I totally blend in on my training hikes here in LA.

• long sleeve shirt?
• shorts on shorts?
• visible socks?
• a baseball cap?
• no makeup?
• weird strappy backpack thingy with 4L of water? (slosh, slosh)

Yep.

I’ve grown accustomed to quizzical looks on my outings,

but today I met someone different!

Me- “Um what?”

Man- “A thru hiker. I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail with the green version of your pack! I’m planning on hiking the PCT this season!”

Me- (internally freaking out, another thru hiker?!!) “That’s so awesome! Wow! me too!”

Man- “What’s your trail name?”

• (a trail name is like a ‘nickname’ you receive from other thru hikers on the trail)

Me- “My what? oh I haven’t, I don’t have one yet . . .”

Man- “I’m ‘Walking Man’ ”

Me- “Gosh, nice to meet you!”

Walking Man- “See you round!”

-and with that he was off.

Such speed! Such grace! It’s very easy to see that Walking Man is really really good at walking.

He disappears over the top of the hill as I thoughtfully take my time up the switchbacks nursing a hurt knee. That guy knows what he’s doing. Do I know what I’m doing?

I feel like a house cat about to enter the front lawn. What am I getting myself into . . .

I think it’s kind of impossible to not be at least a little nervous before such a trip, but I’m determined to give it my best!

2 more weeks! Pacific Crest Trail here I come!

((I’m so excited to have met another class of 2016 hiker! And before I even set foot on the trail too! The world can be a small place sometimes. If you read this Walking Man I hope you have an awesome hike!!! 🙂 ))

-(no trail name) Natalie