- J
HELLO, ARE YOU OUT THERE?
Hi Everyone! My name is Anya Sellsted (Ivanova) and I am doing this campaign to help raise money for my hiking journey on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. This was recommended to me by a few folks, so I thought I’d give it a try. I have had this trail on my mind for several years now and it has always seemed to be the wrong time or not attainable with the kind of lifestyle I was living as a wife and a student, and then developing my career as an architect/designer.
WHY AM I DOING THIS?
As of last July, in 2016, my life had made a major turn on the path I thought I was going on for the last 9 years of my existence. Everything CHANGED! These changes brought me the most difficult time in my life, harder than Architecture school… I know, crazy to think that is possible! :)
My mothers’ declining health, my divorce and a broken family dynamic among the closest people to me shattered me into a million pieces. I was no longer strong. However, something magical happened during this time, LOVE poured into my life in ways I had never expected it would, it came from everywhere. I didn’t know what love really was until I had gone through what I had. People, family and strangers, and others who have reentered into my life (who I now consider my family, yes that is you Crystal, ma and pa) provided me with so much love and hope. I was awe struck, uplifted and blessed! This gave me hope and light, despite the day-to-day difficulties, I still felt loved and knew everything was going to be alright. This made me realize I deserve this love and by taking this personal journey it would allow me to forgive myself, to CLEANSE myself from the darkness, the anger and judgment, to TEST my body and mind.
ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, WHAT AM I DOING?
I will embark on a long walk along the Pacific Crest Trail that begins in Campo California and ends in Manning Park Canada, all in all a whopping 2,668 miles! That is CRAZY! I have always believed in testing the body and mind, challenging myself (those who know me and are reading are either nodding their heads or laughing). This journey is no different, except for doing it for a day or two, it would be for four and a half months, at best. Me, I would do it, alone, because I know I can and because it will make me stronger, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. This could potentially be LIFE changing!
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
I will fly down to San Diego on March 23rd and will begin the trek on March 24th. I will be going through the desert, then summit Mt. Whitney (an additional 17 miles). The path will take me through the Sierras and Mt. Shasta up through Oregon and reenter into my beautiful home state of Washington where I will walk along the Cascades. As I would pass lake Chelan and Winthrop, the JOURNEY would end 8 miles after Canadian border in Manning Park where I hope to find a clean kiddie pool to wash my smelly self in. :)
I will be walking anywhere from 15-35 miles per day, depending on terrain and weather conditions. Once a week, I will go into town to pick up my mail drops as well as resupply at local markets for food, take a shower and wash my clothes. Maybe even take some days off the trail to recover.
This year will be a difficult one, as the west coast has experienced an aggressive amount of snow this year. Because of timing, I will be starting a month earlier than most of the hikers for the year but I won’t be alone. However, this means warmer layers and more food to carry for the more strenuous snowy stretches of the trail.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
So, I know I started very late on this, but I didn’t anticipate financial bumps along the way, so I am hoping for your immediate support, as I head out to the trail this month. Anything helps! $5, $10, anything, you can send food or even letters along my trip to the different towns I will be stopping by, emotional support is just as good. Pass on the message to your network of friends and family. My goal is $2500 and anything over that amount will be equally divided and donated to two organizations, one the PCTA (The pacific Crest Trail Association) and the other ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) … you all know how much I love my animals! The funds will allow me to send packages of food to myself, will get me new shoes along the way, it will also provide me emergency funds for unforeseeable
circumstances... like more snow or forest fires, etc. I will make an incentive for those who wish to donate over a $150, I will send them several personalized post cards along my trek up north! :)
WANT TO KEEP UP AND STAY IN TOUCH?
I would love it if all of you would take this journey along with me! After all, nothing in life is truly done alone. With the help of social media I have established three ways of staying in touch with the rest of the world:
1. My Tumblr Blog: Living in the Stereotype: PCT 2017
2. I will also be mapping out my journey via satellite, showing the path I take and post it on my Facebook Page, also accessible here: Anya's Facebook Page
3. And course, post pictures of the beautiful scenery on Instagram: Anya's Instagram
I am anxious and excited and most of all so SCARED. But I truly believe that this will be one of the most difficult things I do, but also the most rewarding! Thank you all and I send you much love from the bottom of my HEART.
Hi Everyone! My name is Anya Sellsted (Ivanova) and I am doing this campaign to help raise money for my hiking journey on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. This was recommended to me by a few folks, so I thought I’d give it a try. I have had this trail on my mind for several years now and it has always seemed to be the wrong time or not attainable with the kind of lifestyle I was living as a wife and a student, and then developing my career as an architect/designer.
WHY AM I DOING THIS?
As of last July, in 2016, my life had made a major turn on the path I thought I was going on for the last 9 years of my existence. Everything CHANGED! These changes brought me the most difficult time in my life, harder than Architecture school… I know, crazy to think that is possible! :)
My mothers’ declining health, my divorce and a broken family dynamic among the closest people to me shattered me into a million pieces. I was no longer strong. However, something magical happened during this time, LOVE poured into my life in ways I had never expected it would, it came from everywhere. I didn’t know what love really was until I had gone through what I had. People, family and strangers, and others who have reentered into my life (who I now consider my family, yes that is you Crystal, ma and pa) provided me with so much love and hope. I was awe struck, uplifted and blessed! This gave me hope and light, despite the day-to-day difficulties, I still felt loved and knew everything was going to be alright. This made me realize I deserve this love and by taking this personal journey it would allow me to forgive myself, to CLEANSE myself from the darkness, the anger and judgment, to TEST my body and mind.
ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, WHAT AM I DOING?
I will embark on a long walk along the Pacific Crest Trail that begins in Campo California and ends in Manning Park Canada, all in all a whopping 2,668 miles! That is CRAZY! I have always believed in testing the body and mind, challenging myself (those who know me and are reading are either nodding their heads or laughing). This journey is no different, except for doing it for a day or two, it would be for four and a half months, at best. Me, I would do it, alone, because I know I can and because it will make me stronger, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. This could potentially be LIFE changing!
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
I will fly down to San Diego on March 23rd and will begin the trek on March 24th. I will be going through the desert, then summit Mt. Whitney (an additional 17 miles). The path will take me through the Sierras and Mt. Shasta up through Oregon and reenter into my beautiful home state of Washington where I will walk along the Cascades. As I would pass lake Chelan and Winthrop, the JOURNEY would end 8 miles after Canadian border in Manning Park where I hope to find a clean kiddie pool to wash my smelly self in. :)
I will be walking anywhere from 15-35 miles per day, depending on terrain and weather conditions. Once a week, I will go into town to pick up my mail drops as well as resupply at local markets for food, take a shower and wash my clothes. Maybe even take some days off the trail to recover.
This year will be a difficult one, as the west coast has experienced an aggressive amount of snow this year. Because of timing, I will be starting a month earlier than most of the hikers for the year but I won’t be alone. However, this means warmer layers and more food to carry for the more strenuous snowy stretches of the trail.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
So, I know I started very late on this, but I didn’t anticipate financial bumps along the way, so I am hoping for your immediate support, as I head out to the trail this month. Anything helps! $5, $10, anything, you can send food or even letters along my trip to the different towns I will be stopping by, emotional support is just as good. Pass on the message to your network of friends and family. My goal is $2500 and anything over that amount will be equally divided and donated to two organizations, one the PCTA (The pacific Crest Trail Association) and the other ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) … you all know how much I love my animals! The funds will allow me to send packages of food to myself, will get me new shoes along the way, it will also provide me emergency funds for unforeseeable
circumstances... like more snow or forest fires, etc. I will make an incentive for those who wish to donate over a $150, I will send them several personalized post cards along my trek up north! :)
WANT TO KEEP UP AND STAY IN TOUCH?
I would love it if all of you would take this journey along with me! After all, nothing in life is truly done alone. With the help of social media I have established three ways of staying in touch with the rest of the world:
1. My Tumblr Blog: Living in the Stereotype: PCT 2017
2. I will also be mapping out my journey via satellite, showing the path I take and post it on my Facebook Page, also accessible here: Anya's Facebook Page
3. And course, post pictures of the beautiful scenery on Instagram: Anya's Instagram
I am anxious and excited and most of all so SCARED. But I truly believe that this will be one of the most difficult things I do, but also the most rewarding! Thank you all and I send you much love from the bottom of my HEART.