Who and Why

Shelly and I met in Great Falls, MT in the summer of 2014. We both worked at Giant Springs State Park and lived at the Ursuline Center for the length of our employment. The best way to describe our friendship is a bundle of shenanigans mixed in with a healthy dose of sarcasm and absolute absurdity. We had many epic adventures in the wilds of Montana, got into a fair amount of shenanigans at work and at home, and learned a great deal about each other and ourselves during our time in Great Falls.

Hi! My name is Emily and I am a Recreation student at the University of Montana (soon to be a grad!). I hail from Olympia, Washington, a land of rain, evergreen trees, legalized marijuana, microbreweries, salmon, coffee, and Birkenstocks. I am a ski bum, a music nerd, a nature lover, and an overall goofball. I love most things and most people. I especially appreciate a good beer (Mountain Man from the Front is my favorite thus far) and a groovy drum beat.

I am doing the PCT for several reasons. I am about to graduate and I don't really want to enter "the real world yet" (sorry Mom..). I also want to try something new and challenging. I've never hiked more than 30 miles in one trip so this will top that....by a lot.

On a deeper level, I have had quite a tough year. I've lost some great friends and experienced crushing heartbreak (which I am still struggling with). This hike will be a healthy escape for me and hopefully will mark a new, happier chapter in my life. Who knows, maybe I will have an on-trail epiphany and realize I was meant to be a trail bum! Won't my parents love that...

Hello!! My name is Shelly and I am a recent graduate of Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!) with a major in Biology and a minor in Kinesology. I claim Iowa as my homeland! It is a wonderful place filled with a beautiful landscape as well as beautiful people.

Little bit about me... I am the youngest of five. I come from a wonderful family of whom I love dearly (hi family). I hope to someday become an Occupational Therapist and have the opportunity to help people become their best self. I love pickles, vinyls, nature, llamas, and a good glass of whiskey.

Why am I doing this?

Valid question. I would like to hike the PCT for a bundle of reasons, some valid, some ridiculous. I shall ramble a couple off and let you be the judge.

• I really would like to challenge myself in a way that I haven't been before. 
• I have this odd year between grad school and college so I might as well fill it with something productive.
• I would love to enjoy the simple things in life in the most basic way. 
• I want to explore this beautiful land that I never seem to have enough time to enjoy. 
• As any twentysomething person wants to do, I desire to learn about myself, to figure out what truly makes me happy, and what skills I can give to this world.

But the main reason, I couldn't think of a reason not to.

"In every walk of nature one recieves far more than he seeks." -John Muir