Learning to Walk

Over years and years of walking on flat surfaces and with shoes on, Tom walks wrong for the canyons. Over the last few weeks he's been relearning to walk. He's been tightening up his walk, lifting his feet a little higher, putting his feet down on the outside edges first and then transferring the weight to the middle. It leaves less of an imprint, gives him better balance, makes less noise, and once learned allows him to keep his head higher and more observant. It's hard work. Instead of coming back from a tough hike with ankles or calves hurting it's all thighs now. In the long run he thinks it will be worth it. Kristen is working around the lodge with her dog Paris. On Saturday Tom takes Paris on his practice walk. Each time Tom got a little discouraged about the progress he was making all he had to do was look at Paris for fresh inspiration. Last summer Paris got shot. The bullet is still in her. You can feel it. Paris had to learn how to walk all over again and as you see her come back from fetching Tom's left handed underhand throw of a ball it's pretty obvious.