I’ve been planning my Pinhoti thru-hike for most of the year, and now it’s not happening.

The Pinhoti Trail has been on my radar since 2022 when Cindy and I visited our Peace Corps friend Richard and spent a rare snowy Alabama afternoon at Cheaha State Park.

I’ve been hiding from the reality that this is not the right time to hike for about a week now…an injury (actually a series of injuries) and the devastating hurricane that battered the East Coast have contributed to this change in plans, and oh how I’ve been resisting all of it!

Fortunately, the Pinhoti Trail has been spared the destruction of hurricane Helene, but the Appalachian Trail has not. A full third of the trail is now closed, and it could take a looooong time for a full recovery. There are many ways we can help in sending money and support for the communities affected along the East Coast, and I’ll be modifying my fundraiser soon to recognize East Coast recovery efforts along with raising money for the Oregon Trails Coalition.

September has been the hardest month of my life, hands down. The heaviness of this current moment comes from many different aspects of my life…and most of it I am unable to control. I ache for the solace and peace that extended time in nature brings, but what does that look like if I can’t hike?

My body controls my future at this point….I can’t rush the healing, and I can’t let my stubbornness and determination derail my ability to backpack in the future by heading out too soon with full pack weight.

So, I wait, I plan, I come up with backup plans, and backup backup plans. I still have hope I’ll be able to do some hiking in October, but I have to let go of expectations and take each moment as it comes.