What happens when travelling 1,000 miles? What does it take to do it on foot, carrying everything on you own on your back? In the past 69 days, I've crossed paths with countless snakes, felt the harshness of the bone dry desert, gained friends for life, battle a back injury, crossed snow covered passes and high creek conditions as that snow started to melt off. I've cried, laughed, yelled, smiled and had to dig deeper than I knew I could.
I've found a happiness on the trail I didn't know existed. This doesn't mean I've always happy, comfortable, full of energy and ready to tackle the day when I wake up. But I do, and the countless moments filled with: joy, pleasure, satisfaction, confidence and a bliss that caused me to smile simple because I couldn't help it, have made it easy to never seriously consider quitting in the challenging moments.
And today was challenging. Though one of the shorter days of recent, it was filled with more stream trails, sun-cupped slushy snow and a rather difficult accent consisting of loose rock covered by even looser snow and intense wind. All without a trail to follow. Once through all the challenges, I felt both accomplished and worn out by the end of the day. Happy to have arrived in camp early enough to hang out with the group on top of what would be one of the most epic ridge walks on the trail.
As the Sun started to set, a chill filled the air that took me back to my tent to stay warm in my sleeping bag. I spent the rest of the evening reading Jon Kraukaur's, "Into Thin Air". Being in Sierra Nevada created the perfect atmosphere for reading a story of being on Mount Everest.
The night was windy, but the stars shown bright, making for a evening of special delight. A thousand miles have come and passed, ready for the next to come at last. Wind, Snow, Cold and Rain, enough to make you go insane... for more... that is... forever more.
Happy 1,000 Miles!
