Hello Denver!

Two years ago I visited Denver and Colorado for the first time. It was mid-September and I spent a week in the mountains near Vail and Keystone. I was smitten. The Colorado Rockies were so different from my own Canadian Rockies. High, stark, contoured, beautiful. I knew I had to come back.

My first Colorado 14er!

I started dreaming of the Colorado Trail and holding the idea of hiking it in my thoughts. I had another hike to complete first though – the South Island segment of Te Araroa in New Zealand.

In the winter of 2023 I traveled to New Zealand and hiked 325 miles of Te Araroa before an injury took me off trail. That summer I did a section hike of the Great Divide Trail in Banff & Jasper National Park. I still had Colorado on my mind though, and often told other hikers that it was next on my list.

Hiking Te Araroa on the South Island of New Zealand

This winter I had the opportunity to go back to New Zealand and I completed the South Island section of Te Araroa.

Unfortunately I didn’t have much money left after that trip and figured I’d have to push the Colorado Trail off another year.

Then disaster struck. Barely two weeks after getting home from New Zealand I found out my landlord was moving his family into the house I was renting and I had to move out by the end of April. I live in the suburbs of Vancouver, British Columbia which – like so many other places – is experiencing a significant housing crisis. It was my fifth address in five years and the first place I’d ever had on my own.

Being back on Te Araroa felt like going home

Maybe someone else would have rallied, gathered their resources and sorted out a new place to live. But I spiraled. I have struggled with severe depression the better part of my life, and more recently with chronic anxiety. I nearly bottomed out, with anxiety symptoms nearly as bad as when I was diagnosed eight years ago. Here I was, 40 years old, suffering from significant mental health challenges, directionless, and houseless.

However one thing I have now that I didn’t have then is thru-hiking. I know that thru-hiking helps me find balance. It provides a purpose, rhythm and routine that I crave.

Finding joy and balance on the Pacific Crest Trail

I realised I had an opportunity. I no longer had to pay rent. I could put everything in storage and go hike. I could thru-hike the Colorado Trail.

It was still spring though, and I knew I couldn’t hike the CT until summer. I also had a two-week work commitment mid-July. To fill the time, I opted for a section hike of the Appalachian Trail. From mid-May to mid-June I hiked 330 miles through Connecticut, central Vermont, New Hampshire and southern Maine. The AT was amazing and brutal. I loved the shelters, the varying forests, and the incredible challenge of rocky trails that seemingly went straight up and straight down. My West Coast ass was suitably humbled.

Hiking into the Presidential Range on the AT

I came home weary, unfortunately a bit sick, and ready for some R&R. And also with my eyes wide open looking towards my early August start date on the Colorado Trail.

After so many twists and turns I’m kinda amazed to be back in Denver, looking west at the mountains that I’ll spend the next five weeks hiking. I’ve got a list of amazing trail acquaintances and friends in Colorado who are ready to support me along the way, and plenty of friends and family at home cheering me on.

With so many challenges in my life and variables on the trail, I’m careful about putting too high of expectations on anything. But I sure as hell hope I get to walk into Durango.