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Grizzly
I smelled him before I saw him. I wasn’t totally surprised. I’d been seeing signs he left behind for the last hour or so. But when I rounded the corner and saw him, my heart skipped a beat. Grizzly, for sure. He had the telltale nose and back. I assume it was a male because
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The Whole Legend Thing
By Mary Anderson I am a legend out here. At least that is what they tell me. A group of hikers pass me and ask, “Are you Mary Badass? We’ve heard about you.” I ask what they have heard, and they say that I am “killing it.” I am walking down a remote dirt road
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What Hiking Teaches Us About Timing
I’ve heard it said “Timing is everything.” While it may not be everything, it certainly can have huge impacts. Timing is important in music and in breathe control when giving birth. It matters to children growing up, as until one is ready to learn something, it will not come easily. And timing certainly can make
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Taking Pleasure in the Mundane
“How we deal with the same-old same-old will influence much of our lives.” By Mary Anderson I have not felt the inspiration to write anything. I have been in difficult blowdown conditions hiking in high heat. I have felt tired and brain-dead. After Glacier National Park, the scenery in the Bob Marshall Wilderness almost felt
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Hiking My Own Hike
Along the Continental Divide Trail heading south toward Whitehall, Montana, mid July 2021. Photo by Mary Anderson. Hikers often give feedback to other hikers. “Stay at this hostel.” “Make sure to hike the San Juans.” “Don’t start too soon or the snow will be really bad.” Some hikers get adamant that their way is the
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Saying Good-bye
“A friend told me that one of the hardest things about losing someone was having love with no place to put it.” By Mary Anderson There is a social aspect to many long-distance hikes. People meet for the first time and end up spending weeks or months together. It is such an important part of
The Mary Badass
A Ruminating Blog About Personal Healing, Adventure and Day to Day Life
The Mary Badass 