The Art of Leaving: Why I Thru Hike

Since birth, my life has always followed a cyclical pattern of movement: the art of leaving as I call it, and the pursuit of the horizon.

In sharing my why for thru hiking, I’ve come to accept that this why also governs most of my life decisions.

The bottom line is that I am restless. Always seeking the rush of leaving, of moving forward.

Rootlessness and Movement

I was born into a lifestyle of movement—my parents moved myself and my two sisters every two years or so.

I always thought of myself akin to a floating dandelion, changing with the seasons and floating up and away. We moved often, to new states, new countries, and this gave me the great privilege of exposure.

While this movement was a challenge, and I spent many lonely lunchtimes in a bathroom at school, it brought out my grit. It also brought an ability to blend in and adapt, to be curious—learning new things about new places and new people. A gift, as much as a burden. My home was always wherever I went. Home was not a place, but a concept, a feeling.

This rootlessness lended itself well to my career of nearly ten years. I traveled several times a year, sometimes for multiple months or more at a time.

My restlessness and curiosity, this desire to leave, led me to living and working on four continents and working in countries across the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.

We’re Meant to be Outside

When I fell back in love with the outdoors and realized that humans are part of nature by birthright (we’ve just forgotten it and destroy it), thru hiking was just the natural next step.

Like many other hikers, I’m often asked in towns along my hiking travels why I thru hike. Why walk these long distances, when at least 25% of my day is spent hating something about hiking. Prickly plants. The bugs. Rain.

I thru hike not necessarily to seek any particular point of clarity. I thru hike because I can. Because I crave the horizon that my feet will take me to. I crave seeing the stars every night in their brilliant glory. Movement feels like home.

I thru hike out of curiosity—there are indigenous peoples, wildlife, and flora to meet, and stories to listen to. I thru hike because I am always seeking the art of leaving.

And so, well over 4,000 miles later, I look forward to finishing the Continental Divide Trail. Starting southbound in June 2024, I had every intention of completing the entire trail.

For the first time that I can remember, however, I missed the place I called home. I wanted to have roots—even if they were small and shallow. I returned back east after northern Wyoming. To the last golden days of summer. And after reconnecting with family and friends, I knew I would be ready for the journey to continue this year.

After completing the PCT both northbound and southbound in 2023 at a sequoia tree, what better way to end the CDT but by walking both south and north. Like a sewing needle, footsteps connecting and weaving across public lands. At home in the fresh air, space, and in the movement.

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