Chia Pet's Blog

This blog is dedicated to the completion of hiking half of the Appalachian Trail…1,100 miles on my 100th day hiking trail. Here are one hundred things I would like to share. I have hiked through six different states.Virginia had the most miles within one state on the entire AT.Virginia is NOT flat…contrary to what others … More Chiaisms: 1,100 in one hundred

Day after day, week after week, and now month after month. Everything I consider home is carried on my back. Nothing within Big Green is carried for luxury. All my items are needed for survival. So many shake downs later and I finally have a pack weight down to 30lbs or so (lighter/heavier depending on … More All the Important Things are Green

Hiking along the trail with the lingering smell of freshly cut cucumber in my mind. The Copper Head snake has gratefully kept his distance from me, but the frequent moments I passed this snake has exceeded the amount of times I’m comfortable with. A Tenessee local informed me that when one is in the area … More Cucumber Mud Pie

Two years of wearing a mask. There has been a two year deep dive into the new persona that is the current reality. We are in a time of a powerful awareness of not knowing up from left and behind from inside, yet those who’ve been choosing to see the light have been the guiding … More REALity unmASKed

Running far, running fast, running away. Sure the act of running can be beneficial when speaking in terms of cardio for the human body. The emotional act of running though, this is where the maze of life lies. Within the privilege of growing older lives the fast forwarding of time. Laying here now, in a … More A Mini Maze and A Tender Seek

On the way to Lovers Leap, Tahoe I shared how my experience climbing outdoors was limited to Bouldering; a style of rock climbing that involves free climbing on rock roughly 10 to 20 feet tall. Then there I was, 100, 200, 300, 400 feet above the ground and fully involved in a beautiful flow of … More Pitch to Pitch

The act of following the unknown and trusting the brave choice of exploring independently will always lead to self realization. This awareness adds to the constant transition of self. When we lead with kindness towards self and others, than whatever follows must also reflect kindness. The act of exploring with an egocentric and judgmental view … More My main squeeze; Scuba Steve

Twenty8 years of age — 20eightteen — Forty8 Summits The following forty-eight points are connected to my experiences with the 4,000 footers of New Hampshire My first 4,000 foot hike ended with two feet COVERED in blisters Hiking with no summit view is still a beautiful experience My love for hiking grew from sharing moments … More 8.eight.8[short&sweet]

I called it being used ::: I had the chance to transform :: I now call it being scared I was scared to change, because I was fearful of what would happen if I chose to follow the unknown. Months passed by and the continued choice to stay put and experience the consistent life of … More speechless EYEs

Believing that the outcome will forever be the same, although the way of traveling to that place is flexible to change, may cause the decision to be a difficult one. Floating along the path that has been laid out, feeling the powerful sensation of heaviness within movement, while surrounded by the lives of all others. … More I thought it was an EZ-Pass

When thinking about how many times our mind goes in and out of thoughts and different emotions throughout the day, it amazes me how this mind of mine is able to continuously return to this reaccuring connection. At what point in the series of moments do us as humans discover the opportunity to grow, the … More Novembers Commute

Surrounding this space is air. Rising, falling, and breathing; the movement of life exists so deeply, yet the cruel realization that without wholehearted truth, deep and passionate love will easily be repelled from intertwining within these moments of life. An expert of relationships and love. The understanding of flexibility, acceptance, patience, uncontrollable happiness, dancing of … More no<love

I once read that when an idea first arrives to the mind one should acknowledged and carefully consider the moments following … After the second attempt to make it up the street, my car was confronted by atleast two feet of untouched snow. Heading back down, contemplating whether going back to my cousins was in … More Stumbling Through Whoville

A concentrated mind is noticed during the time of a tingling numbing sensation. Auto response kicks in to regulate my core temperature while the process of shaking begins, but only long enough to recognize that my body must find warmth. While thoughts of deep gratefulness for electricity enter my mind, I lay cocooned within the … More The Genie’s Abode

Cycling through the natural motions; the sun, the moon, and our planet Earth. The awareness of time: passing days, leading into months, and merging to years. During this time I am feeling a roller coaster of emotions. One moment I feel on top of the world, then seconds later a shift happens, where sadness … More The Bulls Rough Skin and Soft Soul

As the sun-scorched the farm land ahead, leaving a white blazed trail of rays in its path, I found myself wondering what had happened? Heat I had yet to experience. A negative mindset I wasn’t able to release. A physical pain embodying my every move. Excitement for reaching 1,130 miles on trail, yet discouragement about the … More Live, Love and Let Go

We have all seen wildlife, in some form or another. The majority of humans, from a young age, are educated about different animals from around the world. We know creatures are out there, somewhere, just trying to survive. Hikers who explore the Appalachian Trail will see a variety of creatures and will most likely have … More Through the Binoculars Boys and Girls

So many times I have wondered what I am doing with my life. This question has been in the back of my mind for a few years now. Wondering why I chose the path I have and pondering the moments when I have spent energy and time thinking about certain situations. Long distance hiking does … More Love in the Blues

One foot in front of the other…in my own head thinking about the things I naturally think about on trail. When suddenly I find myself screaming profanity while running away southbound. Not a person in sight to witness my encounter with the rattle snake. I saw a multi colored earth toned creature poke out from … More Rattling Life

A gentle sway amongst the icy chill of the late night spring breeze. Home for the night lies just below the highest elevation in Virginia, falling around 5,700 feet. Hours have passed since my feet and body stopped working hard for the day, yet my mind has been racing towards finding ways to stay warm … More A Night in the Clouds