from glacier national park to nyc: will the representative from montana please cover her feet?
Sunday, August 8 
Gros Ventre Fall in Glacier National Park. The water really was that color!
Somehow a month ago it seemed like a fine idea to schedule a backpacking trip with Shawn to Glacier National Park within days of my big trip of the summer: flying to New York City to visit family and attending BlogHer’s big (2,400 attendees) annual blogging conference.
The time squeeze between the two trips left me scrambling to get work done, pack, get the house, garden and my guys to a spot that they wouldn’t perish or die of mange without seeing me for a week. While packing, I referred to BlogHer’s Website for conference details and found many posts on what women would be wearing, which mostly included dresses, sparkly sandals and spendy purses made by people I’ve never heard of.
Friends, these were my feet coming home from Glacier. My legs are still covered by hundreds of mosquito bites, which make me look like I’ve got chicken pox or maybe an STD crawling down my legs. Also, I don’t own sparkly sandals. My purse was made for me by my mother-in-law — a jazzy number made of scraps that falls comfortably at my hip. I did paint my toenails for the occasion, and I’m hoping the big toe that took a beating in my hiking boots doesn’t fall off during the conference. If it does, I plan to drop my pen, casually lean down to pick it and my toenail up, and place them in my purse. (I’ll have a special spot for it so I don’t accidentally grab the toenail while reaching for a business card.)
Also, you might have heard about the sad and scary bear attack in Cooke City, Montana, that made national news after a man was killed and two people were injured. (If not, you can read about it here.) That happened just before our backpacking trip, and left me a little freaked out. The chances of anyone getting eaten by a bear are slim to never, but hearing about that before sleeping in a tent for three nights in the backcountry was a little like watching Jaws before deep-ocean snorkeling in a place where sharks are known to frequent. And, we did see a lot of bear sign — tracks, poop everywhere — but no bears.
And honestly, I’m glad there’s still wild country here in Montana. I wouldn’t trade my guaranteed safety for the absence of bears.
When I got home from Glacier and started considering how I was going to present in the Big City, I panicked a bit. After careful consideration though, I’ve decided I’m going to go as myself. “That one lady from Montana with the quaint purse and the oogie feet.”
Me taking a swim in Glen Lake, next to our camp site. Water was a wee bit chilly.
Wish me luck. Squeee!
Hiking up to Stoney Indian Pass in GNP with several massive waterfall in the distance. The beauty is just kind of out of hand. "This is just cheesy," became the running joke between Shawn and me.
Reader Comments (10)
You don't need luck. Anyone that doesn't adore you as much as I do is just not right in the head! Have a BLAST!
I am curious, though - do you get a creeping leg STD on your legs from letting things hump them? Then you ought naught let them do that.
I hope you have a great time in NY. Give my regards to city boy. I'm sure your feet aren't any worse than the women who live in NYC and walk around in their ungodly high heels!!
Our running joke in Glacier when we got out of the car to see the breathtaking vistas was " Lo if artist ere could paint" a quote we got from a family friend who was making fun of someone who continually said that while taking in breathtaking vistas. Yeah for real womans feet. my heels are so awful I never wear nylons and my toes are hairy if I dont shave them. Be yourself you are fabulous. Much love from another Montana girl.
You should make that picture of you in Glen lake your business card because that photo pretty much says "Hi there! I'm cool as shit"
Have fun in NYC! Go to a real deli and come back and tell us about it.
Going to Glacier is pretty much da bomb, so if anyone heckles you about your real life feet, smile politely and ask them to run or bike with you.
Have fun and enjoy the local color in NYC, baby!
Isn't it something to be surrounded by God-made monoliths one day and man-made the next? It's hard to be awe-struck in town, huh?
Both my DH and youngest son are about to lose toenails.....do we put them under the pillow for the um....toenail fairy?
Oh wow, have fun in NY!
I am in desperate need of a pedi and mani after daily farm chores, so feel your pain. I however, am more vain than you and will not go shoeless until I've got me some pretty feet. What can I say? I'm a city girl. ;)
Running with the Big Dogs in NYC. I hope you are having a blast.
Heidi: Thanks, and good point! I'm marking that bit of advice down in my book of things not to do :)
Big Fan: I'm amazed at the women in NYC who walk around in high heels. Should that be a sport or something? Seems like there is some skill involved.
SDA: I've heard that story before -- too funny!
Pooknelle: Middle Son went to a real deli while I was at the conference. My uncle took a pic of him happily eating a Dagwood sandwich, which I'll post. Like the business card idea.
Bliss Chick: Yeah, I can't believe it took me 19 years of living in Bozeman to finally get up to GNP and backpack. Kind of like living in the interior of Florida and never making it to the beach.
Nice Lady: It is really something to go from Glacier to the big city -- both equally stunning in their own ways. Still felt great to come home, though :)
Pooknelle: Or make a necklace? Kind of a Dutch-Montana-tribal-hybrid thing? I dunno...Sometimes I just say stuff. In case you hadn't noticed.
Becky: Sounds like you manage the transition from farm girl to city girl without a blink -- pretty cool, I say.
Laura: Thanks! My two observations were that I would not love to live in NYC if I didn't make decent money, and two, I would need to spend a lot of time in Central Park where it's green and offers running/biking paths for my sanity. Visiting the city though, was awesome.