Quetzal, known off trail as Zelzin Aketzalli, is the first and only known person from Mexico to complete the Triple Crown. Sneaking in the Hayduke Trail along the way. She treated the hikes like a sport, purposely pushing herself to go as fast as possible. In 2017, the PCT was her first trail and when she arrived at Campo, her English was very limited which made communication very interesting. Fast forward to this year, struggling with her mental health, she returned to the Arizona Trail with a very different purpose in mind. Listening to her mind and body to guide her pace. In this episode, we talk about that transition from "I want to be the first" to hiking the trail to heal, the irony of becoming the universal translator, leaving notes in the Muir shelter, and her next big project.
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