Herland Sister Resources

The founder of our Herland Hikes, Jane Powell, recently received recognition for completion of the Triple Crown of hiking, successfully backpacking more than 7000 miles on three long distance trails over the last sixteen years. Her completion this fall of the Appalachian Trail added to her hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail in 1993-94, and the Continental Divide Trail in 2000-2001 made her the 12th woman – and first Oklahoman — to attain Triple Crown status.

The Triple Crown was awarded to her in a ceremony at Donner’s Pass in October by the American Long Distance Hiking Association – West. Kathy Faulks, a friend from England known as Wandering Star on the trails, received her Triple Crown at the same ceremony, the first British woman to achieve the award. Wandering Star met Jane on the Appalachian Trail in 1988, when they both began this endeavor. Most of the three trails they walked together, so Wandering Star waited to receive her award until Jane, too, had earned the Triple Crown.

This recent Appalachian Trail hike was, though, a solo hike. Jane, who uses the trail name Lucky Star, had hiked most of the Appalachian Trail in 1988, but to ensure completing every step of the walk, began her trip this year at Marion, Virginia, the day before Easter. At first, the miles and weather tormented her, and she summed up the beginning of the trail with the word DESPERATION.

Having hiked extensively, Jane had decided there was no need for a stove this trip. While she was on the Continental Divide Trail, she had encountered a couple of guys who were eating nothing but peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Ever since, she has thought that leaving off the stove, fuel and cook pot would be a great way to reduce the weight she needed to carry. Crackers, granola bars, cheese, and other cold food seem adequate. Especially when supplemented with green stuff along the way. In the spring, she found and ate violets, chickweed, mustards, field cress and even ramps, a strong and unmistakable leek found in West Virginia and western Virginia.

The Appalachian Trail is much more social than the Continental Divide or Pacific Crest Trails. Plenty of hikers out, most of the intimidating variety — young, long-legged, strong, fast (and usually male). That part may be discouraging, but there’s always the gossip — what young man is keeping company with what young woman, whose pack is overweight with bottles of alcohol, and what injuries are slowing whom. The Lost Boys, Swiss Miss, Colorado Dave, MoonPie, Footloose, and Captain Hook were just some of the folks out there.

Once desperation faded away and strength returned, Lucky Star found herself making up to twenty-five miles a day, her mantra “good feet, strong legs, good back, strong feet, good legs,” carrying her through. That and support from old friends and new, especially those known as trail angels, people who take interest in long-distance hikers and offer them food, rides (to and from town, not along the trail!), showers, and other treats.

Lucky Star found herself famous among thru-hikers for her bear encounter. One night, in Pennsylvania, she had settled into her sleeping bag and bivy sack which wraps around her tightly, beneath her tarp. She had decided against carrying an actual tent to keep the weight down, and the bivy had adequate netting against the insects. About a half hour into her sleep cycle, she felt something warm and heavy at her feet. Without fully awakening, she kicked at it. Next thing she knew she was flying through the air, her bivy sack being dragged across the ground — by a bear. She screamed at it, but couldn’t escape the bivy sack. The ride lasted about 35 feet — the next day she noticed bruising on her arms, probably from hitting against rocks. When the bear stopped, she struggled to free herself from the sack, ripping it even more than the bear already had. She reached down on the ground for things to throw, and boldly flung leaves and twigs towards the creature.

She didn’t sleep the rest of the night, huddling on her sleeping pad with her sleeping bag wrapped around her. The bear came back and charged — a false charge that petered out. She yelled and scared it off. Then it came back again and charged to the same result. The adrenaline wouldn’t let her sleep by then.

Though the bear encounter was her most dramatic moment, the Trail was thick with challenge along with the beauty. Bugs, poison ivy, unlimited cicada. Burning sun, aching legs, slippery rocks, rain that goes on for days, yet there is the beauty. As her letters told: “Misty, deep woods… lush… with a deep and musky smell.” “Fitzgerald Falls which is wild and beautiful.” “…wonderful views of the Hudson River Valley. On clear days, the NYC skyline is also apparently visible…” and at least once “I am exactly where I want to be.”

The courage and commitment to live the life we are called to is part of the feminist ethic we all embrace. Jane Powell, Lucky Star, has shown us how it’s done.