To Sunny Days Ahead

Amazing Readers,

It’s 2025! How wild is that? Not only is it a New Year, but this also marks the fourth anniversary of this newsletter. I began writing what was formerly Mercury on the Run, now Pink Feathers, after my record-setting northbound hike on the Appalachian Trail as a way to keep in touch with those that followed my trek. Well, the journey has continued through some pretty big life events including loss and grief, a cross-country move from Oregon to Boston, tackling self-supported FKTs and adventures, grad school, building my classical music career, and continuing to chase big running and hiking dreams, including my upcoming self-supported FKT attempt on the Pacific Crest Trail this summer! I’m super thankful to all of you for coming along with me for the ride and for being invested in my story.

This past year was a great one (Kungsleden FKT! Collaborative piano graduating recital!), but it ended on a bit of a tough note as I’ve been experiencing some letdown after a challenging fall semester and capping off the year with the Hellgate 100K–which by all accounts went pretty well–but it also magnified some of the frustrations I’ve felt in trying to juggle so much as a full-time student and athlete.

I wrote a pretty raw and honest reflection on some of these difficulties, and a closer look on what this spring will look like, in a new post exclusive to “Friends of Pink Feathers”, aka supporting members of the newsletter. If you’re not already a supporting member, please consider joining! Your support sustains this newsletter and allows it (and my website) to be ad-free, and it truly means the world to me.

Pink Feathers will continue its regular programming in 2025 as I navigate my final semester of grad school and prepare for my thru-hike and FKT attempt of the Pacific Crest Trail! Thank you again for being along for the ride, and wishing you health and happiness in the New Year!

~Mercury