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A Certain Kind of Grief
I sit eating lunch by a river running out of the mountains. It is so beautiful that I want to share it with someone. I check my satellite device, hoping for a sense of connection with someone. When there are no messages I feel myself swamped with the overwhelming pain of childhood loneliness. It is…
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Big Sky Hospitality
People warned me about Big Sky. They said it was full of billionaires and I’d have a hard time finding a place to stay. They were only partially correct. There were a lot of people in Big Sky who were not billionaires. There was the woman who ran the grocery store, the guys who worked…
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Mountains of Respect
As I near the summit of a high peak with the wind howling, I am reminded of the importance of respecting these mountains. I think too often nature is approached with a nonchalance which gets people into trouble. Respect is different than fear. There are times I have been terrified in the mountains, such as…
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Simple Pleasures of the Trail
It is wonderful to me how the trail takes simple things and turns them into great pleasures. For example, tonight I am camped at 8,500 feet. It is cold and rainy. I am so excited about being cozy in my tent and cuddled in my sleeping bag. I even gave a squeal of delight when…
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One Sip
The real challenge is for me to believe that I am enough. I have been reminding myself to drink more water. It is plentiful now, though still sometimes as far apart as fifteen miles over a long tough ridge. But I’ve been without plentiful water for long enough that I have gotten into the habit…
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How to Hike the Last Mile of the Day
I try to get creative when I have a painful last mile to walk. I play different games with myself to make it easier. I envision walking down my road at home for what I know to be a mile. I tell myself, “now I’m at the bottom of the driveway . . . now…
The Mary Badass
A Ruminating Blog About Personal Healing, Adventure and Day to Day Life
The Mary Badass 