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A Warm Welcome in Whitehall
From right: Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh of Whitehall, Montana; Mary; and Shannon. I took off from Butte not exactly sure where I was going. As I was about to embark on a very sun-exposed walk of about 20 miles with almost no water I met Derby, a really kind hiker. We wove our way together…
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Working Around the Wildfires
It’s not the bears I am most afraid of out here. Lightning on an exposed ridge scares me more. And even more than that, I am concerned about forest fires. I don’t go around in constant fear of them, but I am more wary of them than I am of bears. I keep an eye…
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A Reminder to Hike Your Own Hike
I am continuously struggling not to compare myself to others out here. Most everyone I meet can outhike me. Sometimes I attribute it to the fact that I am usually more than double their age. But I know there are people my age who are in better shape. If I compare myself to others I…
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How I Know I’m a Writer
I decided I must really be a writer when, soon after hitting a deer on the highway, I was overcome with an intense need to write about it. I couldn’t wait to let the words come. I had to pull over and write. While pondering why that is I came to these conclusions: Writing helps…
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How to Get Past a Blowdown
Going over a blowdown is a bit like dealing with life’s difficulties. First I assess the situation. Then I look at how others have approached it before me. I take one small step at a time, watching for pointy pitfalls along the way, always mindful of keeping my balance. When approaching one, I first slow…
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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…
The Mary Badass
A Ruminating Blog About Personal Healing, Adventure and Day to Day Life
The Mary Badass 