In the past two months, 1,200 miles of daunting and treacherous mountains, blistering temperatures and other fierce conditions, as well as a cruel thief, have not been able to stop Bree Fuqua.
The Kalispell teacher forges onward along the Pacific Crest Trail, an epic footpath that spans 2,650 miles from the Mexican border to Canada.
On Monday, July 1, Bree had reached the Plumas National Forest in Northern California, a section of the Sierra Nevada with old growth trees and wild and scenic rivers.
Through Monday, Bree had now hiked 1,281 miles in 57 days. The most arduous stretch is behind her, thanks to the help of her sister, Jess, who accompanied Bree through the towering peaks of the Sierras, which included the highest point in the Lower 48 states, Mount Whitney (elevation 14,505). She recently passed the Middle Fork of the Feather River, which was one of the first nationally designated wild and scenic rivers in the nation.
Bree has had to adapt to several challenges during her journey, including a thief who stole important gear, like an ice axe and new shoes. But she’s overcome every obstacle in her way, as well as the daily aches and pains that arise from hiking more than 20 miles a day for two months straight. As a nice aid, she recently stumbled upon some “trail magic,” which is what hikers call gifts left along the trail. A case of Gatorade was waiting for Bree at one recent stop.
Bree has been keeping an online journal — www.breehikes.com — where she logs thoughts and lessons that pop up along the way.
Her recent lesson of the day was, “This trip often seems like the perfect example of how long term and short terms goals work together. I try not to constantly think about the long term goal or it becomes too overwhelming,” she wrote.
She added, “If you continue to work on being successful with all of the small pieces, they eventually start adding up.”
Go Bree!
RELATED: Where’s Bree? Climbing Mount Whitney with Her Sister
RELATED: Journey of a Lifetime