Day 126: The Triple Crown

October 31st, 2024

Mile Marker: 2992.9

Miles Hiked: 19

We woke up this morning around 6:15 AM. I didn’t sleep the best as I was worried Journey would be freezing all night without his normal camping gear. I would wake up, ask if he was cold, then try and extend my sleeping bag over him.

Regardless, he made it through without freezing to death so it worked out. 😂 We started making our breakfast and coffee and watching the sun rise.

My last sunrise on trail. This was going to be one of the things I missed most about trail, watching the world come alive.

It was also beyond amazing to get to have this morning with Journey, doing our normal morning routine for the last time.

Eventually we got around and I said see ya later to Journey, wishing he could hike with me for the day but looking forward to seeing him at the terminus. Both of us constantly hugging each other since last night. It was a soul deep pain being apart from each other during this time and felt so good to be back together.

Whatever, Aster, and I left camp around 7:30, leaving some of our belongings with Journey so that we could have a lighter pack for the next 19 miles.

We started an easy hike down the gravel road and I once again thought about what finishing this trail means. I felt nerves and excitement for what’s next as for the first time in my life, I have nothing planned besides getting a job.

For years, I’ve had goals to achieve; complete the triple crown, peace corps, get my masters degree, and now that I’ve completed them, I feel a bit surprised and unsure. But the world is my oyster and I’m sure eventually, it’ll become clear what my next adventure will be.

We reached our last water cache of this section and last water source for the day after 5 miles in. All of us sharing a mix of giddy and sadness for finishing. Since this is Aster’s first thru hike, Whatever and I also shared tips with Aster to help with post trail depression.

I thought the trail would be super easy for this last day, like a red carpet that the PCT had, but that was not the case, of course not, it’s the CDT.

So we spent the next 5ish miles walking through a wash, on rocks and sand. If our feet weren’t hurting enough after miles and months of walking, they were barking today.

I was almost happy to be walking over this hard terrain as it made me more ready to be done. My body, our bodies, were tired and needed rest badly.

After about 11 miles in we made it out of the wash and onto a gravel road and then a trail, both of which we flew on.

Okay, now here was the red carpet to the finish line, we were almost there and I couldn’t believe it. This has been such a long 4 and a half months.

About two miles from the southern terminus, we all put on our Halloween costumes that we packed out from Lordsburg, ears and tails of different animals. It was Halloween after all.. and we wanted to be festive.

We charged down the trail, not entirely sure where the terminus was as it wasn’t in full view.

A mile out we noticed a line in the sand and a 1 and heart formed out of rocks. We had one mile left and I was curious who wrote it, later finding out it was Journey.

One more mile.

We hiked on and came up over a hill and I immediately noticed Journey’s truck, we were almost there.

We approached the pavilion where 6 other hikers were sitting and cheering us on and we made a little strut with our costumes and I tapped the terminus.

Done. I was finally done.

I then went to Journey and we shared an embrace and I noticed a crown he had in his hand with all three trails on it. A triple crowner once and for all.

Then he pulled out three crowns, each one with a different trail on it, to show the “triple crown”.

We all need more people who celebrate us in our lives. People who are our cheerleaders, cheering us on and making a big deal out of us. It was a blessing to have Journey at the finish. If I was by myself, I wouldn’t have let it soak in as much nor celebrated as much. But to have someone in my life who says no, this is a big deal and we are going to make it a big deal is something I’m forever grateful for.

We all took many photos with the terminus, high on excitement and adrenaline. We really finally did it.

Journey was beyond prepared to make this terminus finish a true celebration.

We busted out champagne for everyone and then some beers, all of us enjoying each others company around the terminus.

Journey also gave a good reminder, that it was very unlikely any of us would be back here, so to spend as much time as we wanted and to bask in this moment.

After a couple hours and stepping into Mexico, 6 of us got in Journey’s truck and headed back towards Lordsburg. Two of the hikers being daring enough to ride in the bed of the truck as they didn’t want to wait around for the shuttle driver.

The road back was slow going and bumpy, but it was nice for us all to reminisce on trail and laugh together. It truly has been quite an epic journey.

I thought to myself what each state taught me as each one was so unique in its own way.

Montana/Idaho taught me pure wilderness. This was the first time I went a week without seeing anyone else besides Journey. We roamed this world like there wasn’t anyone else out there. What a feeling that is to experience.

Wyoming taught me that there is such diversity in beauty. From Yellowstone, to the Winds, to the Great Basin, all of it was incredibly different from one another and all of it was stunning in its own way. As it goes, we can always find beauty if we are looking for it.

Colorado taught me to look within and to reconnect spiritually. Sometimes I felt like I lost my mind in Colorado, but it was a tap on the shoulder that I was not okay and that I needed to get realigned. I learned who was there for me and I learned to lean on God. To have those moments of peace washing over me was something unexplainable.

Two weeks off trail taught me that I actually wasn’t ready to get off trail. It reassured me that this trail was so much more than just an accomplishment.

New Mexico taught me courage and how to trust myself. Leaving my partner in a trying time was quite possibly the hardest experience of the whole thru hike. To step into New Mexico by myself without Journey was terrifying. But it taught me that I could stand on my own two feet, that I knew what I was doing, and to trust that. To have that alone time with the pure quiet and just my thoughts was important for me to let myself process the past couple years.

I’m still unsure what it means to have completed these three thru hikes. The three longest continuous hikes in the world. Over 7,000 miles. To have seen some of the most beautiful parts of this country and watch how the landscape changes, to sleep under the stars, and to meet some of the kindest people who want nothing but to support people walking along a trail.

To some it may be nothing, but for me, it’s much more that I’m still unpacking.

But for now, I’ll leave it as Journey tells me,

“You sure must love walking.”

And that I do.

There’s nothing a long walk can’t fix.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have read and followed along on this thru hike. I appreciate each and every one of you.

I’m sure I’ll be back here after readjusting to the real world and fill you in on post trail life. 🤗

But for now, be well and be kind.💗

Iz and Oz