At a class IV Rapid on the Connecticut River during my Source to Sea Paddle

Blog


  • The Rules of Self Arrest

    “Long 15 miles tomorrow with one of harder snowier passes. Heavy pack as just resupplied. And thunderstorms in forecast.” —Satellite message sent from Glacier Park By Mary Anderson First, don’t fall, but if you do, try to fall feet-first on your belly. Of course, this seldom happens. Don’t focus on the shock of the fall,

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  • Hiking and the Busy Brain

    Glacier National Park, Montana, June 21, 2021. Photo: Mary Anderson By Mary Anderson Relaxing is an art I don’t think I have ever been particularly good at it. For starters I have one of those bodies that likes to be in motion. If I was growing up today I might be drugged for Attention Deficit.

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  • My First 200 Miles: A Review

    Some of the things that made up my first 200 miles of hiking: Not talking to another person for days. Talking to a lot of cows. Drinking water from cow troughs. Not taking a shower for over a week. Wearing the same sweaty clothes for all that time. Eating pretty much the same food for

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  • A Message from Mary

    My injured knee iced with snow June 18: “I just completed the first 201 miles from South Pass City to highway 70 near Encampment, Wyoming. Now have a two-day drive to Glacier. Will start from there as soon as I can get a much-coveted permit. Then, knee willing, I have 1,350 miles back to South

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  • What Hiking Teaches Us About Trust

    For me, trust is an important part of many long-distance hikes. First, I must trust that what people have written about the trail is accurate, that water will be present and the trail passable. I trust the wildlife not to harm me as long as I follow some common-sense rules. I trust in my abilities

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  • Back on the Trail

    By Mary Anderson After some days off to rehab my knee, I’m back on trail. Managed 13 miles today (June 16) to finish the Rawlins road walk in high-90-degree heat. Used the crutches today to take the slight twinge out. All told, I have walked over 30 miles on crutches. Knee held up pretty well

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