Dosu Kinuta’s Tribe and Tribulations

If you’re one of the few people who follow along in my not trail famous ass you know my life is one big dirtbag, hiker trash shit show. I read on reddit a few weeks ago someone call me “an asshole, but the funny kind of asshole.” I thought to myself when I read that, “you get me bro.” One of my best friends Pop A Jr I have heard describe me as “the kinda person whom you either love or hate, there’s not much middle ground.” That being said I probably have one of the greatest trail families of all time. It expands all over this world. Not to brag but I have fam in Israel, Switzerland, Hawaii, Washington, NH, Australia, Japan, India, China, France, I could go on but you get the picture. PSA I am serious lacking fam in South America so get at me and let’s go hiking or climbing and see if you hate me.

Anyway, I am getting ready to start the CDT this summer around May 5 with a motley crew of seven or eight other veteran thru-hikers. I left my job five weeks prior to my start date and have been traveling and adventuring in Washington, Oregon, and California these last two weeks. I’ll spend two more weeks here in Bishop, CA, before flying to Tucson, AZ, where I’ll try to figure out a way to get to Lordsburg, NM.

A few days ago I was sitting here at The Hostel California in Bishop, where I stayed for a few nights on my PCT 2017 continuous footpath thru-hike before heading back into the Sierra, and I was reflecting back on the past few years and thought to myself how I would never be here where I am, enjoying my life so perfectly, without the love and help from my tribe. Car rides, help with a resume, employment opportunities, a place to sleep, a place to store what little things I have, not to mention the positive support. Without my tribe I’d never endure let alone thrive through life’s tribulations. We live in a world that revolves around a monetary system that imprisons us into conformity. I am truly blessed by the trail gods to live so well despite refusing to conform.

I’m starting to get teary-eyed like a baby thinking about how lucky I am to be cared for by so many people and I probably look like a baby here in the Hostel California as I sit here at the dining room table in my Snorlax onesie writing this and tearing up so I’m going to cut this short and just say to all of you, “Thank youuuuu!” You all truly fill my heart and give me the strength and ability to live my life on my terms and to the fullest.