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When Toby and I met, one of the first things I learned about him was how much he loved the outdoors—hiking, camping, mountain climbing, canoeing, swimming—he loved it all.
A month or so after we started dating, he took me on my first overnight hike. He was so excited for me to see these little birds that lived partway up the trail. Canada jays, they’re called, but he called them whiskey jacks. “They love people!” he’d said. He wasn’t kidding. Those friendly, curious birds were hilarious and memorable.
For Toby, being in nature was restorative. It was spiritual. And after spending so much time in the wilderness with him, I understood why.
The years we had together were filled with outdoor adventures. Toby gave me the confidence to do what felt impossible, to climb mountains, to camp at the top above the rest of the world.
