From Trailjournals:

Update

I have been home now two weeks. It has been good timing as Costco has fresh two pound containers of Oregon blueberries as well as still carrying strawberries and grapes. I have been making up lost time in the fruit consumption.

I think about the PCT a lot and the people I met while hiking. It was a great occupation to steer my mind away from sadness. Yet when I look at pictures of myself I wonder how healthy it was for me. One of my hiking colleagues, Piper, has a great blog where she has published a number of her photos from her hike. There is one from of a group of us eating at the Heitmans. I look cachectic, old, and generally worn out. Maybe that is the way I always look, but it startled me nonetheless.

I’ve gained about eight pounds. Oddly, my feet are only now starting to lose the swelling. It would be interesting to study what sort of problems arise out of such long distance hikes.

In an earlier post I briefly mentioned that we are starting up a scholarship in Emily’s name to help a teenager attend Y Camp Menogyn in Minnesota. Emily worked there four summers leading kids on canoe trips in northern Minnesota and Canada and backpacking trips in Montana.

The theme behind this scholarship is to combine community service with a wilderness experience. The recipient has to have shown commitment to serving their community through voluntary service.

Part of my hike was to raise money for this scholarship. I never really did push that aspect of the hike but I know that a number of you have contributed and again I thank you. I hope that you understand why I left the trail early.

Up to this point we have raised approximately $16,000.00 for the scholarship. It is our hope that this scholarship stimulates interest in community service and wilderness exploration in deserving teens over many years.

If you would like more information or would like to donate to the scholarship please email me at pgsandall@hotmail.com and I will send you the info. All donations to Menogyn and the Emily Sandall Foundation are tax deductible.