Backpacking Light is looking into a means by which our members can donate to Balls and Sunshine. Stay tuned.

- Sam

What a great story! My father introduced me to hiking when I was only 4 years old and that experience and his teachings about nature, the woods, and its residents made such an impact on me and has shaped my outdoors love and philosophy.

This is such an incredible loving and wonderful gift you are giving your daughter, Balls! She will remember this for the rest of her life and she will no doubt pass it on to her own children.

Best wishes for your hike and may the trail be a good friend to you!

Thanks for the article. Been bedridden for the last several months and have been rather down lately. Thank you for showing me the hope for a better future if one is willing to look for it.

Thank you BPL for your support! Thank you readers for your kind words and encouragment! I look forward to updating you with more articles as the journey continues! Many have asked how they can donate to our adventure, so we set up a Paypal account for donations. If you go to our journal at: trailjournals.com/ballsandsunshine you will see a row of blue buttons on the left hand margin, click on "about". There is now a Paypal donate button at the bottom of that page. Thankyou, and keep an eye out for our next story from the trail!

I briefly met you 2 while at the ADZPCTKO and hope your journey is of epic proportions with smiles all the way.

-Keen Eyes

I, also, ran into them at the Kickoff. Very nice, genuine folk! Here's a couple of pic of them:

I got a huge kick out of the contrast of Sunshine running and playing at kickoff while many of us older guys moped around, often with the limp of sore feet.

I think what you are doing is awesome! Were headed to Sequoia National Park in 3 weeks for some trail hiking then into some of the parks in Utah. You two are an inspiration to get some trail time in with my kids. Thank You!

I heard from Eric (Balls) this morning that he and Sunshine reached the Canadian border Saturday evening! What a wonderful accomplishment for this plucky young lady!

They do have one stretch of trail left to do, from Wahtum Lake to Cascade Locks. They had left the trail at Wahtum Lake to attend PCTA Trail Days, but couldn't get back because the road was closed that afternoon due to the Dollar Lake Fire. They tentatively plan to dayhike this section on Wednesday. If all goes as planned, I will meet them at Cascade Locks (where they'll park their vehicle) and drive them to Wahtum Lake.

Edited by hikinggranny on 09/26/2011 16:33:38 MDT.

It was nice meeting you two at my store tonight! And cool to meet other members from here.

Cheers
Daniel