sad day in paradise

We arrived a week ago here in Ashland, OR.  What I haven't mentioned is that Roxi went to the vet the moment we got into town.  She had been having a fabulous time, truly a Rockstar.  I first suspected something wrong a week before, her feet were sore and I was guessing it was the rocks we were hiking on, despite her pads looking great.  I lightened her pack and gave her some anti-inflammatory meds to help her feel better but the limping and general soreness continued.  I carried her pack the rest of the week and she continued to be excited about hiking but she was not improving, in fact her left elbow and right knee were a little swollen the day we hitched into Ashland.  She tested positive for Borrialia burgdorferi, LYMES DISEASE.  The rest of her bloodwork was normal, thankfully, and she has been on meds and resting here in town.  It took her 4 days to start feeling like herself again but she is still not back to the Rockstar that she needs to be for the PCT.  She will be on antibiotics for at least a month and her knee and elbow are still swollen.  The only decision to be made is obvious, it is time for us to go home.  Life catches up with us all and Roxi is in no condition to be hiking one of the most physically demanding trails in the US.

That's life, it is a culmination of the decisions we make and the outcome that follows.  I will never regret bringing Roxi, we are a team, she is my co-pilot.  She is a decision I made 6 years ago and our journey has been simply incredible.  This adventure of hiking the PCT was a monumental undertaking.  I understood Roxi is not the pup she used to be when we did the Appalachian Trail, she absolutely thrived on that trail, truly one of the only moments I have seen her insane energy in a state of fulfillment.  But even at her age there was no reason not to try.  She is a cancer survivor with a big heart and a passion for long, hard hikes.  Truth is, she could have gotten sick the first day, or even the last.  Heck, with life's uncertainties any number of accidents could have happened to either of us every single day, we have certainly been in some precarious situations.  There are no guarantees and we have been so incredibly blessed to have the support of so many good friends that made this trip possible.

One of the biggest life lessons that a thru-hiker learns is that it is about the journey, not the destination.  This trip is not a failure, not even close.  We took in over 600 miles in the beautiful Cascade mountains and it has wet my appetite for doing the entire trail when the time is right, the trail will always be here.  I took almost a thousand pictures and have many incredible stories from beyond the trailhead, it has been worth every moment.

With heavy hearts, we are going home.

Peace and Love,
Beads & Roxtar

Ashland, OR

GREETINGS!!!!!!  Wow it's been a long time.  Since our reprieve in Eugene our resupply stop was in Crater Lake National Park where there are no computers for which to update blogs.  As I tell my mother, no news is good news =-)

Up in central Oregon, just north of the Sisters Wilderness, we found our first miles on lava.  This stuff is insane.  We felt like we walked onto a moonscape of sharp, black, rolling rock.  It was sharper than sandpaper and the exact reason Roxi brought her booties.  This stuff can shred hiking boots so doggy paws certainly need extra protection!  She zoomed through the tumultuous trail so fast it was difficult to keep up!

The Sisters Wilderness and various other pointy bits further south proved to still have a bit of snow, nothing dangerously vertical in nature but enough to slow down the pace a bit, the weather had been co-operating quite nicely so the slow going was easy to forget with a stunning mountain above us.  As expected, the snow also had swarms of mosquitoes.  Roxi even has her own head net which she wears happily when the numbers are so overwhelming that she can't even pant without choking on some extra protein.  She'll even sit in front of her food bowl and look at me so I'll take it off so she can eat.  Too Cute!!!!

Continuing further south, the famous Oregon Highlands are a sight to see.  Up at 6000' there are lakes and ponds galore, yet another reason the mozzies are thriving I bet.  The larger lakes have rustic mountain resorts and the smaller ones are too small for trout and tend to breed the most bloodsuckers.  Once we dawn our head nets and long pants and sleeves it is easy to look past the thousands of buzzing bugs dive-bombing at your face and admire the serene mountain lakes around every corner.

There are also countless areas in Oregon that have been burned by wildfires in recent years, which makes for an eery hike.  Giant charred pillars of old growth.  Skeletons black with soot or bleached white, the smaller ones all curled over in the same direction withering from the heat of the fire that consumed them.  Some even have fine branches still attached, killed by the heat but not burned.  The sky is open and the sun pouring down on us, fueling the next generation of saplings.  Grasses and wildflowers are the first to grow, almost immediately after the catastrophic event.  It is always important to remember that as much as this looks like horrid devastation, the forests out here thrive and even survive because of these fires.  They bring new life and some plant species actually can't reproduce without fires.  It's all in keeping an open mind and learning more about this beautiful and complex world we live in.

On that note, we had an interesting encounter the other day.  Walking along the trail there were 2 very large deer that were running down the trail toward us.  Naturally, as soon as they notice us in their path they veer 90 degrees and continue their rather frantic bounding.  Most people might consider the encounter over at this point but my mind very quickly deduced a very important question: what might the deer be running from?!?  As I very quickly take a survey of our resources and see if there is enough room for us to leap off the trail as well, in order to get out of the way.  Of what?  Who knows?!? Worst possible scenario is a cougar (which we have seen no signs of yet).  Most likely a mere human traveling in the opposite direction.  Of course the most likely scenario occurs most often and in this case the hiker thought they were elk.  After looking at the tracks I let him believe the 2 mule deer were elk so he could have a good story to tell his folks.  Anyway, just a friendly reminder that if you see a wild animal running toward you, dont forget to wonder what might be on the other side! HA!

Heading into Ashland and debating our plan of attack: post office, hostel, shower, groceries, dinner.  Or should we have dinner before getting groceries?  Maybe the hostel should come first? Finally I declare to Roxi, "I'm getting an ice cream sandwich.  I'm not even going to discuss the rest until I get an ice cream sandwich."

We are 25 miles from the Oregon-California border and so close we can taste it.  We are about to complete our first state and have almost walked thru Oregon!  At this pivital time I can't help but reflect on the purpose of this journey. We are so excited to be able to turn this amazing trip into a positive impact for the homeless animals of Louisiana.  The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter is one of the best animal rescues I've ever worked with, and I have worked in rescue for 14 years.  This is certainly a worthy organisation that stretches every dollar to do the most good for the homeless animals of Terrebonne Parish today and in the future. And I think it is important to note that every dollar goes straight to the shelter, our trip is entirely self-funded.  If you have not donated yet please don't hesitate to do so, there is no donation too small.  I can't help but think how awesome it would be if every person who read this blog gave just $5, that's a cup of coffee at Starbucks!  And when our trip is finished we will be inviting everyone to an evening of stories from the trail and a slideshow as a way of sharing our experience with you and perhaps even inspiring both young and old to explore the unknown and get involved in making the world a better place, each in our own way.

Hozógo nasádo - "Walk In Beauty" (navajo)

Happy Trails,
Beads & Roxtar

Mt Jefferson and Mt Washington Wilderness

As we approached Mt Jefferson the clouds rolled in and the mozzies started to swarm.  The most imposing obstacle in front of us was a 7000' snow covered pass that drops us into a steep bowl, not the place to be on a cloudy day.  We rolled into Olallie Lake Resort and waited for our bid at the pass.  The first morning we woke up to rain so we spent the day in waiting mode.  The next morning was clear, this was our shot.  The clouds stayed high and we only made one navigation error, which was pretty good considering some of the highly technical aspects that we encountered.  The snow fields were stunning and Mt Jefferson loomed, reminding us of the amazing place we were in that so few people get the chance to experience.

I had been traveling with my new friend Crazy Cloud through the most dangerous snowy bits, safety in numbers.  After a long day we came across Lake Pamelia.  The sun was still out and we eagerly dropped our packs (and other articles) and plunged into the crisp water for a rare chance to wash off the layers of sweat and grime.  After getting out and drying out bodies in the sun we realized there were hikers with day packs and a family just down the coast setting up camp.  There are many times we seem to come in the back door.  Spending many days in the backcountry, at times it is difficult to tell how close we are to civilization.  Most people are keen to hear of our adventures and also eager to see if we need anything... the marshmallows were super tasty!!!

And for a small reprieve,  we are spending a day in Eugene, OR with a very good friend from college.  Last night was an odd case of being within a half mile and totally missing each other.  Of course without cell phones the best we could do was keep looking.  Finally, at 11pm, Chris Boveroux was driving back home from Mackenzie Pass with a very tired hiker and traildog in his car.  A true Trail Angel!!!!!



For the rest of Oregon Highlands we are expecting to encounter a bizarre combination of snow and swarms of mosquitoes.  All part of the adventure!!!

Happy Trails!
Beads & Roxtar

Timberline Lodge, Mt, Hood

Three beautiful days of hiking has brought us to the stunning and historic Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.  We started by hiking up the Eagle Creek Trail which joins the PCT 14 miles south and is an incredible detoure.  The valley is lined with basalt pillars and the steep sides produce endless waterfalls all around. There is even a part where the trail goes BEHIND a waterfall that is easily 200 feet.  Stunning.  We spent the night by a small lake and fell asleep to the sound of osprey diving for their dinner.  Even at 4000 we encountered the odd snow patch still holding on to the north side of the ridge.  In high rockfields we would hear pika warning calls but never got to see the cute little critters, i suspect they smell Roxi and are extra cautious about showing themselves.  On the north side of Mt Hood we spent the night near Ramona Falls, a gorgeous cascading waterfall that is a very popular hiking destination. 

Then the long climb up a buttress to Mt Hood itself.  Glacial morrains and giant glacial carved valleys with silty rivers cascading over boulders.  The boulders tumble down stream with the gushing glacial meltwater, across the valley rocks slide starting a small avalanche of boulders and silty sand, and up above us we hear the deep gutteral rumble of the mountain breathing, likely a rockslide, avalache, or a glacier creeping down the mountain.  The snowcover starts at 5000 feet and is entirely covering the ground at 5500 feet.  Up on the partially exposed mountianside a rogue thunderstorm rolls by tossing bits of hail on us.  We came across many day hikers that had hopes of strolling around to some popular day-hike spots, wearing sandals and looking hopefull that perhaps the snow might magically dissapear around the corner.  I reiforced that the snow is very much still present and to "have a great hike!".  Then comes my favorite part, roxi and I had to wait on the trail while snowboarders go whizzing by before be can safely cross the ski slope just above Tiberline Lodge. 

I have met another southbounder named "Crazy Cloud" and 3 northbounders, the first of the season.  Being in their presence is calming and wonderful.  Thru-hikers are another breed of human and many say you need to do it to understand.  These guys are the superheros of the thru-hiker world, they do 40 miles a day and still find time to enjoy a couple brews at the pub.  I think Lance Armstrong should give this a try and see how he measures up!  The main group of northbounders is still a long way off but it is really fun to be able to cross paths with the real legends, average Joe's in the real world but completely at home and thriving on this crazy trail. It is interesting to note that no-one has heard of a single southbounder that is managing to complete a true southbound thru-hike.  Because of the weather and formidable conditions, everyone has bailed or come up with other plans to continue on further south.  Meeting nourthbounders is also a prime resource for trail conditions ahead.  They report major snow still on the ground for significant stretches in the Oregon Highlands.... maybe we'll get lucky and it will melt before we get there =-)

Peace and Love,

Beads& Roxtar

Oregon

In the interest of time, we are heading to Portland, OR today and will walk south from Cascade Locks on the Columbia River tomorrow.  We have had our share of fun in the Pacific Northwest while the weather sorted itself out, and it is now time to put our paws in motion.  We are certainly saddened with not being able to achieve our original goal, but as many say, "the mountains will always be there".  The remainder of our journey is no small feat indeed, we have our work cut out for us and we are more excited than ever to explore the next chapter of our journey on the PCT.

Peace and Love,
"Beads" & "Roxtar"

Land of the Lost WOLVES

Just last year, BBC sent a crew with rather expensive toys to this very region with a mission to further investigate the very real possibility that Wolves are coming from Canada back down the Cascades and recolonizing in Washington state and possibly even further south.  It is a 2 part series that is brilliantly done.  Also exciting to realize that we have been in the heart of where these beautiful and elusive creatures have been surviving and reproducing under the radar.  The stuff of fairy tales, it is easy to imagine them in this wild country, perfect for staying hidden.  How incredible would it be to see tracks or even hear a howl.  We would be truly blessed indeed.  It will be airing on the Discovery Channel soon, they have not posted the time yet but if someone finds it please post so everyone can watch.  There is a section that investigates the "Hozameen Pack" and that is exactly where I started out.  I didnt take this photo but it was taken on a beach that we were near.

The weather looks like it may be improving but of course I am hesitating because the weatherman is not always right.  It's official, this June was the wettest on record in the pacific northwest, validating that we aren't just being wimpy...  With all the precipitation the snow is actually melting faster than normal in lower elevations so there is still a chance we may get lucky.  Only time will tell.  It seems there are other part of the country experiencing their own crazy weather phenomenon, not to mention the wildfires in Colorado.  Be safe, and have fun exploring your own corner of the world!

"We are now in the mountains, and they are in us..."  ~John Muir

Peace and Love,
"Beads" & "Roxtar"

A Real Pacific Northwest Experience

We stayed in Stehekin, WA until sunday the 24th when we took the ferry to civilization and met a good friend David who agreed to shuttle us a little further south in the hopes of finding less threatening conditions.  After talking with a "Trail Angel" (a person who volunteers their time taking care of hikers on the PCT and a great resource for current trail conditions) we decided to try and start at Snoqualmie Pass.  Tuesday came quickly and we were dropped off at the pass, the weather was a bone chilling 40 degrees and rainy at 2 in the afternoon.  The clouds were swirling around the craggy mountains and visibility was minimal, the night would be freezing for sure.  I sat there studying my map, looked up at the foreboding scene before us, and realized I was in over my head.  There was just no way for us to do this and not be dancing with very real danger.  With our heads hung low with disappointment we checked into an Inn that is at the pass and emotion was running wild.  We had come so far with determination and excitement while mother nature has other plans.  A few sunny days have shone upon us but as a whole, the Pacific Northwest has been a true test.  This weather is notoriously high risk for hypothermia, which is notorious for causing a person to become disoriented and unaware of the eminent danger upon them.  Not an ideal situation for a solo hiker

Summer doesn't really start here until the beginning of july but this spring has been particularly cold and damp as well.  I had certainly anticipated the Pacific Northwest to be true to it's reputation but also had hopes of maybe getting lucky and summer starting a little early, this has not been the case.

In contrast, the High Sierra Mountains in the southern part of the trail have had record low snowfalls and warm spring so the northbounders are making excellent time and are weeks ahead of most years.  It turns out this is an ideal year for northbounders while the few crazies attempting a southbound have not even been able to start as yet.  As awesome as it would be to complete the entire trail in one year, it is increasingly obvious that this is simply not feasible for us.  Some years the weather works out and some years it doesn't, and we happen to draw the short straw.  There is simply not enough time to make it all the way south before the snow flies in the High Sierras. So we have planned to skip a bit here in Washington in the hopes of returning at a more ideal time next year, perhaps even catch the landscape in full bloom and all its grandeur.  When the window of opportunity opens for us to continue our trek south, our goal is to give ourselves enough time to reasonably make it through to Mexico so that we only have one chunk to return to.

Meanwhile, while in Stehekin I had the pleasure of getting to know a Wildlife Biologist who works for the National Park Service and was there working on Barred Owls at the time, Roger.  He had given me his number if I needed any help in WA.  Little did he know I'd be calling him 2 days after parting ways looking for a place to hold up for a week and wait for this supposed summer weather to arrive.  A day of hitch-hiking into Seattle and onward north brought us to our secret hide-away, ironically near to the start of our adventure 15 days ago.

So far it has been a long story with not a whole lot of hiking to speak of, at the moment mother nature has other ideas and the best we can do is be thankful for the time we have together and the incredible friends we've made so far.  We have been truly blessed in many ways, other than the weather, and in the end it is all part of the adventure.

"Nothing big ever happens if you don't plan big"

Peace and Love,
"Beads" & "Roxstar"

Rocky Start

The moment when the boat shoved off from the dock to take me up north to Lightning Creek on Ross Lake was full of so much emotion.  It was a stunning sunny day with shining white peaks all around and my dad stood on the dock waving goodbye for now.  Leaving all things familiar behind and a huge adventure ahead of us with so many uncertainties.  The eastern mountains are familiar to us but the western landscape is HUGE: bigger mountains, steeper slopes, sharper everything.  The weather said clear for a few days so we started with eager legs.  The moment we stepped onto Pasayten Wilderness land we entered a wild land for sure, on a trail that would lead us up to the PCT just south of the border.  SO many down trees and unrecognizable trail that it took us 3 hours to go a single mile.  We set up camp, exhausted, and turned back the next morning with our spirits a tad broken and clouds rolling in to envelope the mountains above, glad we were not at 6000 feet.  We were so close to Canada we had to at least touch it so we walked north along the lake and touched the border.  Our northern terminus happens to be obelisk #72, and there is an actual line at the border.  A 50 foot wide swath of no trees cuts a straight line through the wild mountains, a strange site indeed.

Having finally started our adventure we headed south, started hiking too much, and promptly injured a muscle in my leg, oops.  So we slowed down and kept moving, we dont sit still very well.  Making our way up to Rainy Pass we hit snow at about 3500', a bit lower than normal and the steep slopes made me glad I bothered to bring my ice axe.  Heading down Rainy Pass of course no adventure is complete without a sketchy raging rive crossing, Roxi was not thrilled but came through and was very proud of herself when safe on the other side.  On the way down we saw absolutely no sign of other humans, are we the first crazies trying to southbound this year?  No trail signs and no trail markers. We found a deer trail that seemed to be heading in the right direction and within an hour we were standing on the trail where it began to poke through the deep snow. Tah-dah!! It kept leading us on the trail until the snow disappeared and we were safe at last, heading down the valley to the wonderful town of Stehekin, WA.

It turns out I am the first crazy southbounder into town and I decide to take a few days to get my leg back to 100%.  The next section is 100 miles through more high steep snow with not many lower options and I am seriously considering skipping it for now.  The Glacier Peak section is one of the most incredible parts of the trail and it would be lovely to come back and do it at a more appropriate time next year.

So it's been a rocky start and we are excited for the snow to melt... but that means raging rivers too so we will just have to take our time and do our best to stay safe, no heroic efforts here!!!

Peace & love,
"Beads" (my trail name) and "Roxtar"

as we walk, into the wild......

Through all of our tireless preparation and sleepless nights, we head off into the great northern cascades tomorrow.  The snow this year has been slightly above average, but more importantly the spring has been cold and wet so the resulting conditions are not the warm inviting snowfields of most years at this time.  Instead, Hart's Pass (the northern-most road that crosses the PCT) is snowed in with 60 inches of snowpack still on the road.  The temperature has stayed unseasonably cold so snow is actually still falling, which is a totally different beast from the lovely hard pack of spring.  But, if we wait for the snow to melt, it would be near impossible to make it south through the high sierras in time to beat the coming snow in the fall... so onward we go.  We are literally taking a water taxi on Ross Lake north to near the Canadian border and hiking over 20 miles east up into the heart of the  Northern Cascades to reach the northern terminus of the PCT.  We will be carrying a full 8 days of food and praying to the weather gods we don't get hit by a storm.  Many of the exposed high elevation traverses will be on inclines of 30 degrees or more.  An ice axe, and knowing how to use it, is a necessity.  We are starting with one of the most remote and technically challenging parts of the entire trail.  Roxi and I are very much looking forward to our next resupply point in Stehekin, WA when the most difficult and nerve-wracking part is over, at least for the short term. 
Happy Trails!!!!
Laura & Roxi

Time flies when......

As they say, time flies when you're having fun!!! Or at least when preparing for a big adventure and there aren't enough hours in the day.  Roxi and I are training with our pack so that our trusty legs can carry us over the Northern Cascades in 2 weeks.  She caries her pack like it doesn't exist while sweat drips from my brow.  We have been frequenting Prompton State Park and Elk Mountain Ski Resort as our main training grounds.  Yesterday we did 12 miles on roads and that actually proved very difficult on the feet (paws).  We would rather have blisters and sore legs now when we have time to recover and a cold beer waiting at home!

Bringing Roxi introduces the need for "drop-boxes".  Roxi requires very high performance dog food with higher protein, fat, and calories than found in any normal commercial dog food and so I actually need to prepare daily rations and set up a schedule to have them sent to us along the way.  The trail is fairly remote and the opportunity to purchase good/nutritious/cheap trail food for myself is not as common as I would like and so these boxes are also a great opportunity to send myself food and various supplies like batteries and bug goop that I will likely need.  So in total there are actually 26 boxes to be prepared, addressed, and sent in a timely fashion.  Many go to post offices marked 'general delivery'.  And others are sent to hostels or vacation resorts that are near the trail and will kindly be held until our arrival.  I will send the first bunch before we head across the country but a very good friend of mine (Rita Dibble) will be taking care of the daunting task of making sure the rest make it into the mail in time for us to receive them in the remote mountains out west.  We are truly at the mercy of the mail system!!!

So we will be carefully preparing until june 10th when we will need to cross our fingers that we thought of everything and head into the wilderness.  While we focus on our trip, you can focus on the mission!  The donations have started to trickle in and we are SO excited to help  an amazing animal shelter reach their goals.  There is no better time to donate than now and there is no donation too small.  Please, if everyone who reads this blog donated just $5 we can make a huge difference in the future of COUNTLESS helpless dogs and cats in need, in one of the most dire places in the country.  Pet overpopulation is not a shelter problem, it is a community problem.  So please help this awesome shelter support and educate their community and make a better future for the animals that find their way into their care.  Don't put it off, donate today!!!

Happy Trails!
~laura & roxi

"The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose." I came across this excerpt recently and thought it summed up a few things quite well. The time is quickly approaching when Roxi and I will be in the middle of the "ruggedly bleak northern Cascade Range" with a fairly simple purpose: go south. It is an incredible concept the anyone can walk on this continuous footpath for 2,600 miles and end up literally across the country. But until then our days will be a flurry of activity getting all the pieces in place and hoping nothing is forgotten. Happy Trails! ~Laura & Roxi

What is the PCT?

Trail Overview: from the Pacific Crest Trail Association website

Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience. Located within driving distance of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle, the PCT is both easily accessible and blissfully wild at the same time. Whether you'd like to explore the PCT for weeks on end, or just a weekend, it offers the best of the West - the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada and Mt. Whitney, Yosemite National Park, Marble Mountain and the Russian Wilderness in Northern California, the volcanoes of the Cascades including Mt. Shasta and Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier, and the remote Northern Cascades.

Over the past decade the PCT has become a favorite target of thru-hikers and thru-riders (the hearty souls who attempt to hike or ride an entire long-distance trail in one "season"). Each year, in fact, an average of 300 hikers attempt to cover the full length of the PCT (thru-riders are more rare but increasing in number). Thousands of other hikers and equestrians enjoy this national treasure each year, some traveling only a few miles in the course of a day hike. Whether you visit the PCT for a few hours or for a few weeks you'll surely find a uniquely Western scene that will rejuvenate, inspire and surprise you. Two thousand six hundred and fifty miles of adventure and discovery are waiting.

Roxi's Story

Roxi's story begins in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. I first met her in the summer of 2006 at the Dessin Animal Shelter in Honesdale, PA. She was scared, shaking, underweight, and the most beautiful Shepherd I'd ever seen. She had been relinquished to the shelter at 2.5 years old because she was "too much to handle". Spending a short time with her it became abundantly clear that she needed a job, a BIG job. She had an overwhelming drive.... in every direction. This is a dog that would thrive as a police dog or search-rescue dog, lying on the couch all day is just not her style. And so I adopted her and she became my new project, and best friend. Through the summer and fall we worked hard everyday and she soon earned her Canine Good Citizen title as well as mastering basic obedience and off-leash work. She was my constant companion and we became a team, and slowly, the same incredible energy that landed her in the shelter helped create the most driven and magnificent dog I've ever worked with.

We had a goal, and a deadline. In March of 2007 we embarked on an epic adventure and it was my job to get her ready. We thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine as a fundraiser for the very shelter that brought such a beautiful soul into my life. It was exactly what the doctor ordered and Roxi met and surpassed every challenge we faced while on the trail. She didn't just survive, she thrived where many other traildogs were forced to go home. You can still check out our journey at www.traildogs.blogspot.com Between then and now we have lived on St Kitts in the Caribbean while I was attending vet school. Every day was filled with running on the beach and hiking in the rainforest. But all good things must come to an end and while I finish up my clinical year of vet school here at LSU we are planning for our next big adventure. Graduation is coming fast and before we know it we will be in the remote Northern Cascades in Canada heading south, thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. We are so excited to be able to turn this soul searching journey into a very real benefit for the homeless pets of Louisiana. Roxi's story is a perfect example of why a shelter is so much more than a building with cages. An animal shelter is an active part of the community and an invaluble resource for helping animals find loving homes where they can thrive. Different dogs have different needs and not every home is a good fit. Roxi wasn't cut out for the couch, but she is certainly the prefect traildog!!!

Beginnings of something GREAT!

Greetings! My name is Laura and I’m hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with my rescue dog Roxi as a fundraiser for the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana. I am a recent graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, hailing from a small town in Northeast Pennsylvania. I grew up volunteering at the animal shelter and have always been involved in animal rescue and rehabilitation wherever my adventures take me. Even during my time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana I have assisted in multiple placements and transported over a dozen dogs up to PA where they are eagerly adopted. I am very exciting about turning my soul-searching journey into a positive impact for the small town of Houma, LA. This trip is my way of making a difference in this amazing place. Every animal rescue in Louisiana struggles to do the best they can with minimal resources. I was blown away with the knowledge and passion of the people at the Terrebonne Parish Shelter and I could not be more excited to be able to help them achieve their goals. Houma is just one small community in an area of the country that has a HUGE pet overpopulation problem, one of the biggest in the US. I know TPAS will be an invaluable asset for years to come in their tireless efforts for the homeless animals in their little corner of the world.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650-mile national scenic trail that runs from Canada to Mexico through Washington, Oregon, and California. Zigzagging its way through six out of seven of North America’s ecozones, the PCT boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America’s National Scenic Trails. It will take us 5-6 months to traverse through alpine mountains, rainforests in the Pacific Northwest, old-growth forests, scorching desert valleys in Southern California, and a diversity of extremes. This trip is truly a massive undertaking and an epic adventure!!

My hiking companion is a rescue from my local shelter in PA and we completed the Appalachian Trail in 2007. Roxi is a truly amazing partner and I am incredibly lucky to be able to share this adventure with her. June 15^th marks our first day on the trail starting in Canada and we will be making out way to Mexico through some of the most remote and wild places in the US. During our journey, I will be posting an online journal so everyone can have a chance to follow this awesome adventure. After the trip, everyone is invited to an evening of amazing photos and stories from the trail. These will be hosted in Honesdale, PA, Baton Rouge, LA, and Houma, LA in early December.

Roxi and I invite you to join us our adventure and make a big difference for the homeless animals of Louisiana. Of course any donation is greatly appreciated, no matter how small. Please consider helping make this the biggest fundraiser EVER for TPAS. If we all do a little to make this world a better place, we can accomplish big things together!!! Happy Trails!!! Laura & Roxi

Happy Trails!!!

Laura & Roxi