Retired pastor attempting Continental Divide Trail

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator
 
TACOMA — She just keeps hiking.

Last summer, retired Rev. Mary Davison finished all 2,600 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail at about a dozen miles a day, mostly by herself.

She'd already accomplished the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Apparently that wasn't enough.

Davison, 71, of Tacoma now has began her biggest mountain journey yet — the Continental Divide Trail. She started last summer at the Mexican border (pictured), where she found the locals very friendly, constantly offering food and water.

"It's pretty cool that half of them stop," Davison said.

Talkative and always encouraging, Davison said she hopes to hike the Divide's 3,000 miles by the time she hits 75, if she's able.

"This one's not a sure bet. But I'm going to act like I'm going to finish it, and we'll see what happens," she said.

If she makes it, she'll be one of the oldest hikers to complete hiking's "Triple Crown."

"My life is adventure to adventure," said Davison, who attends Family of Grace Lutheran Church of Auburn.

Drawing from her experiences in the vast expanses up high, she's just completed a four-part adult Bible study entitled "Spirituality and Life's Blessings from the Trails and Psalms." She can be reached at pastormaryd@msn.com.