When we had came upon one of these regal primary growth trees days ago, Hannah remarked “that tree is probably like, ‘I created all of you.’” Out of these individuals spawned an entire forest again.

The low temperature at 3592 feet elevation was 61. Think about that. In February, at a high elevation in the South, the low temperature was early summer-like. High enough to be an anomalously high high. It is far less extreme relative to the climatology (it’s hard to fact check or research anything I write out...

I think a lot of people go out on the trail expecting to experience independence and self-reliance, You must in fact, take care of yourself: feed yourself, deal with physical ailments, organize your gear, set up a tent, filter water, and so on. At the same time, you learn how much you rely on (and...