The Adventure Continues...

Charitable Nomads is a (currently inactive) non-profit concept focused on contributing to society through a temporary state of transience. In 2016, Daniel aka Frogman hiked 2300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and documented the experience as a benefit for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Please share, comment, or ask me anything!

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10/18/16 This morning my Dad picked us up at the Snoqualmie Pass pancake house. We washed our clothes and aired out our tents and ate food aplenty. Tomorrow begins the reintegration process. Society awaits, as does the continuing adventure of my life. I will likely be doing a decent amount of post-fact writing about this whole adventure. The blog continues but my hike is over and the donation avenues will be closing down. On to the next step! Wish me luck.

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Thoughts

A friend of mine sent me a message lamenting the end of my journey and the fact that I was unable to complete the entirety of the trail. This was my response: I'll be back later to finish it up. I'm proud of the 2300 miles walked and the 1.1k I was able to earn for the PCTA. I really am in no way dissatisfied about the result of this trip. Quite honestly I completed nearly every task that I put out for myself. I escaped my old life, I explored the deserts and forests of the West Coast, I ran my travel blog successfully and my non-profit project. I grew emotionally, I had countless great experiences with so many different types of people. I felt the pulse of our generation. My faith in humanity has been greatly restored. I feel more proud of my country and the people in it. I may be poorer than I have ever been but I have never felt so rich in my life. I have expressed my vital force of life more fully than ever before and the world around me accepted it all with open arms. I also have ambitions now. I want to finish up the thru-hike but I also want to get on some of those peaks out there. We walked on/by so many giants that begged to be challenged. If nothing else, reintegrating into society will serve as a means to an end for my own purpose and expressions of life. I have never had this kind of purpose or strength or vision for the possibilities in the world. I love this planet and the people on it for all of their faults. I feel as if i am in tune and that it's time to start writing the symphony. The adventure continues. I have no doubts about this.

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The hobofication was a success! I don't want to shave T-T

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Drinking brandy from a cantine, finally in a bed after escaping the PCT. There are mixed feelings in this picture but much relief.

I have unfinished business with the wild. Cheers to you, PCT, you relentless bastard. Until next time...

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10/16/16 - 10/17/16 On the 16th we moved slowly through the cold and covered 11 of the remaining 33 miles. We climbed up and out of the bowl we were in and into the valley of rivers and waterfalls. We crossed the Waptus river on the way out and had no choice to to walk straight through it. I hoped it was the last crossing of this kind. It wasn't. On the 17th we woke up early, ate instsnt potatoes, divided up the rest of the food, and broke down the tent in the rain. The last 22 miles that lay ahead was an obstacle course of rivers and waterfalls and downed trees following the Snoqualmie River through a valley and up to one final 4000 foot climb over rocky switchbacks. I wore my voice out yelling my discontent at the world. Once civilization was on the horizon my spirits lifted and I practically danced down the trail for the last 3.5 miles. Even so, the last few miles drug on for what felt like an eternity. I didn't even think about the fact that I had finished. I only wanted to be dry. I bought a bottle of brandy at the gas station, ordered a chicken fried steak and blueberry pancakes at the restaurant, and called my parents to let them know that I was alive, safe, and still whole. I must have been on a mission because it still took Big Spoon and Rafiki 3 more hours to show up. They were in the cold until 10:30, night-hiking up that last climb and over waterfalls that threatened to push them into the abyss. The shower I took that night was the best feeling ever, except for that i didnt notice I had bad hip rashes and gnarly butt-chaffe until I got in. Relief. Relief was the feeling. Especially when Big Spoon and Rafiki finally showed up. Sadly, this is my last photoset from the trail. I was too focused to take pictures on the 17th.

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10/14/16 - 10/15/16

Today is the day that broke our resolve. As we planned, we got moving in the morning despite the rain. We walked up a ridge through pouring rain, into ice and rain, into snow, and into icy creeks and rivers. Despite new rain gear we all got soaked to the bone. The mountain was cold and windy. At the top of the ridge we discussed our exit strategy and decided to take the Goldmeyer alternate loop trail back to Snoqualmie Pass. A few miles later we pitched an emergency camp. Rafiki had fallen behind by accidentally taking the wrong route for a half-mile. Big Spoon and I sat in our respective tents trying desperately to warm up and yelling for Rafiki at the top of our lungs. Eventually we heard him yelling and cursing up the trail as we all do from time to time.

Big Spoon’s air mattress stopped holding air long ago so he lay in his tent shivering uncontrollably. Rafiki could barely get his tent up with frozen hands. Eventually we all ended up in my tent using our two ground mats and the military bivys as a waterproof floor. We sardined the three of us in a two person tent and spent the next 36 hours waiting out the storm.

At this point we had about 33 miles left to escape the mountains and return to civilization. The alternate route proved more difficult than expected.

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10/13/15

Last night it started raining and never let up. Conditions are pretty miserable. I feel properly geared up for this kind of weather but the possibility of a trail zero was too tempting to pass up. I'd much rather have a day in bed than a day trudging in the rain. If tomorrow is the same we'll get moving none the less. Rafiki earned us a day to rest up. The sound of rain on the tent is pretty cozy knowing that my bed can't get wet. Realizing now this is a re-post. More to come...

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10/12/16 The sunrise in the morning was spectacular! We got moving really slowly because it dropped below 20° last night. I wrapped my face in my scarf so that my nose wouldn't get cold. The new military bivy adds a good 10° of warmth to my sleeping bag and seems totally waterproof. I'm really glad to have this piece of equipment for the cold and rainy nights that are sure to come. We only hiked 7 miles today. Rafiki slipped on some ice and caught the fall with his face. He seems okay despite a bruised nose and forehead. We camped early to get a good rest

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The sunset over Rainier. Adams is waaaay in the background to the left

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10/13/16

Last night it started raining and never let up. Conditions are pretty miserable. I feel properly geared up for this kind of weather but the possibility of a trail zero was too tempting to pass up. I'd much rather have a day in bed than a day trudging in the rain. If tomorrow is the same we'll get moving none the less. Rafiki earned us a day to rest up. The sound of rain on the tent is pretty cozy knowing that the military bivy will keep my bed dry.

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