Women in the News
The Crawley family poses for a photo before the beginning of their nine-day hike on the Foothills Trail. From left to right is Ryan, Jenna and Ayla Crawley. Photo submitted
Valle Crucis 8-year-old Hikes 76-mile Foothills Trail
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fter a cross-country trip and a vacation to Australia and New Thermarests, a water filter, a backpacking stove, minimal clothing, Zealand were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemrain gear, trail guides, a first aid kit, a tarp, a tent, headlamps and ic, rising fourth-grader Ayla Crawley, age 8, took to the 76-mile snacks. Foothills Trail to have a summer adven“Luxury items” included a small jourture with her parents, Ryan and Jenna nal with a pen, books, waterproof camerCrawley. as, a small football and two hammocks. Ayla’s mother, Jenna, said that the Food drops were planned ahead of 8-year-old has “hiking in her genetics,” time and stored off of the trail’s parking as both Jenna and Ryan have several lot areas in buckets so that the family years’ experience working at a wilderonly had to carry 3-4 days’ worth of food ness school and are experienced hikers. at a time. While the trip took months to plan, Upon the completion of the nine-day Jenna said that planning ahead for hike, Ayla was awarded the Peregrine the time they would spend on the trail, Award for successfully hiking the entire which included storing food drops and trail. The Peregrine Award was started hiking before the summer sun got too in 2011 and is awarded by the Foothills Ayla Crawley holds an iron-on patch provided by the Foothot, made the trip better. Through the Trail Conservancy to hikers who comhills Trail Conservancy and her Peregrine Award certificate. process of planning the trip and being plete the trail, in either sessions or all at Photo submitted on the trail, Ayla, who is also a student once. at Valle Crucis School, learned to read trail maps, how to calculate Ayla said that while she didn’t understand just how long 77 daily mileage and about necessary hiking gear. miles was at the beginning of the journey, “it was actually really Jenna said that she and Ryan carried packs weighing 40-45 fun, especially because it was eight-mile days.” pounds, with Ayla’s being lighter at 13-14 pounds. My trail name was ‘Skittles,’ mom’s was ‘Chipmunk’ and “We wanted this trip to be fun and relaxing, as well, so we dad’s was ‘Storyteller’ because he tells a lot of stories while we’re took an approach that included bringing things that were going hiking,” Ayla said. “Mine was ‘Skittles’ because when we were to provide comfort,” said Ryan. “Our (Jenna’s and Ryan’s) packs going up hills I would eat Skittles and Twix because they give you were heavier as a result, but it was totally worth it. Our motto was motivation.” ‘smiles, not miles.’” The Crawleys’ backpack supplies included sleeping bags, - Abby Whitt July-August 2020 | 7
