Day 3,961

Today had one big goal, to hike Perrot State Park. Not just hike in the park. Hike the entire park. All the hiking trails. Even the little entry points that I had to do a quick out and back on. Fifteen and a half miles, almost 3,000 feet of elevation, & five hours later it was mission accomplished!

I did not realize just how much my soul was longing for a hike like this until I was into the groove. There were several deer on the trails with me, one little fawn bounced away as I turned the corner. In the picture below I’d spooked out a tom turkey who took off like a shot. So many birds, baby rabbits, and every type of bug (but no mosquitoes and ticks which was amazing!). The scent of the forest in the morning just about blew my face off at a primal level, it was so calming! Throw in all of the amazing views and it was an epic morning hike for sure!

While on the hike I had my open ear headphones on and had some quiet music mixing with the forest sounds. About an hour in I realized I had just about the right amount of time for something a little different. In what I can only define as “sublimely discordant” I listened to the entire audiobook of Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. The combination of the solo outdoor trek and the fantastically dark book were unlike anything I’d experienced before, but they fit together so well!

The entire hike was amazing, I’m pleasantly surprised with how well I felt throughout, and the retreat into nature was exactly what I had been dreaming of!

Thanks!!!