Day 1: Backpacking through Montana

Just got back from 9 days in the wilderness. My brief daily log just downloaded today, so it will follow daily, as if in real time.

Day 1. Tracy and I showed up at Lazy P Ranch on edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness (the 1.9 million acre crown jewel of the American wilderness system) for all-participant dinner, followed by an enlightening discussion of conservation of public lands, and critical multi-generational role of organizations such as The Wilderness Society and The Nature Conservancy. Conversation quickly turned to those special, local individuals who actually make possible the rich experiences and journeys into pure, untouched nature, like the ranges and basins we will explore over the next 8 days. Dusty and Danelle and Gene and others have led the way. For the first time in 29 years (transplant patients, political constituents, business), I turn off ALL electronic contact. Step one to achieve connection to nature and real world around us.