Register now for the 2023 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, coming up October 1-3 online. The program is very strong, with much content by, for and about autistic adults. Click here to see the program and here to register. (Details below.) The conference is very inexpensive by the most standards.

At 11am on  Saturday September 30 join AASCEND at a mini-picnic-and-walk starting at the Crissy Field Warming Hut Store below the Golden Gate Bridge—to celebrate the incredible labors of Paul Nussbaum, who has been showcasing autistic ability and determination on the Pacific Crest Trail. Earlier this season Paul was turned back by fires in Canada and Washington, but undaunted he returned south to complete the one stretch of the PCT he had not hiked in California. He is now on the way back north, heading into the first storm of the season, hoping to reach the Bridge of the Gods on the Columbia River, thus completing his trek also through all of Oregon. If all goes to plan, Paul should just be able to make it back in time to join us at the celebration! Let’s all show up to honor his remarkable effort and commitment.

We’ll meet at the Crissy Field Warming Hut Store, indicated on the map below. There are 150 paid parking places by the Hut ($3/hr, paid by credit card) and free parking a 5-minute walk up the road at Fort Point. Many buses serve the Eastern end of Crissy Field, a 25-minute walk away. Bring your own lunch. There are packaged snacks and coffee at the Warming Hut Store. Dress according to the weather!

AASCEND Co-chair Greg Yates joined Paul for his California-completing hike between Ebbetts and Sonora Passes, and Paul delegated reporting of the trip to Greg so that he could prepare for his northward journey.

Here is Greg’s report: On the Oregon Trail there was an expression, “Have you seen the elephant?”, meaning, “Have you experienced the heartbreaking difficulty of your pioneering journey yet?” Well, I have joined Paul on the Pacific Crest Trail and I have seen the elephant! What Paul is doing is incredibly difficult. I was wasted to the point of near-exhaustion by the second day on the trail, and we had to take an extra day to allow for rest. Hauling a 40-pound pack thousands of feet up mountains turns out to be rather difficult, and to do it week after week as Paul has done is unimaginable to me. At the same time we were surrounded everywhere in wilderness beauty and interest. See the full report with cool pictures here. Here is his current Progress Map, which should be complete to the Columbia River by picnic-time.