By the time I reached the two campsites at Hernando De Soto Lake in Itasca State Park, I was limping, but I still didn’t know how badly I was hurting.

After pushing through some of the worst blow downs I’ve ever done, I came to a few miles of better trail, There were still some blow downs, but I was able to walk at least five or 10 minutes between fallen trees.

As I walked into the campsite, I explained to the young man, who introduced himself as Ben, that I was going to have to crash in his spot. I was hoping he wouldn’t refuse me.

Ben let me know he had to check in with the other three guys who were also camping there. It was then I realized how much my body was hurting and how traumatized I had been by walking through those blow downs and having one fall so close to me. I burst into tears and told Ben I couldn’t go any further. I explained I was hiking the North Country Trail and all I needed was a tiny little spot for my tent. With tears running down my face, I assured him I wouldn’t be any problem and would stay out of their way.

The next thing I knew, I was introduced to Aaron, Jonah and Ross, who altogether are one of the nicest groups of guys I’ve ever met. After walking me down to a spot where I could put my tent, they offered to get water for me. Ben brought me some snacks to eat and fed me a delicious dinner. In turns, they came down and visited with me and asked if I needed anything. Aaron shared with me some pictures of his few months old baby daughter who he was so in love with. Ross sat outside my tent and played a game of cribbage with me. I’m not usually much of a alcohol drinker, and seldom drink a whole can of beer in a year, but Jonah gave me a Boundary Waters brunette ale which I downed in record time for me. I enjoyed it more than most beer I’ve ever had, in part because it was not highly bitter. By the time I called it a night and crawled into my sleeping bag, I was feeling a bit better.

It wasn’t until I was getting out of my tent the next morning that I realized the damage done to my body in those blow downs. Because I had been twisting my body to accommodate for my foot, and perhaps due to the numbing effect of the Ibuprofen, I didn’t notice the strain I was putting on my left hip. I had been so focused on getting through that mess and protecting my foot, that I lost awareness of what was happening to the rest of my body. When I went to stand up out of the tent, my whole leg collapsed under me. I realized this was perhaps the worst injury I’ve ever had while I was in the woods. I discovered if I kept my knee straight when walking, I could put weight on my leg without it collapsing. I figured I’d be able to hobble the 4 miles to the road that way. I texted Roger, telling him I’d be a bit later than the planned meeting we had arranged for breakfast at the road.

Then the guys came down and asked me how I was doing. I told them about my hip/back and they offered to paddle me across the lake which would leave me only a 6/10 mile walk instead of a 4 mile one. I was thrilled. I contacted Roger and made arrangements for him to meet me on the other side of the lake. I joyfully got into the canoe and Jonah and Aaron paddled me across. When we got there, Aaron insisted on carrying my pack the 6/10 of a mile to the road where Roger would meet me.

I didn’t know what I would do next, but I knew I needed to take a break from hiking. I usually don’t like not knowing what direction to go in, but in that moment I was in so much pain, all I could focus on was how grateful I was to have met these kind young men who provided me with true trail magic of the kind I needed, right when I needed it most.

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