Today I turned 40 years old with a bottle of champagne and my family on a summit overlooking the North Cascades. We kicked off the weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail at Harts Pass near Canada. The PCT was the first “big girl” trail I hiked after moving to Seattle in 2013. Spending time in complete silence (for hours) was a first for me. It truly changed my life. When I finally grew comfortable paying attention without immediately reacting, I was really able to listen and see life around me in a way I never had before. If someone asks what really led to the end of my career, it was an internal shift I have a hard time describing but ultimately resembles self-awareness, and it probably began on the PCT. I met several through hikers this weekend who started at the Mexico border and were almost done. I asked what they planned to do after such an accomplishment. “Go home and get back to work,” most said. At first it seems anticlimactic but I remember Trent Peterson, a young man whose story I told years ago, as he rode wild mustangs along the PCT. He used to say that the PCT is just a trail, what matters is that we slow down, pay attention and see clearly whatever path we’re on. I looked up a quote from that report to share with you all.
“This isn't to advocate for the PCT. The PCT is just a trail. Get out of the rat race and slow down. Pay attention to the little things, not just the big things, because it's the whole picture we need to be aware of," he said.
Hei Hei is the strong willed child of the chicken coop. He’s bullied by our barred rock rooster (who is actually quite nice to us) so he avoids going back in the coop at night. He also takes out his repressed anger on us so he may be stew someday in the new future.
I keep my bones healthy for chasing Hei Hei by taking the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture which is my go-to source of food-based vitamins A, D & K. The cod liver oil is fermented - not high heat processed - which protects the nutritional value. It saved my teeth from chronic cavities 15 years ago. Make sure to use promo code “ALISON” at check out for 10% off. https://greenpasture.org
We are preparing for hurricane season by making sure everyone has solid weather gear. Who needs canned goods, clean water, batteries and a generator when they have ducks dressed in rain coats?
I avoid emergency dental visits during hurricane season by making sure my teeth are strong with the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture which saved me from chronic cavities 15 years ago. It’s good-based nutrition that’s packed with vitamins A, D and K plus anti-inflammatory omega 3s. Use “ALISON” as your promo code at check out for 10% off. https://greenpasture.org/
