Portrait 22: Take a step forward

My last days hiking in Colorado were in and out of snow storms. Sometimes the storms came with winds, sometimes they came with hail. The nights were well below freezing and they were the first time I've ever cuddled a bag of hot water in my sleeping bag. I wait out storms when I can, but sometimes the best option is to just hike through the weather. One day I woke up early and walked on an exposed ridge for about 20 miles, hiking against the wind and snow well into the afternoon. There was a tantalizing patch of clear sky ahead of me. I didn't know if I could catch it but I knew it was my only chance of being dry that night. I finally got out of the snow with just enough time to pitch my tent under some trees in the last moments of sunlight.

One of the things I love about backpacking is the simplicity in solving life's problems: Find a patch of blue sky today and take a few steps toward it.