Summary: “When people ask me about the Pacific Crest Trail, I tell them that the trail found me, instead of me finding the trail.” - Wesley Trimble The Bucket List Life Podcast #27 - Adventure Thru-Hiker Wesley Trimble To climb the tallest mountains and hike across country is definitely a popular bucket list goal for so many. The physical challenge requires training, preparation and the mental drive and endurance to push past the inevitable pain and see the journey through. Our next guest on The Bucket List Life Podcast episode #27 with Kenyon Salo is an experienced and accomplished Thru-Hiker that began conquering mountains as a child. Wesley Trimble not only has summited 50 of Colorado’s 54 Fourteeners, he has also trekked the Colorado Trail, ran half marathons and successfully completed the 2,600+ mile Pacific Crest Trail over the course of 4 months this past summer. Amazingly he has accomplished all of these considerable physical feats with a mild case of Cerebral Palsy that he was born with. Wesley hopes to inspire others by sharing his story of overcoming his medical condition, the challenges he faced on the trail and his courage and tenacity to stay the course, putting one foot in front of the other. Highlights of their podcast conversation: 4:45 Wesley takes us way back to the beginning and explains the mild form of Cerebral Palsy that he was born with. He addresses the difficulties he experienced as a child growing up just trying to blend in and the insecurities he had about his medical condition. He grew up a member of an active and adventurous family in the mountains of Colorado. Although CP has affected him his entire life, with his parents encouragement and support, he never let it be an excuse not to seek out adventure and challenge his capabilities. 14:15 Wesley explains what his Cerebral Palsy feels like and how it limits him. He also explains how hiking long trails and huge mountains challenges him differently than a regular person. He has learned how to adapt to his medical condition, to know where his limitation are and be willing to push those limitations, but not all at once. 24:30 Wesley describes the electric excitement in the air and all the adventure that lay before him just beyond the horizon as he set out on his journey at the beginning of The Pacific Crest Trail. He takes us along on his incredible 2,600+ mile journey, his challenges and his plan to break it down into smaller intermediary goals to make it through just putting one step in front of the other. “This was the beginning of what could be one of the greatest adventures of my life!” “The trail, in some ways, teaches you as you go about who you are and about things you just don’t know until you experience them along the way.” 34:00 Wesley tells us some of the hardest challenges he faced and how he feels about what it’s like to be considered an inspiration for so many others. “When I started the hike, I just wanted to be a thru-hiker. I didn’t want to be the thru-hiker with CP…. I realized after I finished the trail that yes, I was a through hiker, but I overcome so much during my entire experience that I feel like, in some ways, it’s my obligation to give back and inspire other people.” 45:00 What is something on Wesley’s bucket list that does not have to do with hiking? He wants to have a film produced for a film festival and sit down and write a book about his experiences. 51:00 Wesley would like to leave us with the following thought: “We all have positive and negative turns in our lives, and those turns dictate what we do in life… We really need to look at them with a redemptive perspective and realize that no matter what happens, there are reasons for the negative turns and there are things we can learn.” Thank you so much Wesley, for sharing your drive, determination and conviction to go after your dreams in the face of all challenges. Your story is extremely inspiring and motivating for millions!
