If you’ve ever walked deep into a cornfield when the stalks are taller than your head, it’s easy to feel claustrophobic and panicky, lost and alone in a sea of dark green. Overwhelmed by the writing task at hand, I turn to Grandma Jensen’s old saying and find my way.

He cleared his throat and then declared with great ceremony, “I have a trail name for you, that is, if you wish to accept it.” This post is about earning my trail name, and finding meaning and friendship in the smallest of moments.

It was the last Sunday in July, and I had already hiked more than 350 miles on the 500-mile Colorado Trail. In a matter of hours, I went from sipping tea at sunrise to feeling like I might die alone, face down in the mud, on top of a remote mesa.

How do we tap into our creativity, our wisdom, our capacity for wonder, our well-being and our ability to connect with what we really value? Solvitur ambulando.

I pulled together a photo gallery that shares a daily glimpse into my five-week hike on the CT -- from the start of Segment 1 in Waterton Canyon to the finish line at the end of Segment 28 outside of Durango. Daily mileage included.

I’m often asked What does the Colorado Trail look like? Did you hike it solo? How long did it take? This post shares the basics about the route I chose, my hiking stats and the planning resources I found most helpful.