Can't stop the Winds

The always stunning and extremely rugged Wind River Mountains... I can't get enough of this mountain range. I crave these mountains. They consume my thoughts and day dreams--from exploring every trail, finding a new lake, new route to hike, sleeping in them, fishing in them and swimming in them. I'm grateful for the few times I had with them this summer but I am sad to see this season of backpacking come to a close. The short summer and even shorter fall allows just a few months to explore these hills. On this last trek, after tossing and turning all night in my sleeping bag trying to get warm I got up the next morning to my water in my camelback being frozen solid. That's when I realized I was on my final trip of the season in the Winds. So, now I have all winter and spring to plan my next Wind River adventure and hopefully I find some new recruits to join me.

Northern Wind River

This was a nice little solo backpackin' trip with just Charlotte, and I. She is the best backpacking dog EVER!

WHY I love backpacking

Sometimes I ---- feel fat, like a loser, like a burden to my friends, like a complicated mess, ugly, annoying, selfish, out of control, hate people, hate my job, don't like my friends and all of their problems, hate the sound of my own voice, feel so insecure, talentless, not unique or special and unloved. But when I'm backpacking in the Wilderness, all of that goes away. None of that silly stuff matters anymore. Its just me and the trees. Life becomes so beautifully simple while in the woods. I know what I have to do to survive and keep my mind and body safe, and I do it. I do it well. I enjoy the pain of carrying a 40-50lb backpack for miles deep into rugged Wilderness. Those blisters on my feet are a sign of being free from societies screaming burdens and my pressing insecurities. And they feel great. I love it. I love it with a passion. The Wilderness is my church. I enter it's trails and everything becomes clear and okay again. There is nothing more true and real than being surrounded by nature and it's blanket of peace that it brings me.