When I first laid my eyes on this spring there was an upwelling of excitement, joy and disbelieve. As we began wandering around the broken, disheveled spring we started noticing all the pockets of trash surrounding it.

It was particularly earie in a few spots, abandoned camping gear overgrown in the trees, sleeping pads, snack bags, tarps, cookware, coolers, a dozen propane cylinders; all of which the bears had had their way with.

We had both decided in that moment that this space of healing deserved better. I was committed to answering the call of the fallen, leaking hot spring that could hold 4 inches of water, and Hannah was determined to get the trach out of the forest.