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Mile 717.   It was a smoky evening for a walk.  20 or so miles away a fire rages today on the south end of the Pine Valley Mountains, filling the valley air with smoke and making for interesting walking and picture taking conditions.   Please click below and see them as well as the day's walking thought by Kevin Pearson ...

Cheerio!

The smoke left a hazy layer on Smith's Mesa

And obscured the normally vibrant views of Zion National Park

Approaching sunset turned the smoky air burnt orange

Tortoise's path today up the hill from his Hurricane office

Today's walk was 3.76 miles, with a 4.9 tortoise rating earned by climbing 238 feet in the 1.88 mile uphill portion at an average elevation of 3290.  The walk burned 553 calories in 1:07:04 hours.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

717.31 miles walked, which is 71.59% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 715.69 year-to-date miles.   

219:24:43 hours walked, which is 70.10% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

36,723 total feet climbed, compared with 33,850 feet on this day in 2014.  

107,559 calories burned.

68.69% of the year has passed.

Lou has walked 103 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11. Overall he has walked on 206 of the 215 non-Sundays in 2015, a 95.81% consistency rating.  This compares with 203 days walked in the same period in 2014 (a 94.42% consistency rating).

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.  (If you doubt this, compare Tortoise's 2013 walking record with 2014 ... for him, it is what it takes to be consistent. And Tortoise feels much more vibrant when he is consistent.  He hopes you find what works for you)

And now for today's walking thought ...

"Faith is a principle of action and power.  Consistently following the Savior's example produces spiritual power and capacity.  Without the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement, it's impossible to stay on the path and endure. 'Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ.' (2 Nephi 31:20)"

-- Kevin Pearson, "Stay by the Tree", April 2015 LDS General Conference

The tortoise is smiling!