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| Sunset at Glacier National Park Summer 2015
April 17th, 2016
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PCT With Purpose: The Beginning
It is a rainy Sunday morning. The usual stream of students and
professors snaking their way through campus lie dormant, resting for the week
ahead and the approaching end of the spring semester. Reluctantly, I put on my
rain jacket and start toward the library, where I will hunker down for the next
eight hours taking yet another practice MCAT exam.
The walk was enjoyable. The cool spring rain brought a crispness
to the air, the song of the birds remind that spring is here and summer is just
around the corner. Then it hits me, summer is almost here. Years of dreaming,
months of planning, and hundreds of hours of preparing, I am finally going to
be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
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| PCT 2016 Image courtesy Kohler Landscape Photography Starting point - Campo - PCT |
Over the next three weeks I will be leaving one of the most
strenuous academic passages of my life to be consumed by the west coast wilderness trail that spans from Mexico to Canada. My current study of MCAT books, micronutrients, and
comparative anatomy will be replaced by an emphasis on trail maps, terrain and
water sources. The realization that I will be embarking on an over 2,600 mile
challenge fill me with a wide range of seemingly incompatible emotions of fear,
anxiousness and jubilation. Fear of failure and the unknown missteps bound
to happen come to mind. The anxiousness comes from a much-needed improvement on
my practice MCAT exam. The jubilation springs from three sources: the adventure of a
lifetime I am about to experience, the completion of my undergraduate degree, and
the opportunity to combine my love for medicine, family, faith, and nature into
a fundraising effort I have named PCT With Purpose.
When I first heard about the PCT as a sophomore at Oklahoma State
University, I dreamed that the trail would be something I would hike once I
reached retirement age, never realizing circumstances would dictate I would be
able to hike the PCT much sooner.
Life circumstances changed my mindset. The prolonged battle my
grandfather had with Diabetes and Polycystic Kidney Disease came to an end.
Several months later, the abrupt and unforeseen passing of my grandmother,
coupled with my father's diagnosis of colorectal cancer lead me to question my
mindset of living for tomorrow. During this time, these monumental figures in
my life, who have formed me into the person I am today, embodied "hupomone".
Hupomone or
"gleeful perseverance", is an ancient Greek word seen in James 1:2-4.
Hupomone is more than just a defined mindset, but a lifestyle to approaching
the hardship we all face in our lives. In its practice, hupomone looks at trials and adversity in our
lives not as burdens, but as blessed opportunities for growth that mold us to
become a more complete version of ourselves.
Rather than pouting about my circumstances of having an unplanned
gap year, I was determined to gleefully persevere. At this time the thought of
hiking the PCT again crept into my mind, but I didn't want to hike over 2,600
without having a purpose and a focused objective. To me, I wanted it to
be more than an item on my "bucket list." I wanted the journey to be
personal.
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| Zach and Neal |
Last summer, I suggested that my family celebrate my dad's 1-year
cancer free (NED) mark by going to hike at Glacier National Park. The hike was
also meant for a warm up for a Father/Son hike on a section of the PCT called
the John Muir Trail when I graduated in 2016. Something miraculous happened to me at Glacier. I clearly felt the
presence of God. To me getting out into the wilderness was like entering
the grandest cathedral. I felt at peace and near to God in the midst of all
that was troubling my family.
On the last day of the trip, my friend Neal and I made a last
minute change to our planned schedule and headed to Hidden Lake Trail. As we
gained elevation towards the ascent of the pass between two glacier mountain
peaks along the Going-To-The-Sun Road, we got out of the car and looked out
onto the most beautiful mountain meadow I had ever seen in my life. When I
first stepped onto the boardwalk path it felt as if I was the only person on
the planet. I was completely memorized by the inspiring background filled with
mountain peaks, the morning mist, a majestic lake, wildlife and the most
beautiful mountain grove flowers I had ever seen. As I approached the peak of
the path, I felt a moment of complete peace and meditation. I felt God himself
whispering to me saying, "go". I immediately knew where I was
supposed to "go" and broke down into tears. I was to go into the wilderness,
to go onto the PCT. I didn't know exactly when, but I knew it would
happen.
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| Dad at Glacier |
When we got back, my father told me he would not be able to hike
the John Muir trail with me as planned because the hike at Glacier
made him realize he had not fully recovered from the chemotherapy treatment. His decision that he didn't think he was able to complete the John
Muir trail, gave me the confidence I needed to tell my family I wanted to hike
the PCT and it further pointed me to the purpose for my extended hike. I
wanted to hike in my father's honor. I also wanted to hike for colon cancer
research. The passing of my grandmother solidified my thoughts that I
shouldn't put off the trip.
When I made the decision to form PCT with purpose, I didn't know that my father's battle with cancer wasn't over. In January, testing revealed the cancer had progressed to Stage 4. He had another surgery and started more chemotherapy. His journey will be much harder than mine, yet he is facing it with a great sense of peace. He saw his recurrence as another hill he had to climb, not a
defeat, but only a section of a marathon or a hike that he needs to triumph. "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon" he said to me. Ironically we will both finish our challenges about the same time. We will both endure mental, physical and spiritual challenges. We both have the faith we need to sustain us in times of trouble. It's not about the destination; it's about the journey. I'm prepared for the journey. I am
ready to run the entire race. I may stumble along the way, but I am putting
faith in my purpose to help me get through one of the most arduous,
exhilarating, self-transforming events to come.
Now you know the events that lead to the formation of PCT With Purpose. Anyone that hikes the PCT has to have help and I am not alone. My closest family: my mother, father, sister and brother-in-law are all involved in some way. The goal is to not only raise money, support, and awareness for the Colon Cancer Alliance group, but to document our personal journeys through the trials we are facing in our lives, to bring hope those in need, and show how to gleefully persevere whatever trials you may be facing in your life. You can help support the Colon Cancer Alliance by supporting my trip at this address https://www.gofundme.com/PCTWithPurpose
