Faber Adventures

09/04/2026

Took down my NH 48 list from the fridge and found this behind it. 👇 My itinerary that I left Al and the kids when I went to the Grand Canyon the first time. I messaged him with my Garmin inreach at all of these locations so he would know I was fine and moving along. He was on the east coast trusting that I was strong enough to do it. So many emotions the day of this hike. I knew going into it that you need to be self reliant; if you hike down you need to be able to hike yourself out. I read “Death in the Grand Canyon” before I left, and I walked out of the canyon a different person. Acadia taught me how to hike and helped heal things that I thought could never heal, but being at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and then hiking across it, well that was such a spiritual experience. I never expected it to keep calling me back, but it does.

I keep thinking about the destruction and loss of lives. One person is still missing. Sad situation all around. I read about half of North Kaibab Trail is wiped out now - though one bridge over the trail remains in the box. Thankfully, Phantom Ranch is still standing!

Going to be a long time before rim to rim is possible. That will just force me to explore other trails there. Hermit’s Rest to Horn Creek across Tonto Trail or Grandview down to Tonto and up South Kaibab is on my radar. Alfred loved Tonto between Bright Angel and South Kaibab, so I don’t think he will be disappointed in a pivot. I wasn’t planning a rim to rim this year because of the heightened risk of flash flooding, but “when can I get back to the canyon” is always in the back of my mind. At some point I will go through my photos and videos and post some of the bridges in the box that are no longer there. Ah, North Kaibab had a rough year. I know it will back though it may take a while. 🥹

09/04/2026

A three-fer of a day in August before we left for NJ: Sargent, Penobscot, and Cedar Swamp plus a low key, slow run on the carriage roads.

I wanted to tag all six, but these three plus Giant Slide would have to do as I needed to go home and pack.

My route went Giant Slide to Sargent Northwest then down the East Cliffs to Deer Brook up and across to Penobscot, back down and up to Cedar Swamp then over to Waterfall Bridge where I ran the carriage roads back to the lower section of Giant Slide.

I shall return another day for the rest (and then some). 🫶

09/03/2026

Sharing the latest… Not sure I slept at all but the sunrise made up for it. Maybe someday I’ll sleep soundly in my tent. 😄



Solo Backpacking the Cutler Coast: Alone on Maine's Bold Coast

I took a solo backpacking trip to the Cutler Coast in Downeast Main...

09/03/2026

ATM! My favorite loop of all the carriage road possibilities. Last year at this time I had settled into this loop as my weekend long run - this year I’m so happy this is now my middle of the week distance!

I’ve done portions of this over the last few months, but it felt so good to do the entire loop again. Not too many people out either which is always a bonus!

Life is good when you get to train for a marathon in a national park. Pinch me people. This race for me is 10 yrs in the making and while I don’t believe I’m going to hit my finish time, I am going to enjoy the heck out of it (up until I hit the wall at mile 20 anyway 🤣😵‍💫).

09/02/2026

Hell yeah!

08/30/2026

So sad about this. Bright Angel Campground is just downstream. 20+ people are currently missing…

08/30/2026

Oh GC, my heart is heavy. Praying for the hikers, workers and first responders down at the bottom today. 😔 Hoping Phantom Ranch and the campground structures survive. Saw a video showing a bridge that connects Bright Angel Campground to Phantom Ranch washed out. I’m sure there is more damage. 🥹🥺

⚠️ Flash Flooding in Bright Angel Canyon

Flash flooding began in Bright Angel Canyon today at approximately 2:30 p.m. At this time, no injuries have been reported.

The National Park Service is conducting an air evacuation of approximately 50 individuals from the Phantom Ranch area. The entirety of the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch are closed until further notice.

Xanterra will inform guests with future Phantom Ranch reservations about the status of their reservations.

Please do not attempt to access the closed areas. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

08/29/2026

Last night at Eagle Lake and Bubble Pond. 🌫️

Didn’t look like a great night to be on Cadillac. Socked in around all of the mountains with a foggy, mysterious feel down low. It’s starting to get dark much earlier in the woods (especially on an overcast day).

3 cars in the lot at 6pm. Saw a handful of people at Eagle Lake when I started, not one person around Bubble Pond or the carriage road connection that leads there. Not a soul at Eagle Lake when I finished. Just how I like it.

50 days to go until the MDI Marathon! 😳

08/29/2026

50 days to see if I lose another toenail 🤪😱🤭😵‍💫

50 DAYS! 🌲🦞🌊🍁

📷: Kevin Morris Photographer

08/27/2026

Back to Saddleback to redeem myself on the Horn! Yay!

It’s bothered me a lot that I orphaned the Horn in May, and yesterday Alfred graciously agreed to come with me to finally cross both of these off of the list (plus it adds to his list too).

Oh my gosh being on that stretch of the AT has renewed my call to start sectioning the trail! Wow. It helps that we had a great weather day, but geez I don’t know how to describe being up there other than it is just so beautiful. Everywhere you look there are mountains surrounding you. The Horn from Saddleback is some kind of view. Like being on the Franconia Ridge looking at Lincoln and Lafayatte. Last time I was on Saddleback looking over at the Horn, people in high vis clothing looked like ants on the mountain. I went down a bit last time and let the uncertainty of it all mess with me. Not this time. This time I said it will take 45 minutes to get over there, let’s just try. The trail drops down quickly with slanted boulders, false summits, one very unsecured looking ladder, a few spots where you can see the Horn’s summit sign but you can’t imagine it’s only another .4 miles, .3 miles and so on. 😵‍💫

Then we finally made it to the Horn (50 minutes from Saddleback’s summit), and I wanted to keep going north on the AT (I knew we couldn’t but still). We took a very brief 7 minute break on the Horn (because that’s how Alfred rolls), and another 50 minutes later we were back on top of Saddleback ready to descend the ski slope!

The Horn puts me at 8/14 and Alfred at 4/14. So happy I don’t have to hike the ski slope again, but I think we will both be back for more of the AT here. We met a thru hiker on the way back up to Saddleback. He was heading to the Horn and then a shelter, and asked if we were also thru hiking. Alfred’s answer, “not yet”. 😄🤭 Yes, that is correct. Not yet, but hopefully some day.