The Long Trail : Day 2 : Part 2 : 9/22/20 . The steep climb started and it was seared into my memory from 4 years before. It’s funny the pieces of trail I vividly remember and those I don’t. I forgot an entire fire tower but remembered this climb from the AT in 2016. The memorable moments always seem to be the tough ones. I’m sure there’s lots of hidden wisdom in that statement but all I remember of the climb was struggle. In 2016, it was the end of the day, my body was exhausted, my legs were doing that thing where they suddenly feel filled with lead, and I wanted so badly to quit right in the middle of the trail. . That was 2016. This time was different. This time I breathed slowly paying attention to the slow inhale and exhale and matched my steps to the rhythm. I let my body lead me and before I knew it the hard part was over. The steep pitch gave way to a gentler grade and my pace quickened. . The last 4 years gave me the gift of confidence as well as plenty of practice. Seeing my effort pay off in a moment of comparison was wildly encouraging. The hard moments become so much easier to handle with a bank of confidence to draw from. Isn’t this true of any challenge in life? We gain perspective and confidence from walking through the fire. From facing the thing that makes your heart flutter and your stomach turn to knots. We may come out on the other side a little beat up and bedraggled but the beauty is we keep pressing on. . Friends, if this season or this day or week or month feels a little like walking through fire, I see you. I see you and I believe in you. And if you need a person to join you I’ll happily sit in your corner. I’m a pretty good listener and I’d love to pray for you. DM me on IG, email me, send me smoke signals or just yell really loud. Let’s support each other. Life is hard but we can face the challenges together.

The Long Trail : Day 2 : Part 3 : 9/22/20 . The strength and confidence gained from the climb started to wane as my calorie deficit grew. The scales were tipping in the worst of ways. I work hard to balance my food and water intake but sometimes I run out of steam on a climb or misjudge what is needed to make the last few miles of a day. . It happened here. I should have stopped for another snack on the last stretch but I knew camp was less than a half mile away. My desire to take off my shoes and be done for the day was clouding my judgement of what was immediately necessary. This kind of thing happens to me more than I’d like to admit. Anyone else? But here I was yet again forgetting that sometimes a half mile feels likes 10 when your eyes want to close and your legs turn into a fascinating mixture of lead and jelly. . It wasn’t going to be pretty but I knew I could make it and pressed on. Note to future self: when you’re miserable, hungry and depleted, stop and eat a dang snack. It’s really not that difficult! But I digress, back to the climb. At the top was Glastonbury fire tower and a perfect campsite tucked in just off to the side of the summit. . We threw down our packs and collapsed on the ground! Food first then we would set up camp. Usually we tend to our business in the opposite order but on this particular night it was not an option. I needed food and I needed it fast. Revived after dinner, we spent the last moments of daylight atop the fire tower. Taking in the views from above the trees is a special treat on the east coast. In this moment, with all my physical needs cared for, I had the privilege to simply take in the long mountain views of the northeast. The setting sun blanketed the landscape in vespers light. This is what I came for. Moments to be still, to feel small in the best way and slowly exhale a deep, feel it in your bones, gratitude.