Over the last decade, I have hiked more than 20,000 miles on some of the most iconic trails in the U.S. But I have never seen a sunrise in the San Juan Mountains, never watched the ponies in Virginia’s Grayson Highlands or witnessed the breathtaking snow-packed peaks in the Sierras. I can’t see the forest, the blazes that guide my way or even the trails that I hike.

My legs were unable to carry me any further. But, every night I would crash onto my Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad and get some much-needed rest for the next grueling day. I can’t say that there was a big “ah-ha” moment from that trip, in fact, it was quite the opposite, I’m pretty sure I swore never to sleep on the ground again. Flash forward 13 years...

When I was chosen to be in the cast for “Who’s on Top”, I started thinking about all the challenges that were ahead of me. Surely climbing Mt. Hood would not be any harder than transitioning genders. I wasn’t sure there was anything that could be as difficult. One thing I did know was that it was going to be a physical challenge.