One of my favorite memories from our work party to Hart’s Pass in September will have to be meeting the first woman to hike the Pacific Crest Trail solo. Her trail name is Ravensong and she hiked the PCT in 1976. In fact, she finished exactly on my 6th birthday! She was one of 12 total who signed the trail register that year.
She was up to the pass doing her own trail magic, shuttling thru hikers to and from her place in Mazama where she lets them stay and recharge before heading back out on the trail. She has been a great resource since moving here for those hiking their last few miles to Canada or beginning a southbound trip to Mexico. Her intel on the weather conditions and alternate routes has saved many a hiker.
My friend Rudy (North Cascade Hiker), of course, is more social and got talking to her right away. You may hear her on a podcast soon!
My bf somehow ended up offering a ride to a thru-hiker who was heading down to stay at Ravensong’s place, which is how we ended up with an invitation to come down and visit her Hiker Hut.
She moved to Mazama to be close to the trails here (PCT and Pacific Northwest Trail) and is slowly building a place for hikers to stay, often with the help of hikers who want to give back. We talked about how we both use our story of the Pacific Crest Trail and hiking to encourage other women to have their own adventures and not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone. We both have a large circle of women friends who hike and support each other. And just like me, her mother (also a hiker) was one of her biggest supporters.
She took us on a tour of her set up. Travelers can rest, cook and connect with others on their journey here. You will even find the traditional “hiker box” where hikers exchange gear and food they either need or don’t need.
Her hostel is filled with touches left by hikers; one gave the main living area a south-of-the-border feel.
Upstairs is where folks sleep…
She is adding stairs to the outside and hopes to make the space more formal. Looked pretty cozy to me!
She has to keep things pretty simple because of codes but it still has the feeling of a home away from home. She hopes to be able to make the cabin accessible more year round, it is wonderfully located for snow activities in the Methow Valley. Right now, she is open mostly in September and October, when northbound PCT hikers are likely to come through on the trail. She is looking for folks who want to come and stay during the summer and manage the hostel so she can do some of her own traveling. My bf has encouraged me to take her up on this offer…who knows?
Ravensong still has work to do on her place and it is definitely a labor of love. Even as we were leaving that day, a PCT hiker was helping with the grounds and planning to stay a few days before finishing her own PCT trek. Another example of giving back…
You can find out more information about her story and what she is doing at her blog, Ravensong’s Roost. I write more about encouraging others on my post, The Definition of Courage.
How do you use your own accomplishments to inspire others? How do you “pass it on”? Do you have a labor of love?
Editor’s Note 2023: a few years back, Carolyn leaned into the desire to travel and sold her hiker oasis. Her blog is not active but she posts of her adventures on Facebook (not public). The last I saw, she was in Oslo! But never fear, the roost is still a resting place for weary hikers as Lion’s Den by Mary “Lion” Laverne Garber-Williams. You can find out more here.
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