Day 2,831

Growth:

While quite often what we are really looking for can be found within ourselves we sometimes find it better when we step out of ourselves, out of our normal.

Over the past handful of days I’ve found calm, perspective, confidence, humility, peace, contentment, growth, appreciation, and clarity. I am still myself, but me who walked out of the woods is different than the one who walked in.

So thankful for setting this purposeful goal for myself this year. It was better than I expected.

Appreciation:

This morning awoke before daylight to pack up my camp and hug the trail as soon as there was enough light to safely walk the trail. The stretch I’d saved for today was one I enjoyed immensely the last time we were in the Porkies.

The forest has a mysterious, almost whimsical, feel to it in this segment. The old growth forest has titans of trees towering overall the floor and blotting out so much sun that there is minimal undergrowth. When an old giant falls there’s a spotlight of sun which is filled with green plants taking advantage of their luck. There are boulders strewn throughout and it is bordered by a rocky ridge and a plunging valley.

I wanted to experience this at my favorite time of day, before the sun was up and while the world sleeps. It was the stuff of dreams and so perfectly timed. Such a magically surreal experience!

I’m grateful for experiencing this hike the first time as it inspired this entire trip. The anticipation was worth each second and then some.

Presence:

This view in this moment. Breathtaking.

The Lake of the Clouds lit up like it was a fire of copper this morning. In this picture it is still about two miles away and 300 feet below me.

Thanks!!!