half full

Greetings from sula! A small store with rockin breakfast, hot showers, good beer selection, and mini golf. What more could a girl want!?! The recent trail took us through the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and some of the most gorgeous views yet. After the sweltering heat and road walking through Anaconda, I definitly needed some good high alpine meadows and exciting brisk thunderstorms on top of 9000 foot passes. We got it.

Sometime in the recent past i crossed my personal half way point!!!  It has been a more challenging trail than the AT and the PCT for many reasons. Difficult weather decisions and chronic foot problems are hopefully a thing of the past. I have never had foot pain like this before and walking 25 to 30 miles a day can really wear on you mentally. There were definitly days i wanted to go home. I'd  try not to complain but I'm sure they saw it on my face and my ginger steps down hill. Every time the pain was almost too much Papi or Kramers would offer a foot massage at the end of the day.  I am one lucky girl. The entire time there was no swelling, which means no broken bones, just soft tissue... for now my feet are much better. I really hope they stay this way!

I think every long distance hiker has mixed feelings about halfway. It is a fantastic accomplishment that anyone would be very proud of. 1300 miles. An amazing life of sleeping outside and walking through some of the most spectacular wild and remote places that our awesome country has to offer. There is a small voice in my head that wonders if I'll make it all the way. Wonders how hard it will be. Wonders if i have the mental strength to get up and walk a marathon every day for another 2.5 months. Then i remember why I'm out here. The journey.

Thank you!!! To all who have made it possible for me to be out here! I truely hope to repay the favor one day. All my animals are surely having a grand time without me :-) wishing you all much peace and love this summer.

Happy Trails!

Beads

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Smile Often :-)