After receiving an invite to join the Lewis family on their Continental Divide walk for a piece, I knew there wasn’t much to keep me from it. Cons: 0, Pros: hiking 5 days in full-on Colorado aspen gold over some of the lower 48’s most beautiful country, day-in and out with a set of quality people who had been nothing but sweet and loving to me since our first meeting 3 years ago.
When could I join was the question. A week on the Glacier Park stretch near the end of August was out of the question because of permit logistics. It was decided that the end of September through the first day of October would work for all of us, meaning that I would leave with them after their 3-day vacation at home in Buena Vista, CO. I’d never seen 2 days of continual sunshine in Colorado, much less 4 days. But that’s what it turned out to be. I soon found myself climbing over a 12,000 foot pass on the second day in the chapping sunlight, reminding myself that it was almost October, not late May…the weather was a dream. (more…)
Technically September 17th is still summer, but after the last few days of cold and snow it makes one wonder a bit – or maybe just remember how reliably fickle the Colorado high country can be.The route has been up in the tundra of late. Today we crossed a string of 12,000-13,000+ peaks in 6 inches of fresh snow with 1-2 foot drifts. We were hoping for some sun but the dark storm cells kept rolling through and the temperature only crept up to 18 degrees. With a steady 20-30 mph wind skittering across the alpine ridges, we walked with heads tucked down in our jacket ruffs. Stumbling through the rocks and willows under the snow, the miles passed by grudgingly. (more…)
By: Jesse
Almost every person we meet on the trail tells Cody and me that we are learning way more out on the trip than we every would have in just another regular semester of school. Now. I have the feeling that some of you who are following our trip are wondering what exactly Cody and I are doing education wise while tromping around in the woods so I have taken the liberty of expounding a bit on what we’ve been up to.
This is a big part of out education so far. It covers most of, if not all of, the science aspects of what the mountains can teach us. Some examples…
-by Cody
You’ve probably read some from each of us about how great, exciting, and fun our trip has been, but I also want you to know about the hard times; the times when I wanted to quit; the times when I have just sat down and cried. Yes those moments have happened - especially for me.
By the Lewis Family
A thousand white butterflies dance over the meadow and celebrate the accomplishment with us. 1/2 way! CANADA! 1500 miles of walking together as a family.
Two grizzlies ate huckleberries on the slope above us as clouds swirled the jagged ridges this morning in dramatic fashion and bid us not forget these northern Rockies or what we have learned here as we turn south and head to the high peaks of Colorado.
How blessed we feel, how smiled upon to share this journey, this land, this time as a family. We sat in the meadow and shared appreciations for each other and first 1/2 highlights…….here are a few.
Heat and 128 Back Massages! - Jessie Faith
Have you ever been in blazing heat and had to endure it while working really hard? If not, picture this……..the sun is beating down, it’s close to 100 degrees even up on the Divide, and you are dripping sweat climbing up a couple thousand foot grade on a rocky, dry hillside.
You are super thirsty and a bit nauseous, but know that you can only take mini sips of your water because you need it to last till the next stream crossing a few hours up the trail. Your dad gives you the “isn’t this fun!” look and you about throw up but don’t, and then timidly remind him that not everyone in the family was in the Marine Corps and thus the close relationship between suffering and fun in his mind is not is not quite as clear to the rest of the family. That’s been our scene this past week on the trail. (more…)
By NatalieIt’s quite remarkable how much work goes in to keep us walking through the woods. Much of the work to this point has been done by our Champion Logistical Master – Bud Trippet (my dad). Bud was with us from the very start and was crucial to getting us going. Bless his heart, we met him in Pinedale, Wyoming on June 30th, hugged, handed him the keys to the truck and trailer and told him that we hadn’t the foggiest idea how things worked in the trailer – the refrigerator, the heater, the water heater, the water pipes, the toilet, the shower – nothing. When we met up with in just a few days later, 
not only had he figured out all the trailer parts, and masterminded a system to get water into our water tank that the trailer uses when not hooked up to a hose in town (which rarely happens), but the truck had begun acting up (shutting off entirely while driving down the road – a little frightening!), and he fixed that too (along with the slow leak in the trailer tire). In short, if Bud hadn’t been around we would be wandering aimlessly in Wyoming. We couldn’t express enough thanks for his work for the 1st 6 weeks of our trip. He has handed the reins over to Morgan Williams, whom you will hear more about later. (more…)
When hiking 3000 miles, entertainment on the trail becomes more valuable with each passing day. Thus, finding the best piece of “trail booty” (interesting stuff you stumble upon along the way) has become highly entertaining for us. It can be natural – like the obsidian crystal Jessie found, the Nez Perce arrowhead Bobby found, or feathers from Ravens, Sandhill Cranes, Great Horned Owls, Ruffed Grouse, Lesser Scaups, etc. 
Or, it can be man-made. Good stuff so far includes old maps, stuffed animals, coins (Cody has .92c to her credit), a tow chain, sled dog booties, 3 plastic sleds, a winch, a set of keys, a wrench, and a gerber utility knife. Best finds overall….
You’ll hardly ever see one.
You’ll be lucky if you do.
They hide in the trees
And sing, sing, sing.
They sing in the rain.
In the sun.
Always singing.
You just have to listen.
SNOW, SNOW, SNOW. The high elevation of the trail and early winter is making the going tough. But after a 3 day respite at home at the A/U Ranches, we are rested and ready to have a go at the final 1000 miles. Onward, upward, southward.
