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That can happen when you put one swollen foot in front of the other all the way up the 2,633-mile Pacific Crest Trail.
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The 49-year-old Bluff Siding, Wis., woman started her journey in Campo, Calif., in April and finished in September in Canada. Watson wanted to be sure to finish by the second or third week of September to avoid snow — and to make her daughter’s wedding in Chicago.
Watson will talk about her adventures on the trail Saturday at Community Bible Church. People will be able to see her gear, ask questions and also get a tour of the church. Part of Watson’s mission was to raise money for the church. So far, she said she has “several thousand” dollars in pledges for improvements at the church.
Watson grew up in Colorado with a father who passed on his love of the outdoors. Two years ago, Watson hiked the 500-mile Colorado Trail. This time she wanted to push herself further.
She’s done marathons and is excellent shape. Still, nothing could completely prepare her.
“It’s all unknown,” Watson said. “You can’t predict what will happen.”
With the support of her husband Dave, Watson planned her journey, figuring out how to lighten her load and arranging to have supplies shipped to various post office boxes along the trail.
The first few weeks, she hiked with two young women. The camaraderie among hikers was instant, Watson said.
“The hiking community is like a little family. Everyone takes care of everyone,” she said.
She met software designers, engineers, teachers, a postmaster, massage therapist, firefighters, waitresses, lawyers, musicians, retired couples, recent college graduates. What they had in common was a love of nature and adventure. And they didn’t mind getting dirty.
“We are always hungry, we smell bad and we laugh easily,” Watson said.
She called her husband when she could and let people know how she was doing by posting journal entries on her Web site using a battery-powered gadget she connected to phone lines.
Watson estimates she burned more than 5,000 calories hiking an average of 25 miles per day. She drank two to four liters of water a day and took in as much high-calorie food as she could. Off the trail, hikers would stop in towns to gorge themselves at buffets or head to a convenience store for a pint of ice cream.
There were physical challenges along the way. An old knee injury acted up. Her feet got infected. She weathered a storm with winds of 70 to 90 miles per hour.
“I wondered if I would make it,” Watson said.
She also struggled being so far away from home, especially when she heard about the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the devastating flooding in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Watson prayed and continued to walk.
For now, she’s enjoying — and getting used to — the comforts of home. Watson is eyeing up the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail for her next adventure. In the meantime, she’s helping her husband with their online home-based business.
She hopes to inspire people with her story, not because she plans on having people follow in her literal footsteps. Instead, Watson hopes others see what is possible in their own lives.
“If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you’ll never learn and grow like I did,” Watson said.
If you go
What: Cheryl Watson talking about her experience hiking 2,663 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community Bible Church, 69 E. Third St.
Cost: Free
Web site: www.hikergirlpct.com
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
