A couple days ago, I have hit my one month mark on the Pacific Crest Trail. Here’s a summary:

• 356 miles hiked
• 9648 meters of elevation gain
• 24 nights of sleeping under the stars
• 7 luxury nights of hotels
• 124,796 calories consumed (jk wasn’t counting)
• 8 pints of ice cream inhaled
• 3 cans of free soda received from strangers out of a van
• One Easter steak dinner in the desert
• Countless new friends, generosity of strangers and incredible views

For the last month, I have gotten used to saying good bye to places and people, the feeling of dirt under my finger nails and fitting everything I need into a 60 liter bag.

For the last month, I had no place to call home, climbed mountains under blistering heat and freezing wind, and felt pain in every part of my body…

Yet I have never been happier.

Because I have woken up and saw the milky way shinning above me. Hiked onto the break of dawn to see sunrises that brings me to tears of joy. I have witnessed the generosity of humanity almost on a daily basis. Laughed about stupid things with strangers who quickly became long time friends. Screamed lyrics on the top of my lungs to whatever played in my headphones without a care in the world.

Kitchen Sink! The guy who brought us snacks, sandwiches and beer on a hot day

Everyone was thoroughly amazed with the 360 Cam. Great for group photos!

In the last month, I have learned to put aside my worries and live life one step at a time (quite literally, may I add). I have learned how to listen and care for my body. I have learned to put aside judgement of people by appearance and learn to get to know everyone. I have became stronger physically and mentally, learning to find joy in the hardest of days.

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Yet I’m scared… Scared because I’m living in a dream I never want to wake up from. I am afraid of the injury that drag me out of this dream prematurely and I am afraid of the real world when I finally have to wake from this dream.

Those fleeting thoughts comes every once in a while, whenever I stumble under weary feet and whenever I had too much time to think. I had to remind myself to let go of the fears let future Dave #534 handle that particular future problem when that problem arrive. (there’s a lot of future Dave’s working on things already)

So I shake those thoughts and stride on unafraid, striding ever closer to completing the desert and into the majestic Sierras. Striding to new adventures and new friends. Striding on to new perils and challenges.

I am excited beyond words.

I can’t wait to see what lay ahead of me, each day that brings a brand new adventure. I hope you will continue to follow along and see where this trail takes me (Canada I hope, otherwise I’m totally on the wrong trail). I hope my adventures will inspire you to take on what you are passionate about. To sacrifice things in your life to realize that you have gained everything.