Zuni Bear climbing on border marker at end of trail...

Well everyone...I made it! I have so many people to thank and will be doing so this week as I add photos and comments to this trail blog. The hike was perfect. I felt great...I loved feeling my body get stronger as I simultaneously cleansed my soul and felt my spirit lighten and return to me. My cousin made a comment on a photo saying I looked "radiant" and all I can say is that I felt radiant. My hikers all rocked and my support people came out and made my trek even more pleasurable and easy.

My goals were to raise awareness, encourage people to keep their bodies active and moving and hopefully to raise some funds for families with PD. I feel my goals were all met but I was most excited about, and in awe with, the reaction I got from two of my hikers specifically -- Dick Curran and Jim Hester. Their positive attitudes and bravery astounded me. When I stopped to really process what they were doing on the trail I felt honored to be with them and I realized Peaks for Parkinson's was as successful as it possibly could have been. I was so very proud of them both and I will treasure those days always. They both did some of the most rugged terrain on the trail!

It's a beautiful day today. I will be honest and say I wish I were in the mountains still...but they helped me process some pain as I honored my father and all he was to me. Have I mentioned how successful Peaks for Parkinson's was?...

Zuni Bear

Northern Terminus of LT

CANADA. 11:20 a.m.

Zuni Bear and Border Patrol (Jean Tufts) Sitting on top of Jay Peak

Good morning everyone!

Just bagged the final peak...another sunny day on top of the world...

I've been out of service since roundtop so I'm sorry I've not been able to update. Since Johnson I've hiked with Jean and her Dad Dennis for a bit. Dennis left the trail...I met Rev. Lyle Miller and his lovely bride Rachael as well as their friend Rosalie and we had a nice picnic brunch at the base of Laraway Mountain. Rachael and Lyle hiked a distance into the woods with us and then wished Rosalie and I good day. Rosalie hiked to the top of Laraway and then made her way back while I continued on to catch up with Jean at the next shelter. It was a lot of fun and I felt honored to share Lyle and Rachael's 52nd wedding anniversary with them. I loved hiking with Rosalie and hope to see her again someday.

Jean and I have been having a great time catching up with one another out here. We have certainly covered some ground...emotionally and physically and I'm quite sure we will leave this trail feeling healthier. Thank you Jean! I love you!!

Jean and I had a great day yesterday hiking for the third time with Dick Curran and his family (brothers Paul and Dennis, sister-in-law Ellen and nephew Sean...met at the end of the day by Sean's mom who brought us treats!). The Curran family is active! And they are fun and funny and were great companions. We hope to do a reunion Peaks for Parkinson's hike this winter...

So now Jean and I are milking these last days on the trail, taking our time, enjoying each other, the mountains and the folks along the way.

Tomorrow around noon or so...think of us as we will be standing with one foot in Vermont and one in.....
CANADA!

It's been an amazing and memorable journey. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I'll post more this coming week, but until then...thank you all for your love and support.

Congratulations to Tom, Tim, Stiletto!!!! I miss you guys..

Zuni Bear LT07, LT10 for PD

Zero Day

Ginger left the trail yesterday after a secure night in Bear Hollow shelter. We fell asleep to the rain bouncing off the roof...a little to loud but we were happy to have shelter for the night. Setting up your tent in the rain is a hiker's most dreaded task. It was really fun to spend the days happily conversing and walking with Ginger. She and I met in the UVM master gardener class a couple of winters ago and quickly discovered we had more in common than our interest in gardening. I'm glad you felt a renewed sense of connection with the outdoors and the mountains Ginger. Let's try hard to make that hiking group a reality! Thank you for being with me on this journey...

When Ginger left, I picked up my dear old friend Jean (White) Tufts and her dad Dennis. We made our way to Roundtop Shelter, again, just in time before the really heavy night rain came in. Jean and Dennis have gone on today to Corliss Camp (8 miles) so I will catch up with them tomorrow. Today I'm hanging at the shelter so I can properly time my next meeting spot with the Reverend Lyle Miller and hopefully some of his family. Lyle's wife lives with Parkinson's. Tomorrow is their fifty-second wedding anniversary!! Let's all wish them the best. Now, that's what I would call a successful journey! Wishing you lots more peace and love and happiness.

So, I guess I'm somewhere around 220 miles at this point. Shorter mile days means I can't continue to eat all day long ;-)

I was relieved to see some comments about the news story. I definitely remember getting emotional but wasn't sure what would be aired. I'm okay with it because this is an emotional journey and I know I'm not alone with these feelings.

Still thinking a lot about Tim, Tom and Stiletto (okay, I'll tell you all her real name...Augusta! I love that name.). They should be reaching Canada tomorrow, possibly.

A few people have asked me what my next adventure will be. I would love to do the John Muir trail. But in life there are so many kinds of adventures and we often don't get to choose and plan them. I will just hope it's a positive one.

Hoping Jean and Dennis enjoy their father-daughter day together. I'll see them on the other side of the mountain--

Have a great start to the week everyone!
Zuni Bear

Elly's daughter

Ginger here. So today Zuni Bear and I hiked the eight miles from Sterling Pond shelter to Bear Hollow Shelter. Beautiful day, great conversations and met wonderful people on the trail. But the .4 miles to the top of Whiteface kicked my haven't-hiked-with-a-full-pack-in-a-long-time-butt! Sometimes it was all I could do to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But all I had to do was think of my mom (Elly) and all the other folks with Parkinsons, and how she gets up everyday, and thought "if she can go through that everyday without complaining, surely I can do this. And I have the option of returning to my normal life on Sunday. So here is to everyone who keeps choosing to put one foot in front of the other, and thanks to Zuni Bear for inviting us to share this journey with her.

What a day!

As if climbing up some very challenging and steep cliffs with Jim on our quest to summit Mansfield wasn't enough! Jim was fantastic by the way...We were met at the top by some energetic and super fun(ny) women, Linn Syz and Rhoda Chickering, as well as the folks from channel 3 news! For those of you who don't know this about me, public speaking has been a lifelong fear of mine. My father's funeral service was my first ever attempt and this was my next one. Luckily my mother knew it would be best to simply spring it on me...so I had no idea it was happening. Thank goodness I had Jim Hester by my side. That alone made me feel better. Thank you Jim.

We had a perfect climb, outstanding views and so much to celebrate!

When we reached the Stowe road a car of fellow hikers cheered at the sight of us and told us we had a lot of folks waiting at the picnic area. Good friends, food, PBRs(!) -- Thank you Allen! So sorry I missed you. Congratulations to you and Helen on your new grand baby...

Unfortunately we got down from the mountain too late for me to walk with some of the central Vermont support group. They were gracious and let me simply eat...and visit.

My next hiking partner is my friend Ginger Nickerson. Ginger's mom lives with Parkinson's. G and I hiked up to Sterling Pond for the night and on our way stopped to take a photo of Ginger with the sun setting behind her...we emailed the photo instantly to her mom. Now we are tucked away in our sleeping bags ready to dream of more days like this. Days filled with monumental accomplishments, fears overcome, stories told, phenomenal people, fantastic mountains, brilliant sunsets and the moon lighting our way.

Thank you Jim Hester. You are strong and brave and you my friend are a rock star! Sleep well tonight, recover and know I will never forget you and the time we shared in your backyard...

Thank you to everyone who came to meet us today. You were all such a welcome sight!

Thank you Mom...you've done so much for me now I can't even list it all...my battery would die again.

Onward in the morning with my pal Ginger. It's going to be a good day.

Peace and Happiness to all--
Zuni Bear

Channel 3 News

Tune in tonight? Just interviewed on top of Mansfield with Jim Hester. Oh boy.... ;-)