(from the Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming to Mexico)
The sun is setting across the Florida Mountains, the last small range of peaks between us and the Mexican border just 70 miles south. Today at lunch we shared highlights with each other from this past 3 months of trekking southbound since Canada. Here are a few…
* Colorado: making it successfully through snowy early winter conditions along the 700 miles of high country trail and being blessed with remarkable days in Rocky Mountain National, on Hope Pass, Grays and Torreys Peaks, the Cochetopa Hills, and Weimanuche Wilderness.
* New Mexico: the warmth and beauty of the place and the people were a wonderful salve.
* Trail Community: in this half we really felt a part of the unique community of people who hike the trail and those trail angels who care for those of us out journeying. Thank you to all the friends who joined us, and those we met along the way.
* Rest Days: Nita in Pie Town, the Ott’s in Durango, the Albuquerque crew, Gila Hot Springs, the rodeo in Steamboat, the Creede café, CCU soccer with friends in Junction and Susan’s wedding at the Ranches…all memorable and most enjoyable.
* Trailer Nights: after a backcountry section, coming down a trail late in the day and finding Mo waiting with the “Moo-ship” with hot food, guitar, water to wash up with, and a table out of the elements to eat, write, read and play games together was greatly rejuvenating.
* Historical Discovery: finding the pueblos, cliff dwellings, pottery shards, arrowheads, and trails of native American cultures long past.
* Family Unity: discovering that beyond our individual struggles and challenges we could come together as a family of four with our animals and operate as a well practiced and efficient team on the trail and in camp. We hiked, climbed, swam, ate, read, camped, sang, laughed, saddled/unsaddled, wrestled, argued, and prayed together every day, 24 hours a day, for six months, and made it 3000 miles along the Continental Divide. It has been hard, amazing, stunningly beautiful, truly the definition of unforgettable,
* Dreaming: listening and thinking together about future directions for each of us as individuals and as a family.
* Divine Care:
Thou will show me the path of life. In Thy presence is fullness of joy.
(Psalms)
We’ve been sheltered, inspired, healed, led, challenged, and deeply, deeply blessed. Beyond all thanks, thank you to our Divine Father Mother for this time of discovery.