My Next Big Adventure

A bit about me: 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.  I moved to Chewelah this past October and was immediately blown away by this amazing place.  Lots of trails to hike and ski, beautiful small mountain towns, and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met!  Unfortunately, just like so many other places, there are also homeless animals that need help; whether it is medical care, a new place to call home, or a simply warm place to rest.   Stevens County is a big place with few options for people to turn to for help with their beloved family members. 

It turns out I have extensive experience in canine behavior and rehabilitation particularly pertaining to the special needs of rescue dogs and as soon as I arrived, CVAS found me and asked for help.  And so began my relationship with a great rescue with a very big heart!  Every day I spend working closely with volunteers and staff I learned more and more about the specific issues pertaining to this area and how blessed this community is to have a resource like CVAS.  Along with a handful of other rescues in the county, CVAS is run completely by donations, there is NO government funding to guarantee that their doors stay open to those in need.  And I, for one, believe that if we all do a little to make the world a better place, great things can be achieved.  This trip is my way of making a difference and I am very excited to turn my soul-searching journey into a positive impact for this beautiful community.  I know CVAS will be an invaluable asset for years to come in their tireless efforts for the homeless animals in this little corner of the world. 

So, where am I hiking?  The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650-mile national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington.  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 me about 5 months to traverse through scorching desert valleys in Southern California, alpine mountains, temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest, old-growth forests, , and a diversity of extremes.  This trip is truly a massive undertaking and an epic adventure!!

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2007 with my rescue dog Roxi, it was a fundraiser for the shelter who brought such an incredible soul into my life.  Our journey can still be found at www.traildogs.blogspot.com.  Roxi is now an old girl and she’ll be watching this adventure from the sidelines.  It will be truly strange to be traveling without my long time co-pilot, we have been through some absolutely incredible adventures together and a piece of my heart will be missing, eagerly awaiting my return!

April 23^rd marks my first day on the trail starting in southern California near a tiny little border town named Campo.  Stay tuned!