Get Out There, and Bring a Friend
CJ Mauger & Bex Wright
If you don’t wind up loving these two, we can’t be friends any more.
Welcome to my second ‘Real Womxn, Real Adventure’ feature episode (if you missed my first one with Mikayla Clarke, I hope you’ll go back and check it out at GGW Episode 8).
CJ Mauger and Becky Wright started hiking together when they were in their mid-40s…. Yes, that's right, mid-40s. From an inauspicious first hike, the two have gone on to section hike the entire AT and thru-hike the Long Trail together, and they're not even close to being done yet. We talk about their different hiking styles and approaches to long-distance backpacking, and the heartbreak and redemption that has been 2020 so far. The honesty and hilarity just keep coming with these two.
I happened to have recorded this conversation the same evening as the dumpster-fire-that-was-the-first-presidential-debate aired. As I reflected on that whole evening (after getting past wanting to smash my forehead against a brick wall), I was left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this podcast giving me a reason to connect with all these amazing humans.
Whether you’re a 'destination' hiker or a 'journey' hiker, a hot food aficionado or a cold soak devotee on the trail, these are not earth shattering differences. But they are kind of a metaphor for what’s going on in the world right now - or should I say, what I WISH was going on in the world right now.
Bex and CJ are constantly reworking and adjusting their hiking paces and practices, making compromises to benefit their collective good. They’ve spent the last decade discovering and refining what works best for themselves, while still making room to work together. Their common love of being outdoors, and spending days or weeks on the trail together, is elevated and supported, sometimes at the expense of their personal goals or comforts. If only....[sigh]
A big shout-out to my coworker, Stacie C., who introduced me to these inspiring real womxn, and a huge congratulations to Bex, who welcomed a new grandson on the day we recorded!
Some helpful links and info of interest from our chat: