtering water & headed up from the canyon bottom.

I prefer to hike alone, and thankfully I was able to on my birthday. I was left with my thoughts, American goldfinches fluttering around, and millions of wildflowers soaking up the morning rays…as I climbed up from the canyon.

I caught myself with a huge grin, multiple times, as I listened to Hozier & fully enjoyed the morning climb. I’m happy. I’m so grateful. This is it. This is life. So simple, but so appreciated.

When I got to a false summit, I sat on the overlook & ate almond butter.

Today was a day for taking it slow, stopping for all the photos, and fully absorbing the beauty around me. Once I got a couple miles from the hitching location (willow springs road) ladybug texted me and had a ride set up. See, it just all works out!

We hopped in the trip angels car, went to an awesome German bakery, chatted up some other hikers, and then I left for the post office to pick up my resupply box (thanks mom!).

On the way to the post office, I got a hitch without asking! & THEN at the post office 2 people offered me rides, everybody said “be safe out there, darling”, and a few people just wanted to chat about my adventure. This town is SO KIND. My Airbnb host was lovely & offered to pick me up and drive me to her house. We had great conversation & her home is very very comfy. I spent the evening in the bubble bath eating Thai Food & chatting with loved ones. What a great birthday it has been. For not being at home, I have received so much love.

My phone kept popping off with kind messages, other hikers would stop to say “happy birthday tatertot”, and I had a lot of time to reflect on the past year of my life.

26 was a real good one. I started the year out really pushing myself at my last job & trying out new hobbies. From dying fabrics, to searching for edibles in the forest, to learning how to build a house. Lots of life changes happened:

-My friend, Callie, had a baby, which has been such an exciting adventure (miss you, rocky!).

-Cole and I evolved into being (just) friends, and I’m really grateful for our friendship.

-I completely renovated a trailer (yes, it’s been exactly a year!) fully. Did it completely on my own, minus help from my lovely mom- thanks mom! Check out my Instagram “saved stories” to see the entire process. Blog post will come… eventually! Oh, & me and the boys (Charlie & piñon) moved into it when it was ZERO degrees outside!

-I finally got a truck that can take me anywhere, is reliable, gets bad gas mileage (haha), and can haul my home!

-took lots of trips, from rock climbing in the Canadian Rockies to snowmobiling to a cabin in the backwoods in the dead of winter!

-I quit my job to hike the PCT- which was really hard to leave as many of you know. I put my heart and soul into that job.

& I think most of all I realized what I truly wanted in life. Of course there are the material things (a cute cabin in the woods, a field of flowers, and lots of farm animals), but from the inside… all I want is to just be happy and spread love and joy to others around me. I love educating people of all ages, helping others, but the most impact is just connecting & caring.

I have been working on my active listening skills, and really have been trying to care for others rather than just try to solve their problems. I’m trying to give all that I can, while still taking care of myself. This trail has just reinforced all of this, if you give good vibes out to the world… it will all work out & the trail provides. It has been so heart warming to see the compassion of the trail angels. Maybe some day I’ll be a trail angel, with a cute little farm off the PCT! Who knows:)

As y’all know, I have been VERY goal oriented my entire life. From the strict “find a husband by 25, have kids by 30” (looks like that didn’t happen haha!) …to pushing myself to my limit with different jobs. I excel at working. I excel at planning & getting the job done. BUT I haven’t excelled at actually enjoying my life.

Until year 26.

I feel like I have made such a turn. I’m buying what I want at the bakery (even if it’s a couple dollars more than what is in my “allotted budget”), I’m reading both fiction AND non fiction, I’m going on walks to watch the birds rather than just running to get my cardio in, and most of all I’m able to just sit with my thoughts. I’m content. I’m slowing my pace. I’m smelling the flowers.

I know I’ve had this discussion with a few of you (thanks Heather Bell for book recommendations & giving me so much encouragement & love through this). But truly, life is for living. Enjoy YOURS. As the song goes:

Take in all the sunshine. Bottle up the rain. Go where the wind blows. Let it show the way. Open all the windows. Let in all the light. You can pull the stars down. Paint the perfect sky. So go and write your song, the world will sing along. It’s yours for the taking. 

Life’s what you make it- Graham Colton.

So cheers to year 27.

To more adventures.

To slow mornings listening to the birds.

To messy hair & dirty fingernails.

To climbing mountains & lounging in hammocks.

To absorbing the sunshine & spreading it to others.

To happiness & love.

To the moments.

To writing my own song.

DAY 29 TEHACHAPI (0 miles)

Spent the morning in bed eating a massive eclair from the bakery & drinking coffee (while writing all of this). My host is absolutely lovely. If you are ever in this area, 10/10 recommend her Airbnb.

Today I will figure out my next two weeks of life, my oregon resupply box, and I’ll meet up with ladybug in town! also… maybe another bubble bath or two! Cheers to town days. Good food, comfy beds, and some R & R! Excited for the next chapter of my trip. It will be hard to say goodbye to the trail and all the friends I have made, but I’ll be back!