Headed South For The Winter

Well winter has finally caught me. I’ve said I’ll go till winter stops me and I think it’s now at that point. The nights are between 6-15 degrees and the days are in the 20s-30s. I’m only able to do 8-12 miles a day and places are closing down. I’m heading home for the winter and I’ll finish up the trail in Spring! I’m currently stopped at 1,915 miles of 3,100 in Dubois, Wyoming. I’ve been in the snow for about a month now and it continues to fall. I wake up each morning and throw on my frozen boots and frozen pants (they freeze right around the ankles.) Then pack up camp as quick as possible while my toes and fingers go numb. Then once I start moving everything warms up. At the end of the day I set up camp as quick as possible and get in my sleeping bag to stay warm. A fire wouldn’t be practical because then I’d sit out in the snow and wind longer. So, I’m thankful for heat and hot food!

Other than that I feel like I have truly lived. I’ve drank from the clearest mountain streams, watched the eagle soar, heard the wolf howl, and seen the elk roam. I’ve seen moose, antelope, deer, fox, road runners, jack rabbits, and many more. I’ve watched the mountain goats hop along the cliff sides and seen rattlesnakes in the desert. I’ve laid under the desert stars and listened to the crickets and coyotes. I’ve listened to the wind blow through the pines and watched the sun set like fire over the mountain tops. I’ve heard the elk bugle in the cool morning air and heard the hawk screech as it flew over. I’ve had lightning strike within 100 yards of me and I’ve slid down a few mountain slopes. I’ve heard the soft pelt of rain against my tent and I couldn’t be more thankful to be dry. I’ve seen the best of humanity and some of the worse. I’ve had a lot of time to think and a lot of time to pray.

There is so much more that I could write as I reminisce about this incredible journey. But for now, I’m going home till Spring. Thank you to everyone who has followed along! Thank you to everyone who has donated! You guys have been awesome!