I love backpacking, but it is not something that comes easily to me, which is why I am so enamored. As a person that struggles with a mental illness, it is common to live in my head and be at the whim of my emotional impulses. Backpacking demands I get out there in the physical world; it helps me to be present, to work, to overcome obstacles, and find success on top of mountains. It pushes me to be tenacious and accept emotional transience. Besides, the best places in the world are the ones you have to walk to! I will be thru hiking the PCT in 2016- you can follow along here, and read about past PCT adventures at gottahike dot com.
