The night had been peaceful, and I had been warm despite the frigid temps. My water was frozen and the sun shining brightly when I started packing up. That’s what it feels like out here sometimes, like I’m just along for the ride. Working in harmony, yet separately, both were just along for the ride. My mind went where it needed to go while my body did what it needed to do. I drew a lot of blanks, big blanks, around just a few moments of stillness that stuck out. From the comfort of bed, I scrolled through my pictures, followed my route on the map, trying to remember what had happened and what I had seen. On some days, this effect is more pronounced and widespread. My mind hungers for freedom to wander, to relive the past, to scope out the future, to pull lessons and value from the quagmire of memories, to visit the abstract. I am grateful that I lose the present for short or large chunks of the day. In fact, hiking often serves as a moving meditation for me. Out of 25 miles, of course I won’t remember each hill, or every turn. Where the mind goes, why those blind spots in my memory exist is a bit of a mystery, but I think that it’s inevitable, especially given that I’m walking pretty much non-stop for over ten hours a day. That may be a few hours in the middle of the day, or shorter snippets throughout. On any given day, there is always a blurriness that hazes out the details of a certain portion of hiking. Shenandoah Cruiser Camp to Shenandoah Grinder CampĮlevation change: 6657ft gain, 6250ft loss
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