Marriage is all about compromise, right? So after getting to do exactly what I wanted to do last summer and putting Brew through a 46-day gauntlet of thankless, arduous, tasks, I magnanimously let him choose our 2012 summer adventure - as long as it included at least 500 miles of hiking ; )

My husband has come to the decision that we will spend several weeks backpacking, at a relaxed pace, on the  GR 11 in Spain. This “Gran Recorrido” travels 530 miles through the Spanish Pyrenees, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

Brew was leaning towards the Pyrenees, because we LOVE the mediterranean region, and we both wanted to see more of the area - beyond the Alps and Corsica where we spent our summer in 2010. There are many trails that wind through the Pyrenees, including the GR 10, Haute Rondonnee, the GR 11, and the famous Camino de Santiago that crosses over the mountain range.

In looking at our options, Brew decided to skip the GR 12, because we have already hiked in France. He opted out of the Haute Route because we would have to hike with an ice axe and crampons. And he delayed the Camino, because it is a great trail do to with a family or in the later stages of life. However, ultimately I think Brew’s stomach made up his mind. If he was at all uncertain about his decision, every bite of Spanish food that he put in his mouth at Asheville’s Curate restaurant, reinforced our GR 11 adventure.

My husband loves food, especially European food. We don’t take a stove when we hike in Europe because of plane regulations, but it doesn’t matter, there is enough cured meats, hard cheeses, crusty bread, and Nutella to keep us happy. There are also plentiful huts, villages, and family farms along the route that provide authentic regional cuisine to the hikers. Mmmm….

This experience will be a far cry from our record on the A.T. last summer, but it will be a nice change of pace (literally) and I have no doubt that it will be “full-filling” trip. Now all we have to do is make it to June 15th!!!!

Well, the Nat Geo People’s Choice Adventurer of the year votes are all in. It turns out that the two men from Nepal who paraglided off Mt. Everest and paddled to the ocean are the winners. I think we can all agree they deserve it. I doubt that I could ever make it to the top of Everest, let alone paraglide off the mountain!

But GUESS WHAT?! A little bird a Nat Geo informed me that I came in second place! I know what you are thinking - first loser, right? Yes! But also first woman, first North American and first solo adventurer in the voting. Woo Hoo! I’ll take it. 

The bird also told me that my voters had been very dedicated. That pretty much sums up my friends, family, and the trail community. THANK YOU! Now I owe all you guys hundreds of on-line votes and hits. So send me your youtube garage band clip, t-shirt design, or outdoor photo contest link and I WILL VOTE FOR YOU!!!!

If you want to read an inspiring story, check out the People’s Choice Winners here: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/peoples-choice-lakpa-tsheri-sherpa-sano-babu-sunuwar/

Also, a huge congrats to all the other amazing explorers recognized by Nat Geo. It is an honor to forever be known as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2012.

ps - Does second place get a free bottle of Glenfiddich?

Ahhh! This is so cool. I am honored to be with this group of explorers. You can vote for your fav, from now everyday until Jan 18th. I would LOVE your support.

Between September 22nd - Oct 7th, I had the privilege of assisting with the Overmountain Victory March that starts in Abingdon, VA and ends at Kings Mountain National Battlefield in SC. The March commemorates the 330 mile route that the Scotch-Irish mountaineers took to engage the loyalist army led by Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain. The route is designated as a National Historic Trail currently segmented together with 80 miles of hiking trails.

Each weekday during the March, a group of volunteer Revolutionary War reenactors would tell the story of the Overmountain Men’s journey and victory. The cast of characters who acted out this important part of American History were just awesome. Dressed in authentic garb, with gun powder horns around their necks, and antler knives on their hips, these men definitely got the attention of the students that came out each day. (You can see some of their pics on my facebook page.)

This year, the March organizers asked me to come out to select venues and help encourage the kids to go hiking on the Overmountain Victory Trail and other local paths. I LOVE getting kids excited about the trail! When I told the 4th grade students about all the animals you can see and the adventures that you can have in the woods, they were all ready to set out with their families and start exploring.

However, the March also served as a positive personal reminder that we are fortunate, today, to hike because we want to and not because we have to. History is filled with stories of people covering large tracts of land on foot. The past 100 years mark a transition where people no longer have to walk out of necessity, but can now chose to do so simply for pleasure. The story of America is riddled with tales of long-distance hiking, including the Underground Railroad, Lewis and Clark, the Trail of Tears, the Overmountain Men, and many, many others.

It is important to go hiking because it connects us with our ancestors. It also reveals historic places and stories. The land always has a tale to tell if we are willing to listen. In all my hiking and travels, I doubt that I have ever stood in a place, where someone else has not passed. And that thought is often as humbling as the mountains that surround me.

While I was crawling through Mahousic Notch this summer on two shin splints that felt like broken legs, I met a wonderful thru-hiker. This young man was friendly, out-going, and I’ll be honest I was thrilled to see any sign of life in this portion of trail that resembles the bowels of the underworld.

He immediately inquired about my bandaged legs. “What’s wrong with your legs? Are you okay?” He asked.

I’m not sure if it was my red swollen shins that tipped him off, or the grimace on my face that revealed the pain. “I think I have some really bad shin splints.” I replied.

“But you are going after the record! You have a trainer or doctor with you that can help you, right?”

I laughed. “No. I have the same thing all the other thru-hikers have.”

“What’s that?” He asked.

“WebMD.” I replied.

Thru-hiking forces you to self-diagnosis your ailments, come up with a creative treatment plan - that often does not include rest, and monitor your body to make sure that things don’t get worse. Taking a wilderness first responder course helped expand my medical knowledge. Still, I have done a lot of over the phone (thank you Katie and Emily) and computer diagnosis over the years. I usually carry prescriptions that I can begin taking immediately if something goes wrong in the backcountry. And in general I follow the rule: If it gets better - keep hiking. If it stays the same - keep hiking. If it gets worse - keep hiking, until you can get to a doctor.

I say this, not to discourage people from seeking medical attention, but to listen to their bodies as part of the process. I have been amazed in throughout all my hiking and running injuries and ailments at the body’s resiliency and ability to heal itself. 

Now post trail, I am pretty sure that I have something called Athletic Heart Syndrome. Looking back, I believe that I experienced the same condition after my 57 day AT hike in 2008. I’m not that worried about it, because my symptoms are getting better and I am allowing my body to truly rest and heal this fall before doing any intense hiking or running (that can wait until next spring). But in the meantime I’ll probably go get it checked out. After all, having a correct self-diagnosis is always very gratifying.

This is a video that Matt Kirk created. Matt is an amazing person and hiker. I am so grateful that he was able to join me on the 70 - mile stretch through the park. Check out some of what we experienced.

This article shows a really healthy relationship with the trail and self. Great job Will!

Brew and I had an AMAZING weekend at the US Open. We watched 8 hours of tennis on Saturday and 11 hours on Sunday. We both grew up playing competitive tennis and are in awe of the players who are at the highest level of the sport.

Beyond tennis we also follow college football and basketball, but we enjoy watching almost any sport. If it weren’t for televised sports, we would not own a TV.

I am drawn to high performance athletics because it combines art and dedication. When we finished watching Federer play on Saturday I felt like I had just watched a ballet performance – his grace is unparalleled. The next night we sat in a small outer court watching Sam Stosur and Maria Karilenko play their hearts out in a tight three set match. They were challenging one another to raise the game to a higher level, and it was inspiring and exciting to watch. 

When I think about endurance records on Long Distance Trails, I also think about art and dedication. Trail Records require years of experience and training. A hiker or trail runner needs to have logged hundreds of hours and thousands of miles before attempting such an endeavor. And when they are trying to push their limits, it still isn’t about fighting with the trail, but making every effort to flow with it. 

There were multiple times this summer when I felt more beautiful than I ever had. It felt as if I was belting out a beautiful song in perfect tune or performing a highly intricate dance with ease and confidence. If the trail is a canvas and hiking is my medium, then I am really proud of what Brew and I were able to create.

I believe that every hiker (or runner) creates their own story or masterpiece on the trail, and no two are alike. That is the great part about coming together and sharing our experiences, they combine into a museum of expression and inspiration. 

This weekend, at the US Open, Brew and I sat among 23,000 fans and rooted for our favorite players. However, more than supporting a person, it was about supporting the sport; and regardless of who won the point - we always cheered the hardest for good tennis.

Yesterday I did an interview on the 700 Club. I’ll admit, that before this week I had never watched the 700 Club. Furthermore, because I live a stone’s throw from downtown Asheville and spend my summer’s on the trail, I’m not used to communities where everyone shares the same faith.

When I arrived at the show, it was weird to feel like a part of a bubble were the TV station, Regent College, and local hotel were all part of a Christian property and atmosphere. People would even bless me when I rode the elevator or walked down the hall - I am very blessed right now.

I think bubbles are good, for a time. Regardless of what faith you are or what you are most passionate about (politics, art, music, etc…), it is good to spend time with like minded individuals who can challenge you, encourage you, and understand your reasoning. The problem is, once inside of that bubble, it is often hard to leave.

Before I started the AT in 2005, I decided that I was going to avoid talking religion and politics at all cost. I was comfortable in what I believed (or so I thought), but I didn’t like confrontation and I didn’t want to offend anyone by sharing my beliefs. The problem is, the trail is really long, and you are going to run out of things to talk about with the other thru-hikers pretty quickly if you are not willing to be yourself. I very hesitantly started opening-up to other hikers about what I believed. Slowly, I started to learn than sharing my faith was more than stating a religious thought, it was simply revealing who I was. And I learned that the pot-luck of humanity on the trail was more than willing to love and accept me for who I was as long as I returned the favor.

I don’t believe in pushing religion, I believe in answering questions honestly - and if faith plays into that answer then we should be willing and able to speak about it. The modern trend is to view religion as something that is not politically correct. But in a land that is as free and diverse and beautiful as America, we should never be afraid to simply be who we are.

The trail provides us with a healthy, non-judgmental atmosphere where we can question, learn, and grow. I am so thankful for all the atheists, agnostics, mormans, christians, jews, hindus, and countless unclassified hippies that I have interacted with on the trail. They have taught me about their beliefs, helped me to embrace my own, and loved me - beyond a label - for the person I really am. 

I love that my time spent on the trail fills me with appreciation for the amenities that I enjoy at home.

At home, I love every hot shower, I relish clean cotton bed sheets, and I am grateful for all the cold goodies that are accessible in my freezer and fridge.

One of the reasons I decided to return to the trail after my first thru-hike in 2005 was because after a few months I began to take these simple pleasures for granted. I don’t want to feel like I deserve these items - I want to delight in them.

After seven summers of hiking, my appreciation now lasts throughout the year. And each summer when I go to the woods and leave these items behind, I am reminded how much I enjoy them throughout the year. However, last night as I was standing in the steam of a warm shower and smiling at the thought of my shampoo and conditioner, I realized that I tend to only appreciate the things that I have to give up.

I take for granted the blessings that I enjoy everyday on and off the trail, my health, my family, my friends - the ability to speak freely, to think aloud, to write, to worship.

I hope that I can always remain thankful for the appliances and inventions that I enjoy everyday, but I hope that my gratitude can grow and focus more fully on the gifts that fill my life beyond modern conveniences, on and off the trail.