Scott’s Bucket List

Life is too short not to live it to the fullest and one thing I’ve learned is that if you don’t set goals with dates, you’ll never accomplish much of anything. Here are a few of my bucket list goals with some tentative dates I’ve set to keep me motivated.

Each of these goals is designed to test my physical, mental, and spiritual self and help me grow as a person while nurturing my inner explorer.

Kayak the Arkansas River

I grew up on the banks of the Arkansas River here in Sand Springs and Tulsa and soundly reject the false narratives that it’s a dirty river or that it can’t be used for recreation. I’ve spent countless hours walking those shores and swimming those waters, and now I want to see the full 1,469 miles, plus the 500+ miles from where it joins the Mississippi to when it reaches the gulf.

My goal date for this adventure is summer 2024, but I’m hoping to do a trial run of the Arkansas River’s 328 miles across Oklahoma in 2023.

Kayak the Mississippi River

Assuming my Arkansas River trip goes well and I actually enjoy the trip, I would also like to kayak the Mississippi River’s 2,340 miles the following summer.

I was first inspired to walk across America by my favorite lyricist, Mike Posner, who accomplished the feat in 2019. His trip awakened the child in me who dreamed of being an explorer like Lewis and Clark and make me realize that just because everything has been discovered by someone else doesn’t mean I can’t still discover it for myself.

I have a target date of 2026 for my walk across America.

Walk Across America

Hike the Pacific Crest Trail

I didn’t even know long-distance trails were a thing until I got on TikTok in 2022 and found @acoupleofhikers, an engaged couple that’s currently hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Although most thru-hikers start with the Appalachian Trail, I feel a much stronger call to the PCT due to its views and remoteness.

If the PCT is a good experience for me, I would definitely like to complete the Triple Crown some day.

My target date for the PCT is 2027.