LIZ BRYANT
  • Blog
  • Stories
  • Experience
  • About
  • Resume

Weathering the Storm

7/22/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
"We can skin a buck; We can run a trout line," I lay here inside my MSR Hubba NX tent listening to A Country Boy Can Survive play in the background at our campsite. A fellow hiker, who goes by the trail name "Rangler", plays it on his phone and sings broken up parts of the classic Hank Williams Jr. song. 

I'm trying to drown out the sound in the foreground, as hail beats down on our tent and a pool of water forms underneath it, mimicking a waterbed. Suddenly, Kevin and I hear a scream. "Guys! Can you help me? Water is rushing into my tent," "Cuban B" (that's his trail name) yells out.  He's camping a few feet away from us during this flash flood on July 8.
Picture
Picture
We just spent the last six straight hours walking through this storm in the Plumas National Forest. The saying is used often, "weather the storm", and at this point along the Pacific Crest Trail storms are both literal and figurative. When storms brew, it's up to us to decide how we react. You can run away or sit patiently and wait for it to pass. 

I've had to wait for an emotional storm to pass. I revealed in my last post, my excitement for walking more than two dozen miles a day is dwindling. I am drained most days. Therefore, I set a goal. I must stay until August 9, which is my birthday. This doesn't mean I'll leave that date. Instead, it gives me a goal to look forward to on days where I'm not motivated or don't feel well. I just tell myself "August 9, it's not too short and it's not too long. Give this a chance." 

My lack of excitement shouldn't be confused with a bad day on the trail. I've actually never had a bad day. I love my fellow hikers, the camaraderie, the town visits, the views and nightly campfires at the campsite. 
Picture
As of now, this literal storm scares me more than the emotional one. Imagine someone firing a Taser right about your head, that's exactly what it sounded like as electricity shot off in the clouds. When lightning struck, Kevin counted the seconds until thunder rumbled, to see how far away the bolt was based on the speed of sound.

My WeatherTech rain gear couldn't even hold up to this amount of rain. Two pairs of soaking socks later, we decided 15 miles was enough for the day- as it felt like 30.
Picture
The next day, the rain came again and there's no need for me to repeat this same story. 

But there's always a silver lining after a storm. This time it's the fact California received rain. It also made Kevin and I appreciate the next few days of sunshine.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Someone else who is "weathering the storm" is my step-mom and her three sisters. They recently lost their mother to brain cancer and their father battles with his health too. Please send prayers, good vibes or whatever your means of encouragement is. 

Check out the action video of us hiking in the rain by clicking here. Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, where I revealed last week we past the halfway point of the trail and are nearly 1,500 miles deep. Canada here we come!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
4 Comments
dave walker link
7/22/2015 10:28:03 am

Way to go Liz it is uplifting to know others have the same struggle. One day at a time one step at a time and soon you are there.

Reply
Greg Bryant
7/22/2015 12:16:06 pm

Maintain The Strain.

Reply
Intergalactic Wanderer
7/23/2015 12:46:10 am

Do you know about the Hero's Journey? It's such a beautiful metaphor for this path you're walking (hail, rain and lightening included). We're out here, rooting you onward Liz!

Reply
Felice
7/23/2015 01:50:26 am

I read somewhere, "I am stronger than this challenge and this challenge is making me stronger". One day at a time sweetheart. One foot in front of the other. Enjoy the new tent! That's one motivator right there! :) I love you guys!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    My deepest thoughts from my personal journal.

    Firecracker. Wanderlust. Okie. NBC news reporter. Survivor of the Joplin tornado. Former New Yorker.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly