Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
- Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, Dylan Thomas
.
Words to live by, this month of poetry. I’ve always loved the feeling of poetry, the steady beating thump of it in my chest, the way it makes my heart soar, my breath catch, and my imagination race. Happy National Poetry Month - I hope you find that poem that makes you take flight!
.
#nationalpoetrymonth #literature #dylanthomas #donotgogentleintothatgoodnight #donotgogentle #poetry #poetryisnotdead #poetrygram #bookworm
With more time on my hands, and nobody’s foot problems to occupy my mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about the world and connectivity. How wonderful is it that by simply putting one foot in front of the other, you can walk all the way across a continent, and how sad is it that we’re still divided? This epidemic has, of course, become a political situation here in the US, regardless of whether that’s right or wrong is, I suppose, neither here nor there. I keep seeing maps, dividing us up into red or blue, science or religion, healthy or unhealthy. And I think about the truly wonderful people I’ve been lucky to meet as we hiked from Mexico up through Canada. Wonderful people on all ends of the political spectrum, and it just makes me so frustrated. I want us all to just see people, to see another human, deserving of loving, caring compassion, instead of seeing someone “other” and “different” from us. Maybe I’m still just a hippie at heart, but I think we could spread a little more love and a lot less hate
.
#morelove #onelove #lovemakestheworldgoround #thruhiker #thruhikerthursday
Whether it’s a midnight start race like the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse, or a 24+ hour race like Expedition Amundsen, March seems to be the month that Dan and I end up racing through the night. As I’ve been reminded of these races by Facebook memories, it’s definitely triggered thoughts and emotions around what racing through the night entails - and how it might apply to what we’re going through right now. I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite thing to do, and typically will involve me consuming some pretty nasty things like those five hour energy shots that leave me feeling like dog; heart racing, every fibre of my being rattling, and an almost panic inducing, vibrating tightness in my chest. Now, I’m not suggesting we go and do that, because obviously, that’s pretty extreme, and honestly, a really nice thing right now is that we’re actually being asked to slow down.
Where I do see similarities is in all those hours of darkness, where the race is spread out, so you tend to be solo (or with just your partner), and have no idea where you stand. There isn’t that typical racing camaraderie where you lean on, push, and support each other. It’s just you, and your suffering, not to sound too melodramatic. There are moments where you feel like you’re going to die. Heck, you might wish you would die, just to make it all stop. There is nothing you hate more in that moment than skiing, or running, or whatever it is that you are doing, and you convince yourself that if you survive the night, you will never, ever ski (or what have you), ever again.
But then there are the snapshots of pure ecstasy: Reaching the top of Star Pass, the moon bathing the snow draped mountains in silver. Heading out of the Litlos Checkpoint, leading the entire race (because we were dumb and had no race strategy, it didn’t last) and the clouds flirting with the stars above us. Watching an enthralling lightning storm rage across the Great Divide Basin as we push for a 60 mile day along the Continental Divide Trail.
Continued in comments...
I’ve been hesitant to post a ski photo for a couple reasons:
1. People are (rightfully so) up in arms about folks heading to the backcountry at this time. To this, I’ll say that literally for the past well, since we got back from Canada, we have exclusively skied immediately out our back door. I mean, walk out the door, put on our skis, and go. Where we live it literally makes more sense to ski than to walk, as there’s still enough snow on the ground that walking would mean postholing and postholing means a terribly angry me.
2. I feel a bit of pressure to be upset? This doesn’t even truly make sense in my own mind, so I’m going to butcher explaining it. Yes, it upsets me people are very sick and dying. It scares me how so many people are losing their jobs and how here in the US, so many have no access to health care (🙋♀️). And also, the very fact that I get out my door and manage to put my head in the sand, smile, laugh, ski, and just enjoy life for a few hours? That makes me feel guilty.
But also, I feel that in tough times, it’s ok to laugh. It’s ok to smile. And maybe it’s ok to be happy for a moment
.
#stopskishaming #followtheguidelines #donothurtyourself #donotgetslid #nevercloserthan20feet #fomohomedelivery #skiyourbackyard #staysafe #selfcare #mybackyard #stayinyourbackyard
