Exploring Asheville, Embodying the Hiker Trash Role, Learning How to Release Hatred and Gratitude for Tramily Support

Voodoo and I both decided to take a zero day today. He wanted to work-trade all day for us to have a nice cabin to stay in so we could fuck as loud as we desired. After doing some rough gardening work, he came into the kitchen to drink some water. Out of breath, I watched him gulp down a glass of water… droplets running down his chin. I grabbed him around his waist, pulled him close, french kissed him as I let him know how turned on I felt.

Later in the day, I met a trail angel named Hooch who came to pick me and a couple of my friends up to drive us all the way to Asheville. We had to do some resupplying since Standing Bear was selling expired food and most of us weren’t open to that. I felt so grateful that he was able to help us out last second. As I was walking to his car, I saw Voodoo covered in sweat as he was shoveling dirt. That image of him would sustain me the rest of the day.

Hooch drove us to REI to return some items and buy some new gear! I got a fresh pair of HOKA’s from the garage sale section and Beans decided to join the HOKA cult as well. Then, he dropped us off at Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street to eat some hot food. Afterwards, we went on an adventure to explore the city.

We walked by a man playing the piano in the heart of the city. Something about him invoked curiosity in my soul. We decided to sit on the bench and listen to him play. I felt he had a story on his heart, full of emotions—spoken through the dance of his fingertips. I watched as he expressed himself in a solemn, melancholy manner.

Before we left, we found a brown paper bag beside the bench. Jimmy Dean opened it to find a to go box with a half eaten steak and a couple of chicken wings. We looked at each other in unspoken agreement—as true hiker trash, he ate it.

We went to explore some art galleries, boutique shops and book stores. Then, we went to a clothing store where I bought a mushroom sweater, Beans bought a rainbow hat and Jimmy Dean got himself a groovy shirt so we could fall in line with the AT thru-hiker look.

The boys wanted to smoke a doobie so they thought it would be coolest to smoke it on the top story of a parking garage. We entered the garage and walked up the stairs to find many heroin needles scattered about. Close to the top, there were a couple of addicts huddled up in blankets on the floor talking to themselves. We said hello, then continued to the rooftop. We sat on the concrete while Beans and Jimmy Dean smoked. We talked about the past “addictions” we went through and remembered that the only way through was through.

Another trail angel named Joker came to help us out last minute! He had thru-hiked the PCT and the AT. We met him at Foggy Mountain Brew Pub and enjoyed some grilled chicken sandwiches. Afterwards, he generously trail angel’d us a ride all the way back to Standing Bear.

On the ride back, I received a message from one of my friends who showed me a picture of a hate post that someone wrote about me. Without getting into detail, I was basically being told by this person to “get fucked” because of what I was writing about.

Most of the time, hateful comments would pass by me, but some days, like today, I would take it to heart. Joker put on the song “Nutshell” by Alice In Chains. I closed my eyes and felt a sense of sadness wash over me. I felt as though I really wanted to be held by someone. I knew it wasn’t what I really wanted. What I really wanted was to experience awareness of what was True.

I took a moment to breathe as I let the feelings make their way through. When I opened my eyes, I looked around at my friends and realized what a great community I had and how loved I was. Joker said how grateful he was that he met a legend, whereas the other guy felt I was just a whore. That was how it worked in this apparent world—a play on opposites.

When I made it back to the farm, Voodoo took me to the cabin that he work-traded for us. I cuddled with him but felt immensely off. I could tell I was trying to distract myself through a person and I knew that feeling all too well, so I got up and decided to take a walk.

I heard Pink playing the harmonica by the fire so I joined him on the wooden stump. He was genuinely excited to see me, gave me a big hug and kissed my cheek. I was so grateful to be in his presence. I placed my head on his shoulder and he asked how I was doing. I said, “I don’t feel so good. I’m hurting right now.” I didn’t feel like bringing up details at the moment. Instead, I buried my face under my hat and cried into his shirt while he played his harmonica. He stood up and led me to the road where we could talk privately.

I told him how I felt this push and pull energy—of wanting to share my story with people publicly because I loved to inspire. Yet, anytime I started to become more known, I automatically wanted to retract back into my shell. Sometimes, I felt it was immensely difficult for me to handle the energy of hatred. It was what made me want to draw away from the social world so suddenly. Pink was also going through the perception of people talking shit about him and it was weighing heavy on his heart. He, himself, drew away from everyone today just to be in silence as he went through his emotions.

He said, “Don’t ever let people make you feel bad for who you are.” He wiped the tears off my face and said, “Come here with me.” He took my hand and led me back down the driveway. He goes, “You wanna dance with me on the bridge?” There was a crowd of people by the fire watching us. I felt nervous and said no. He gently grabbed my hand and said, “Come on, let’s dance! We need to shake off this energy!” So, inevitably, we started dancing. We did the thumb booty—Pink’s signature dance move that he taught me in the beginning of the trail. It was where we moved our thumbs up and down and swayed our booties from side to side. Everyone watched us making fools of ourselves while Pink and I busted out laughing numerous times. I felt so grateful to be surrounded by people who appreciated me and reminded me to have fun despite any painful perceptions I was receiving.

After about an hour, I went into the bunk room to sit on the bed I was in the previous night. I felt a sense of overwhelm again and thought it would be a good place to take a breather. Checkmate came in shortly after and saw me curled up on the bed. He asked how I was doing and out of thin air, another wave of energy came over me. I put my head in my hands and started crying. It all felt so heavy. I began hyperventilating and he quickly came to sit on the bunk beside me and put his arm around me.