Hike #21 Frozen On The Trail And In Life
Day 1 | June 20, 2025 | Pennsylvania with Camille | PA 501 Pine Grove, PA to Swatara Gap 443/72
Today I returned to the Appalachian Trail after a long pause. My last hike was on September 8th, and truthfully, getting back out there felt daunting. It wasn’t just the physical challenge, it was the emotional weight of feeling like I was starting over. That hesitation, that doubt, was heavy. But I showed up. And I’m so glad I did.
Friends from a previous hike had introduced me to Camille. I was nervous to meet someone new. But Camille turned out to be incredible. She has just 220 miles left to finish the entire Appalachian Trail! What a feat! Yes, I’m envious, but more than that, I’m inspired. Her presence reminded me of the kind of woman I admire…gritty, kind, and determined.
As we trekked 13.37 miles today, ascending 1,316 feet and descending 1,955, I found myself standing in the middle of a sea of Pennsylvania boulders. For anyone unfamiliar, the PA stretch of the AT is infamous for its rocks. And today? It lived up to the hype.
I found myself literally frozen, standing still in the middle of uneven, unstable ground. Which step should I take next? Which rock is safe? Which will wobble or slip beneath my feet? I could feel the metaphor settling in.
Earlier this week, a friend and I were talking about that exact feeling…being frozen. When you know your current path isn’t sustainable, and you feel the weight of needing to make a change. But you don’t know what to do next. You’re scared. You’re filled with uncertainty. And so, you freeze.
That moment on the boulders brought it full circle for me. Standing still felt safer. But the truth? That stillness is its own choice. Inaction is a decision. And it leads nowhere. To move forward, we have to risk the shaky rock, the slip, the awkward misstep. Because only then do we get closer to where we’re meant to be.
I’m grateful for this day, for Camille’s company, and for the new connections that continue to emerge through my Appalachian Trail journey. Big thanks to Becki and Kristen for bringing Camille into my orbit. She IS a badass!!
Tomorrow is a new day and a new hike, and I’m stepping forward, one rock at a time. You probably should to.
The only way forward is one bold, uncertain step at a time.