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Collin Chambers

@wildwoodwalking

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My daily walks in nature, my most profound spiritual discipline, inspire my creativity, awaken my spirit and reveal the wondrous magic all around us.

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On my walk today…
In the enchanted forest.
The leaves are falling fast.
Winter is coming. by @wildwoodwalking

What a beautiful few days on the Appalachian Trail!

After my patrol at Max Patch on Sunday, I grabbed my backpack and kept walking north toward Hot Springs. It was one of those crystal-clear blue October skies that makes the yellow and red leaves shine so brightly.

The trail was in excellent condition, the water sources were flowing adequately, the weather was absolutely stellar, and both places where I camped brought back wonderful memories from my 2010 AT thru-hike.
Thank you, Carolina Mountain Club, for all your hard work keeping this place so lovely. by @wildwoodwalking

On my walk today… the last flower standing, a pot of homemade potato soup and stellar fall day. I am grateful. #ilovemylife by @wildwoodwalking

A stunning fall day on Max Patch. I counted 161 visitors in 7 hours today! by @wildwoodwalking

https://wildwoodwalking.substack.com/p/a-shout-out-to-my-new-neighbors-thank?r=70819h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#hurricane by @wildwoodwalking

On my walk today…
It was a misty, cloudy day on patrol at Max Patch today.
#trailambassador #maxpatch #onmywalktoday #appalachiantrail by @wildwoodwalking

Another epic Great Smokies adventure in the books! Not without its challenges, of course, but four days of magical mountain walking cures all that ails.
My badass hiking partner rolled her ankle early on and STILL hiked 35+ miles across rivers and up and over steep mountains. All is well, she is recovering, and we are already planning our next trip to cover more miles on our quest to complete the “Smokies 900 map.” (After this trip, I’m about 40% complete.)

Trail report: Forney Ridge, Springhouse branch, White oak branch, and Forney Creek are all in excellent shape, with just a few minor blowdowns (easily accessible) and very minor sections of dog hobble overgrowth, and the creeks are moderate and low because of drought conditions. (Water was plentiful!) Excellent hike! by @wildwoodwalking

For the final leg of our Peru adventure, Sharon, Armando, and I headed to Vinicunca, the extraordinary “Rainbow Mountain,” climbing to nearly 17,000 feet.

In the span of a few hours, the mountain threw just about everything at us… snow, sleet, rain, clouds, wind, and even a little sunshine. Thankfully, the snow melted just enough to reveal the incredible magical “painted stripes” created by layers of different minerals beneath it.
An absolutely stunning way to end an unforgettable journey through Peru.♥️ by @wildwoodwalking

Happy Public Lands Day! Thank you to all the hardworking and dedicated volunteers that came out to work on a variety of trail projects today and every day. We had a wonderful turn out at Max Patch and a beautiful day was had by all.☀️ by @wildwoodwalking

And then, we found ourselves back in Cusco…
After mountains, cloud forests, ancient trails, rain, mud, laughter, aching legs, and more than a few unforgettable moments, we came full circle to the city where this grand adventure began.

We spent the day wandering through the extraordinary stonework of Saqsaywaman, one of the most important archaeological sites sitting just above Cusco, where massive stones fitted together centuries ago still leave you wondering exactly how on earth they did that.

And because no great Peruvian exploit is complete without llamas and alpacas, we stopped at the weaving cooperative to hang out with a few very enthusiastic new friends and learn more about the beautiful traditional textiles created here.

There was something especially sweet about returning to where we began, only now carrying three weeks of wonderful memories, endless stories, and (literally) hundreds of photographs of our amazing adventures.💚 by @wildwoodwalking

Same hat, different country. I have returned home to a different kind of Sacred Valley. One that I am most grateful I get to wander every day. And while the flora and fauna couldn’t be more different, one thing remains the same… Walking changes things.
Walking heals things.
Walking helps process your emotions.
Walking helps a sore body.
Counterintuitively, the best thing you can do for nearly any type of ailment, whether it be physical, mental or emotional, is take a walk.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!😆 by @wildwoodwalking

After days of hiking through the wild scenic beauty of the Salkantay trek, we finally walked into Aguas Calientes, (the little town at the base of Machu Picchu), where hot showers, fluffy hotel beds, and a fancy-pants dinner felt downright luxurious.

The next morning, the mountain greeted us in true cloud-forest fashion… rain, mist, ponchos, wet hair, and absolutely no thought whatsoever for anyone’s carefully planned photo opps.
And, of course, it was absolutely perfect.

The magic and mystery of watching this iconic ancient city appear and disappear through misty clouds, as though Machu Picchu was deciding on the spot how revealing she wanted to be that day…
Not exactly postcard weather. But… maybe even better.💚 by @wildwoodwalking