chris
06-09-2005, 10:02
On Saturday I am getting on a plane bound for Calgary (that is in Canadia, eh) and a few days later will be back in the States, walking south toward Mexico, but more accurately toward the unknown. I do not know what I will find, either in along the backbone of the continent, nor in my mind, during the roughly 98 days I have to hike.
I will be following the CDT south to Helena, MT, before striking off on my own to see some areas that I've wanted to traverse for several years. My route will take me down the Big Belt and Bridger mountains into Bozeman. From Bozeman I'll run the Gallatin Divide south to Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Cutting east, I'll visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before veering north into the Hell Roaring drainage and eventually into Cooke City. From Cooke City, I again run south into the Lamar Valley to try to find some wolves, back out of the park after failing via Republic Pass, and then back into the park via Eagle Pass. South through Thorofare, then over to the north end of the Tetons. South along the Teton Crest to Jackson. From Jackson, I'll cut through the Gros Ventre to the Green, maybe swim it, and be in the Wind River range. More likely, I'll have to detour north and rejoing the CDT before entering the Winds. From there, I'll be mostly on trail for the rest of the summer. I'll try to send updates this way a few times this summer.
I am trying to have as few expectations this summer as possible. I just want to be out and enjoy what time I have, to hold on to nothing that is not there, and to even try to let go of that. This is going to be difficult, as I'm leaving a woman at home that will most likely not be here when I return. I'm holding on too tightly, grasping at something that does not exist, and I am not strong enough to remedy this with purely internal medicine. The wilderness is either my crutch or tonic, depending on your persepective, and it is to that which I turn. I may reach Mexico. I might get hurt in Colorado. The heat of September in New Mexico could crush me. I could have an unfortunate enounter with Old Ephraim in Montana. I could break mentally. I could triumph.
Hope drives us forward. Without hope for the future, for a better tomorrow, there is no possibility of action. I'm leaving a lot behind on Saturday because I hope that it will lead to something better, something beyond what I am now.
I will be following the CDT south to Helena, MT, before striking off on my own to see some areas that I've wanted to traverse for several years. My route will take me down the Big Belt and Bridger mountains into Bozeman. From Bozeman I'll run the Gallatin Divide south to Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. Cutting east, I'll visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before veering north into the Hell Roaring drainage and eventually into Cooke City. From Cooke City, I again run south into the Lamar Valley to try to find some wolves, back out of the park after failing via Republic Pass, and then back into the park via Eagle Pass. South through Thorofare, then over to the north end of the Tetons. South along the Teton Crest to Jackson. From Jackson, I'll cut through the Gros Ventre to the Green, maybe swim it, and be in the Wind River range. More likely, I'll have to detour north and rejoing the CDT before entering the Winds. From there, I'll be mostly on trail for the rest of the summer. I'll try to send updates this way a few times this summer.
I am trying to have as few expectations this summer as possible. I just want to be out and enjoy what time I have, to hold on to nothing that is not there, and to even try to let go of that. This is going to be difficult, as I'm leaving a woman at home that will most likely not be here when I return. I'm holding on too tightly, grasping at something that does not exist, and I am not strong enough to remedy this with purely internal medicine. The wilderness is either my crutch or tonic, depending on your persepective, and it is to that which I turn. I may reach Mexico. I might get hurt in Colorado. The heat of September in New Mexico could crush me. I could have an unfortunate enounter with Old Ephraim in Montana. I could break mentally. I could triumph.
Hope drives us forward. Without hope for the future, for a better tomorrow, there is no possibility of action. I'm leaving a lot behind on Saturday because I hope that it will lead to something better, something beyond what I am now.