…I’ll miss seeing only a few 
wanderers each day, 
each greeting a rare gift— 
wrapped in intention, joy, 
curiosity, shenanigans, 

and kindness.

…Perspective shifts like the light at dawn, 
subtle, glacial, but steady, 
and suddenly, the world is different 
than it was before.

On the 20^th anniversary of his thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, Adam Segel-Moss left home, family, and work for a little over two months to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

He’s home now, reflecting — as one would — on what it meant to walk and wonder through all that time and space.

Hikers are curious about each others’ stories, backgrounds, what brought them to the journey, and the kinds of things you might not ask your closest friends: what’s on your mind? what’s on your heart? what brought you here? what’s next in your life?

There’s also just a deep curiosity about ourselves. With hours upon hours of thinking time between footsteps, water sources, and snack breaks, we’re left to reflect on the past chapters of our life, the present moment, what lies ahead. It’s kind of the ultimate reset.

Listen to Choose to Be Curious #257: Walk in Wonder: 1000 Miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, with Adam Segel-Moss

Adam Segel-Moss, aka Cliff Dancer, kept a blog of his journey. It’s a lovely, appreciative read.

The Pacific Crest Trail winds 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. It’s closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, and lies between 100 and 150 miles inland from the U.S. Pacific coast.

And in case you’re curious about dendrochronology (tree rings), here you go!

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these C2BC Classics: Taking Curiosity in Stride; Tips for Wanderers, with Andrea Seiger; and Beyond Your Front Door, with Dina Pavlis.

Photos and trail sound clips from Adam Segel-Moss, used with permission. Thanks to Raw Dog for joining this journey as well!

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Temporal Slip” by Cloud Breaker, via Blue Dot Sessions.

You can subscribe to Choose to Be Curious on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.