MY 40TH BIRTHDAY GOAL: HIKE THE COLORADO TRAIL

When I turned 37, I began looking ahead to the milestone of my 40th birthday. I wanted to mark the end of my fourth decade with something deeply meaningful—something that would honor my strength, my love of nature, and the journey I’ve walked so far. That’s when the intention came: Hike the Colorado Trail.

For those who don’t know, the Colorado Trail stretches nearly 500 miles from Waterton Canyon near Denver to Durango, crossing through six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges. It offers a stunning variety of terrain—from alpine tundra to dense pine forests—and showcases the geological beauty and grandeur of our state. It’s a sacred path of endurance and awe.

As a mother, this goal might seem implausible. Thru-hikers often disappear into the wilderness for weeks, far from work, responsibilities, and the daily rhythms of life. But I’m not disappearing—I’m still here raising my daughter, the radiant Brooke Elizabeth, and keeping all the balls in the air. So, I’ve decided to take a different approach.

I’ll complete the Colorado Trail in sections over the next three summers. This July, at 39, I’ll begin with Segment 1. I’ll hike more next year, and, if all goes well, I’ll finish the trail the summer I turn 41. It’s not about speed—it’s about devotion.

To be honest, I have my doubts. I’m a novice when it comes to extended backpacking trips. I wonder if I’m really capable of this feat. But there’s a fierce, determined part of me—strong, wild, unwavering—that believes I can. This goal is more than a hike. It’s a Soul Vision Quest.

As a native Colorado woman, I feel honored to walk this land in reverence. I’ll bring my whole self to this journey—my body, my spirit, my questions, my prayers. I hope to find answers, or perhaps better questions, as I integrate my love of adventure, embodiment, and nature on a deeper level.

And while part of this journey must be mine alone—to remember who I am without distraction—I also want to extend an open invitation. If the trail calls to you, join me for a section. Let’s share the quiet and the sweat, the stars and the stories.

As the trail’s matriarch Gudy Gaskill once said:

“The Colorado Trail will change your life if you let it.”

And in the words of Bill Plotkin:

“A vision fast is not about fixing yourself; it’s about uncovering your soul’s deepest purpose.”

Here’s to turning 40 with soul, sweat, and sovereign grace. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

Taken July 4th, 2024 — sitting at 12,600 feet atop Hope Pass, where the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail overlap. A moment of breath and beauty on sacred ground, kindling the embers of my dream to hike the entire Colorado Trail.

Hope Pass sits at an elevation of 12,600 feet (3,840 meters). It’s one of the highest and most iconic points along the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, offering stunning panoramic views of the Sawatch Range.