Tomorrow!
Day 118
The Rockies await
July 22nd, 2010
I'm walking across America.
That's the idea, at least. I'm walking westward from New York City for nine months or so. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be in Oregon when the clock runs out. If nothing goes according to plan, maybe I'll end up in Peru or Mongolia or Pennsylvania. You can read all about the details of my trip if you're so inclined.
Email me at matt@imjustwalkin.com
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Here's my progress so far:
Incredible! Great Shot! Green with envy!!
Envious I am…. but this is one leg of the trip I will not envy (except for the missed beauty).
I have a torn ACL and some torn cartilage and my knee would never take that punishment.
I can’t wait to get this fixed, My 3 year old is getting harder and harder to pick up with this bad knee.
(sigh)
Craig in NC sorry to hear of your struggles. Hope you get things taken care of and you’re back to health real soon.
Probably a lot farther than they look!
One foot in front of another… like the little red engine- I think I can… we’re all here cheering you on!
I’m so excited to see the Rocky’s ! Take care Matt and take rest stops often.
Matt will be doing some serious climbing now. He will go over Rodger’s Pass, the Continental Divide at 5610 feet.
For the history buffs; Lincoln, Mt. was the home of Ted Kaczynski “The Unabomber” from 1973 until his arrest at his cabin outside of Lincoln in 1996.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kaczynski
Thats when I was there. We drove through Lincoln and stopped for some food. The TV cameras and helicopters were everywhere.
Yep and Jordan was the Freeman stand off – actually it took place out towards Brussett – and the whole town shuts down for high school graduation as one media person found out – when he tried to buy his groceries on grad day.
Look at all those layers of mountains, and colors. Talk about perfect timing for a new pair of boots!
Rocky on!
ahh…we have those purple mountains majesty…!
purple mountains Matt-jesty……
Nice.
“Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain-tops are within reach”
– John Muir
Your in gods penthouse now, So Rock On!!!
We anxious await those breathtaking shots of the Rockies
Best of Luck
every time I read this I see…double happy hour
The mountains are beckoning. Keeping you in my prayers. Safe travels Matt!
Oh…I am just so envious at this moment – wishing you safe, enjoyable travels Matt.
I am jealous, what a gorgeous sight! I am taking a trip in a few days, but it will be in a car and going East. I will be walking though, something I haven’t done in 12 years! Yay, me! :)
100,000 step program. I am impressed. I had a read…and I would like to say Faith is a good thing. When you get the World Trace Center grounds ( I hate ground zero – it is a real place, a real area) look up and see the emptiness that leads to heaven. I miss seeing it(them the towers) everyday. Have a safe trip and good luck with your Goal. You’ll be ready for one of matt’s walks in not time (not he usa one though).
She’ll be pushing a hot-dog cart, when she comes
We’ll be eating rocky-road ice cream, when she comes
She’ll be having Lady Marmalade, when she comes
Ahhhh yes. In my 26 years in Montana, I have never, and will never, tire of this sight. Drink it in, Matt! Speaking of that, look for little natural springs when you get in to the mountains…they are God’s gift to Montana. Freshest, coldest, tastiest water I’ve ever had.
The pics of the Rockies will be awesome! I can’t wait to see them! Be safe Matt and take some time to enjoy the scenery.
When I saw this awesome photo I had 2 thoughts and they were both about songs-
The openness of the uncluttered sky made me thing that “I believe I could fly” what a view if you could do this-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Oc-s6ig1mk
The other thought was the long LONESOME highway that looks like it goes for ever – substitute the cycle for the Hobo cart and the rider for our MATT HOBO GREEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYKQ3fwNb0c
Matt- hope you stay safe, hydrated and most of all enjoy the rest of your trek one step at a time!
Peace to you. Enjoy God’s majestic beauty.
Breathtaking. Safe travels, Matt.
This is the most exciting thing that never happened to me!!
Just seeing those mountains rising in the distance in front of you must be thrilling – and maybe a little scary too? Be safe, Matt!
deb that’s funny!
Can’t wait to see the pictures you will come up with when you get to the Rockies!!!
Good luck Matt! Stay safe and enjoy your time in the mountains. Should be beautiful!
Can’t wait to see the pictures :-)
Typical optical illusion – the road leading into the mountains always looks like its going downhill when in fact the altitude is increasing dramatically all the way. Of course, this fact is inescapable when walking or riding a bike! Be strong, Matt!
Ok..Mr. Matt…it is now yesterday’s tomorrow….what is the deal. Another weekend of waiting…Oh…ok. We will just inflate our mattress, pitch our tents….grab our trusty coolers……and continue to wait. Your part in the deal…walk one foot infront of the others…and take picture after picture after picture. Keep em away from the zonbie satellite and we should all be ok. Peace and onward …tomorrow is upon us.
All this talk of the difficulties ahead in the mountains for Matt. What’s up with that? The road will certainly be different from what he is used to, but definitely manageable. I would be more concerned about the narrowness of them shoulders than I would be the grades. On the plus side you will have some great descents, inspiring scenery, welcoming shade, and cooler weather. Courage my friend.
There is a webcam at Rogers Pass, where Matt will be crossing the continental divide. Since he was only about 25 miles from it yesterday when he posted the photo, he may be just about there by now… keep your eyes peeled. Here is a link to the cam:
http://rwis.mdt.mt.gov/scanweb/SWFrame.asp?Pageid=Camera&Units=English&Groupid=&Siteid=301007&Senid=&WxId=3017&DisplayClass=Java&SenType=All&SenStatus=&Camera=1
Matt obviously did his homework regarding the route to take, since he is walking over one of the lowest passes on the continental divide. It’s still a hard climb, but 5600 ft beats 10,000! Any scenic photos he posts along his “Rockies Leg” of the trip, may not be quite as dramatic as some would expect. It doesn’t look the same on Hwy. 200 as on Logan Pass in Glacier NP, or some parts of the Colorado Rockies… but it’s some BIG A** MOUNTAINS just the same, and very beautiful. He’ will still have some uphill climbing over other passes at the MT/ID border & in N. Idaho. GO MATT!!!
I think I’ve killed the camera – it’s stuck on a picture at 14:33 EDT!
Oops – I meant PDT.
He is following Google walking directions coast to coast. And I’ve noticed too from the maps that the directions seem to be taking him through a “milder” part of the Rockies. In some ways I’m glad and in others it’s too bad. They are a sight to see.
When he first came to the mountains
His life was far away
on the road and hanging by a song.
But the strings already broken
and he doesn’t really care,
it keeps changin’ fast, and it don’t last for long.
It’s a Colorado Rocky Mountain High,
I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky
The shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullabye.
Rocky Mountain High, ( John Denver)
Enjoy the view be safe :)
Oh..I miss him so. John Denver that is. Saw him quite a few times and the year before he left us. Thanks Saundra. I needed that.
Go Matt! This is exciting!
Good luck dude! How many miles away is that?
Great shot! Thanks! The phrase “mountains looming in the distance” must have a whole new meaning when you’re on foot!
Here’s another tribute to the views our Matt will be seeing. This song has been in my mind since I heard about Matt’s adventure and all that he has learned about himself and the people and places he’s passed along the way…
Nether Lands lyricsHigh on this mountain
The clouds down below
I`m feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I`ll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky
I want a lover
I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I
never have done.
Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now, I`m learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I`ve ever known
I`ve seen the bottom
And I`ve been on top
But mostly I`ve lived in between
And where do you go
When you get to the end of
your dream?
Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with early delight
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light.
Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go
One road was simple
Acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release.
Dan Fogelberg Nether Lands
oh my bad, I thought you were already deep in to the mountains well your gonna sure enjoy the view there beutiful