Good things happen to animals when Heather Kierstead laces up her boots and goes for a long-distance hike.
When she hiked the 2,178-mile Appalachian Trail in 2007, Kierstead raised $18,000 for the Forsyth Humane Society.
Next week, she will head west for a new adventure. She plans to hike the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada.
She and her hiking partner, Stephen Dunn, hope to raise $26,663 for the humane society, Fur-Ever Friends of Winston-Salem and Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. The Winston-Salem Foundation is handling donations.
Kierstead and Dunn, who are both 23, will spend about three weeks on the road before beginning their hike. They plan to stop along the way in places including New Orleans, Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas to volunteer at animal shelters and homeless shelters.
"He's volunteered his whole life with humans and I've volunteered to work with animals," Kierstead said.
Before leaving on Sunday, the two plan to volunteer with Fur-Ever Friends.
Jennifer Tierney, who serves on the board of Fur-Ever Friends, said she is impressed by Kierstead and Dunn's passion.
"They have the most kind and giving spirit of any young people I've ever met," she said. "If everybody did a fraction of what they're doing, wouldn't this be a better community?"
The two will spend the rest of this week scrambling to buy and pack their gear. They plan to carry about 40 pounds each. Although the Appalachian Trail gave Kierstead lots of experience with long-distance hiking, the PCT carries its own set of challenges.
The towns are farther apart, which means she and Dunn will have to pack more food. Water is scarcer, the temperatures are more extreme and the trail isn't as well marked as the Appalachian.
"The bears are also bigger," Kierstead said.
In addition to the bear box that all hikers must carry to store their food, Kierstead and Dunn plan to carry a phone and video camera so that they can upload video and keep a blog.
Despite the differences in the two trails, Kierstead said she feels prepared.
"The only thing you have to do is just keep walking," she said.
Kierstead has plenty of time to make the hike now that she no longer runs Patina, a gift shop and gallery on Sixth Street. She and her business partner, Ralph Womble, closed the shop in January.
Although Dunn doesn't have the hiking experience of Kierstead, he is looking forward to the challenge.
"I'm not scared at all," he said. "I've got her with me. She's a veteran."
The two plan will start at the Mexico-California border and hike north. They will be on the trail for about six months.
"We have to be done in September or we'll freeze and die," Kierstead said.
lo'donnell@wsjournal.com
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