I met Jada on day one as we shared a shuttle from Tucson to the Coronado Monument to start the AZT. During the shuttle drive, Jada was talkative and explained that she had broken her leg and ankle three months before while snowboarding and had rods and screws in her leg. Having experienced a broken ankle, I know the stiffness and time it took to return to normal. Jada is hiking the AZT two months after doing more damage to her body than I did. She is badass!
Jada was 22 when I met her. She is determined, committed, headstrong, energetic, and hardcore. She lives in Boseman, MT, and works as a backcountry guide in Yellowstone for an outfitter. Jada said doing the AZT gets her into shape before returning to work.
I respect Jada for this. I was once 22, determined, committed, and headstrong. Being 22, she is indestructible and can overcome physical hurdles. Jada is a unifier; she brings people together and implicitly rallies them, which is a defining characteristic of Jada. She was always energetic and had a huge smile. I’m so happy she finished the AZT, mainly because she was physically or mentally hurt at times, although she would never admit it. I wanted to respect her privacy and never confronted her. I always tried to support her in a non-intrusive way. I regret not spending more time with her to get to know her beyond hiking. She is unique.
Jada impressed me with how determined and independent she was. I hope I didn’t put her off because of my independence, poor communication skills, and age. I hiked away from her on numerous occasions. Since day one, she never wanted to hold me up. I am very proud of her. She is learning about herself and life, as are all twenty-year-olds. I never judged her, but I was always concerned for her because of her injury. She made it over Mt Mica with the sleet and snow. As she went down the trail, she told me she hiked better and was healing after Pine and Flagstaff. She found a partner, Missing Spoons, who is a great person, and they became trekking partners and more. She and Spoons completed the AZT together through the Grand Canyon.
Jada accepted the trail name, Flo. I first thought it was ”Flow” because there was a harmonious or Zen-like flow of how she approaches life, like currents in the ocean or how a river flows. Jada goes with her flow. I also thought she got the name because she squats wherever and lets it flow. i.e., when she needs to pee, of course, I might be too literal, and Flo is shorter.
Next: Ian