#EveryDayinMay Soon, June.

Soon, June.

And a million new newnesses to explore.

In May I realized I love writing each day when my voice feels authentic. Imagine that.

I love the #WanderlustWednesday post that somehow materialized here, and the #TuesdayTen I stole from Crystal. #PoetryFriday will remain a constant favorite, because I just wouldn't be me without poetry. And I love sharing how I look at a poem and work with it in a writing lesson. I may add one more weekly post; something writerly related -- especially since the whole month of June I'll be in a writing class!

In March I wrote each day, but with the focus on sharing a slice of my life every day I somehow felt contained and struggled to find something worthwhile to share with each post. May was easier, and I feel as though I learned more from it.

And in June... well, June will see me in class, hopefully doing some swimming, visiting with my mom, trying some new recipes, and planning for my ever-evolving weeklong backpacking trip in July.

This year I chose light as my one little word, and the first five months have felt anything but light. 2014 has been overpacked with people and classes and projects and life and yes, even death. And there is so much more yet to discover in this year. Perhaps when I chose light, I didn't realize I was choosing not the breezy, airiness I hoped for, but the bold brilliance of a perfect sunrise. Because that's what this year has felt like so far; constant discovery, continual exploration.

And brilliant, every second of it.

#EveryDayinMay - Tuesday Ten From the Trail

Time for the Tuesday Ten, a little meme hosted by Crystal over at Straight On Til Morning! This week, I'm sharing ten things from the trail - reflecting on my first overnight experience backpacking. This ten seems to make a great slice of life post for my trail experience as well!

Ten Things From the Trail

1. Walking ≠ Hiking. You guys. You guys. When I set out on this trail, which I anticipated as a moderately difficult walk through the woods, I had no idea that I would spend so much time staring at my feet that I would have very little time to actually, OH I don't know, notice the actual wilderness all around me. While it wasn't very hot, I was a sweaty mess from the exertion it took to simply not fall on my face.


2. Trail maps are not enough. While the map is important, it doesn't replace being astutely aware of your surroundings. This is rather difficult, however, due to the constant staring at your own feet that I mentioned above. The trail we were on was either littered with huge rocks and fallen trees, or pock-marked with horse hoof impressions that had dried in the mud, leaving behind huge holes of doom. The blazes (marks on trees to lead the way) were not always abundant. We had to be ever watchful. Basically we were like Sherlock Holmes of the forest.


3. There is nothing more lovely than a cool breeze. It's amazing how revitalizing that little breeze can be when you're trekking up a mountain with a heavy pack strapped to your back!


4. Having a dog along on the trail that runs back to wait for you every time you stop to catch your breath is almost as nice as that cool breeze. While The Husband almost always took the lead on our hike, and Lily stayed right by his side, Grimm would double back and wait for me, or simply stop along the trail until I caught up. It brought a smile to my face every time. There was so much about the hike that made me think of years ago when my sweet Daisy was younger and loved being outside in the fresh air; it was a comfort to have Grimm by my side while I process all the losses that equal up to not having her in our lives anymore. He may be a spitfire of energy and constant silliness, but much about his faithful personality reminds me of her, and that comparison warms my heart, especially now.
   


5. I'm stronger than I believed. With 25 pounds on my back, I climbed my way to the top of Snake Mountain, terrified a snake would jump out from under a bush with ever step I took. Snake Mountain may not be very tall or daunting to most people, but I hiked it, and I'm proud!


6. There are no snakes on Snake Mountain. At least, none that wanted to sink their evil little fangs into my fancy space-age hiking boots. Although, I do wonder if my elephant-like tromping through the forest scared away every possible threat I might have encountered. 


7. The Ouachita National Forest is beautiful, and inside it lies a maze of so many criss-crossing trails that you could literally hike for days and days and never see them all. Definitely worth visiting. I know we'll be going back soon.


8. Camping along the trail is nothing like parking lot camping or even the yearly Ranch Rudolf camping I'm accustomed to. Everything is darker. Sounds are louder. With one side of my body pressed against our tiny Kelty two-person lightweight tent, I felt as if there were nothing between me and the packs of hungry bears and wolves that most certainly were roaming the darkness.
   
   

   

   The Husband demonstrating remarkable tent building skillZ.

9. You will be exhausted at the end of the day. Forget reading. Forget writing. Forget staying awake because you're sure the bears and wolves and boogiemen are out there waiting for you to drop your guard. Eventually, your eyes will close and you will sleep so soundly that when the sun rises and you open your eyes again, you won't believe it's morning already.


10. I love backpacking. I love the quiet work of one step after the next carrying you forward. I love that everything you need to survive is swaddled carefully on your back. I love the thrill of navigating through trees and ridges, of feeling lost and completely in the right place simultaneously. I love the smells and sounds (except for those weird killer bird/coyote nighttime sounds, lets be real). I love it all. I already have my pack repacked and ready for the next free weekend, so I can grab my gear and take off for the woods. Backpacking has bitten me, and I am all the happier for it.

#EveryDayinMay - Wanderlust Wednesday, Volume 3

If you've missed my constant blathering about trips to take and adventures to begin.... well, what rock have you been hiding under? I hope you haven't been hiding there with the snakes, because that's just scary. And gross. Like bleu cheese, which is equal parts scary and gross.

Anyway.

This Saturday, The Husband and I will head off for our first overnight hiking adventure. The loop we're headed to is 17 miles around, but I'm not positive we'll make the whole 17 in this one trip. This weekend is all about testing equipment and walking the walk and not being killed by bears and snakes, of course.

But let's not focus on the snakes and bears and ticks in my future.

Let's focus on the short day hike we took in Arlington, Texas last weekend. It was perfect. A canopy of trees above us, miles of trail beneath our feet, two of the Littles and two happy puppies bouncing all around us, and not one snake to be seen. And my new boots were super comfy with my ProFoot orthotics and cozy new socks on. Yay!! Hope you enjoy this photo montage of our day on the trail!

Gots my boots, socks, and orthotics and I'm ready to roll!

Grimm says, "Dude, do you even hike?"

I don't think they even realize I'm not with them! 

Happy kids, happy dogs, happy life!

Uh, nice try, trail-side murderer. I can wait.

Grimm, in a rare moment of stillness.

Time for a water break!

Puppy selfie!

Sass helps give Lily and Grimm some water.

These puppies wait for no human.

Headed off on the trail again. 

Horrible picture, but Grimm kept leaving the group to come
back and check on me, which was the BEST ever. Love my sweet boy!

Back at the car, Grimm takes a break while he waits for us to load up.

My happy boy after being out in the woods! 

Love.

#EveryDayinMay - Wanderlust Wednesday

Go check out Crystal's blog!

Dear Reader, as you know (if you have been paying close attention), The Husband and I have been meticulously planning our trip to Arkansas in July to hike a good portion of the OHT. Things have been purchased, books have been read, foods are being prepared.

One detail I thought would be especially helpful would be to actually go on at least one overnight hike nearby beforehand to test out our equipment, get some more time in my space-age boots, and basically convince myself I won't die whilst wandering about in the woods.

The Husband thought this a grand idea -- mostly because any idea that revolves around being outdoors and away from civilization is about as close to his idea of paradise as possible.

So -- we go!

Where are we going? I'm not sure yet. One possibility I found is the Green Corridor in Ray Roberts Lake State Park. There's plenty of hiking, and it looks like a beautiful place to spend the night, but I don't see the potential for getting away from it all -- no primitive camping, for one thing. I'm really hoping for a place that better mimics the wilderness of the OHT, and I have a feeling that will be difficult to find in Texas. People in the Lone Star State heart their parking lot campsites, yo.

Also, let's discuss this for a moment:

What? Wait. What?!
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I don't even know what kind of snake this is, but it's a snake and just the picture freaks me smooth out. You guys. You guys. I cannot. I cannot even begin to tell you how incredibly terrified I am of this snake situation.

Okay, I know snakes just come with the territory (ha). I get that. They're out there just doing their snake thing, and I'm supposed to scoot around them like a ninja and hope they don't see me.

Except they will.

One website I read helpfully informed me that snakes like to go out at night and have snake parties, so if you're going to be traipsing around in the dark, best take a flashlight and, oh, I don't know, a flame thrower or something, lest ye be mauled by 800 snakes that were just trying to enjoy the nightlife when you walked in and ruined all the fun.

So basically it doesn't matter where I end up, because snakes will definitely be there. It won't keep me from going, and I feel like being out in the great beyond surrounded by certain snake death, and ultimately surviving the dread terror will somehow make me a better person.

Or a dead person.

We'll have to wait and see. And we won't have to wait long, because The Husband and I are headed out to our currently unknown overnight location in just a couple of weeks. I'm actually looking forward to it, above snake paranoia aside. The wilderness is calling, and all that jazz.

#EveryDayinMay - Wanderlust

I love Cheryl Strayed's book Wild, and not only for the story and her writing style -- though those combined are enough to sink deeply into her words and get lost on the Pacific Crest Trail right along with her. But learning about the trail, and the land she covers along her trip is a magnificent bonus.

One place she visited definitely stood out for me and is now on my list of must-see places to go. Bagby Hot Springs. She describes it as a tri-level series of decks set back in the woods of the Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. The decks hold various tubs that can be filled with water from the natural hot springs in the area. And get this -- it's practically free When Strayed went, it was free, but it looks like there is now a $5.00 "soaking fee" when you visit. It's not a huge resort or nature spa that you have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to visit. There are no gift shops or spa packages to buy. In Wild, Strayed says you can go any time of day or night and enjoy what Bagby has to offer.

There are camping spots available nearby, and it doesn't seem like much of a hike to get up to Bagby. The photographs I've managed to find are absolutely gorgeous. I'm mesmerized.

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The only question that remains for me is, "When can we go?" I'm ready!