(Into the Light Walk) He Walks For YOU!

by Alan Bounville

Though I’ve been posting videos, some photos and text posts over the past few months, one thing I haven’t done is a photo and caption post like I have periodically been doing. So, here we go – photos and captions documenting the past few months of the Into the Light Walk.

For more photos that others have uploaded, please go to the walk’s Facebook photo page: https://www.facebook.com/IntoLightWalk?sk=photos. There are lots of photos there as well.
PS Some of these photos are not in chronological order. Between my computer crashing and a glitch uploading photos to the website, it has been a challenge to get back online to do a post like this.

South of Declo, ID, on a dirt road, Equality Cart got tired and fell over! The wheel came off. It was an easy fix.

Tina Hayden-Chavez walked with me 31 miles in hot Idaho!

Chris Cook and I at the top of the Malad Summit. Chris walked with me for 8 days in extreme heat!

The only time I let Chris relax was when he was posing for a photo

Chris pushing the cart on a dirt road on open range. Hey cows!

Brian Davis Dropped Chris off to begin walking with me.

A cool view in a tunnel under the highway in Idaho.

A foot massager melted into the vigil candle. Unfortunately, I had to throw the candle away and get a new one.

There are buried pipelines everywhere in this country! The last thing we need is another one like the Keystone project would create. We need to get off of oil! Walking helps with this

An Idaho Sunset.

Does anyone know what these symbols on the barn stand for?

Malta, ID just before Chris Cooke arrived to walk with me. It was so hot during this part of the walk!!!

Did you know, round structures save money on heating and cooling costs?

Fortunately, I didn't get blinded by any dust storms while walking this stretch.

Cute dog hiding from the sun.

Tina and I cool off under a farm's sprinkler that was spraying into the road.

Tina and I slept at the corner of a corn field, which was right next to a dairy or something. The cow poo was nasty!

Tina outside our tent by the corn field.

Tina pushing the cart at night.

I was picked up and brought to Pocatello, ID for their pride. L to R Chris Cooke, Duane Quintana, Zach Werth and James (Quaid) Jenkins.

Roadside coffee shop made from some kind of thang.

Dixie Siegel gave me her copy of Tim Wise's White Like Me, where he explores the topic of white privilege.

Jenn Siegel and I. Jenn walked me out of Twin Falls.

In the historic barn at the Zollinger's farm in Tremonton, UT.

The Zollingers were feeding Chris and I everything they could find! Of course, we posed this picture.

By the way, Holli Zolliner is an amazing artist! Check out her website – www.hollizollinger.com.

A circus or carnival vehicle parked on someone's property.

Chris and I arriving in Brigham City, UT.

I learned something about woman's heart health reading this billboard.

The gorgeous smog that burned a bright orange/red at sunset as Chris and I entered the Salt Lake City area. SLC is one of the most polluted cities in the country. Sad.

Chris and I met Chrystal at the Utah Pride Center on our way into SLC. She joined us, pushing the cart to our host's home. She also gave us amazing massages!

The amazing folks at City of Hope in SLC. They are giving weekly updates to their congregation about the walk. Thanks City of Hope!!!

A post-service pot luck at City of Hope.

Cai Noble getting help unloading wood from her van that we used for a vigil to raise awareness for hate crimes in Utah and to demand the crimes be charged under the federal hate crimes bill.

Chris Cooke, holding Ryan Zicha's photo leading the march in SLC.

Dane Hall (center), one of the three publicized hate crimes, leads the march with one of his friends (left), through the streets of SLC.

People held signs indicating which hate crime victim they were walking for. Roy Antonio Jones III was a baby who was shaken to death last year because he was 'acting too feminine.'

Before and after the march, members of varying faiths spoke out against hate crimes based on a person's perceived or actual gender identity or sexual orientation.

Cai Noble giving a wonderful speech at the vigil. Cai heads up a wonderful organization that works with homeless youth, many of whom identify as LGBTQ

Cai, Chris and I getting SOAKED, as we used the sprinklers, that just so happened to come on after the vigil, to put out the massive fire Cai built for the vigil.

The shoes I bought in Twin Falls, with the help of Dixie and Brad Siegel, finally bite the dust in Salt Lake City.

Anne Martineau (left) and her wife Pam bought me my fifth, or was it sixth pair of shoes. I'm losing count!

Jesse Zamora (left) and his boyfriend, Ivan Ward hosted me in South SLC. I met them at Pocatello Pride just before they moved to the SLC area!

One of many mines or land removal areas in the SLC area. Do the powers that be here want to see the destruction of the world happen real soon?

Lon Breeden of American Fork, UT walked with me for a couple hours as we made our way to his home where I rested for a couple days.

Ed Coleman of Orem, UT walking with me for two days. Ed had gastric bypass surgery in 2009, and is now an avid runner and triathlete.

In American Fork, UT I was hosted by some of Ed's friends and their family. L-R - Me, David Chapin, David's husband, Lon Breeden, Ed Coleman, David and Lon's son, Joe Breeden.

Ed pushing the cart on a beautiful day!

OMG! Do you see that! TREES!!!! This is the first forest I've seen since the mountains in Oregon. This is in the Provo Canyon area.

Ed helped spruce up Equality Cart by buying new tubs. The old ones had melted and reformed way too many times in the desert heat - they were warped like crazy.

Ed in front of the beautiful scenery.

Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon. The falls told me they support marriage equality for TBGL people!

More Utah mountains.

Ed and I walking after dark.

Ed pushing the cart through a mountain tunnel.

East side of Mount Timpanogos. Late in the season, there is still snow at the top.

I've decided I'm like the walking version of the honey badger. I just walk, where I want. Here I am thinking I'm taking a short-cut past Wallsburg, UT to get over the Wassach Mountains. Take a look at the sign behind me. The Alan Bounville doesn't give a shit. He jusssst walkssss where he wants!

A few miles up the mountain pass.

A handful of miles from the top. I found out, the dirt road I'm on was washed out from this year's snow melt. So, the more I climbed, the more it was like being in a dried up river bed - oh yeah, at, like a 10% grade!

At the top of the mountain pass, I met Jeff, a gay man from Ft Lauderdale, who was visiting his family in Utah. Jeff saw the rainbow sign, asked if I was gay. Of course, I said yes. He then planted a kiss on my lips, Tim Tebow style. Jeff, his brother and their father donated $40 to the walk!

The top of the pass - 8949 ft above sea level - about 900 feet higher than I would have been had I walked Hwy 40 to get over the pass! Oops! But again, like the honey badger, the Alan Bounville walkssss where he wantssss.

Beautiful aspen forest at the top of the mountain pass. Climbing this high was worth it. And great preparation for the Rocky Mountains!

Back on desert roads.

The new tent Lyn and Linda from City of Hope got for me before leaving Salt Lake City. They also got me a 0 degree sleeping bag and a pair of gloves. You are angels!

Tressa Hardings works at a rest stop in Utah where a man committed suicide. She witnessed his death. While there I did a vigil for him. The video will be up soon.

The first oil pump I've seen on the walk. A sad sight indeed. When will we realize we must force our government to create an renewable energy movement for the future?

Goodnight world.

A reservoir in Utah.

Welcome to Roosevelt, UT.

Desert scenery.

Ed Colman drove to Vernal, UT and joined me for a visit while I rested for a couple days.

Ed and I went to Dinosaur National Park. Here is a petroglyph we saw. Many of these have been defaced by more modern people, or have worn off due to sunlight, wind and precipitation.

A dinosaur fossil in the rocks! Like I've said before (and like Ryan Skipper said) rocks are cool!

The folks at this restaurant saw me walking by and had me come in for a free meal.

WELCOME TO COLORADO!! This photo was taken in Dinosaur, CO, appx. 3 miles into the state.

Northwestern Colorado is a series of big hills. But, you don't really climb much. So, it was VERY annoying to go up and down without feeling like I was getting any higher.

In the only business in Massadona, CO, the bar and grill, the owners put an Into the Light Walk card on the wall.

Showing that I'm not alone with the idea of walking for a cause, in the same small bar and grill, on the wall there were others long-distance walkers who left their mark.

Another person who stopped by the bar and grill was biking backwards across the country!

The outside of the Massadona Tavern.

Another gorgeous sunset to remind me of the beauty of our world.

A moment of joy.

Trying to capture the golden sky.

Anupam from San Francisco and a companion stopped and gave me snacks while walking down Hwy 40.

Getting caught up in their moment of kindness, I forgot Anupam's companion's name! If you're out there, please let me know your name so I can make the correction to this photo caption.

Made it to Craig, CO. Yay! Getting close to the Rocky Mountains!

Fall is in the air.

Trees changing color.

In the small town just west of Steamboat Springs, I saw this cute cafe. Well, I thought it was a cafe. I went inside and realized, it wasn't a cafe. It was a medicinal marijuana clinic. I didn't get a full stomach here. But I got a good laugh at myself!

The shoes Ed Coleman got me in Vernal bit the dust! By the way, Ed has been an amazing supporter of the walk. He got me most of my winter clothes so I don't freeze out here.

I LOVE FALL! This was taken on a bike path in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Climbing Rabbit Ear Pass after leaving the home of Ray Wright and Sheila Martin Wright. They were great hosts!

After about an hour trudging up the pass with my head down, so I can't see how steep things are, I look up and see the most amazing sunset of my life.

It was as if gold was dripping onto the mountains.

Then I turned around and saw the sun blazing through the trees. I was speechless.

And as I rose up the pass just a bit more, I saw Carla and Phil. They were driving down the mountain and stopped at a pull off area to watch the glorious sun set. It turns out, Phil ran across the country (www.runphilrun.com) for The Mario Lemieux Foundation. How crazy was it to meet him while I'm climbing over the Rocky Mountains!

Martin was kind enough to pick me up from the walk route and bring me back to he and his girlfriend, Lacey's home for the evening, before returning me to the spot the next day where Martin picked me up from.

The Flat Top mountains. So wild!

I made it to the top of Rabbit Ear Pass! This is the first of three times I will cross the Continental Divide.

I believe the mountains in the distance are the front range mountains.

The second crossing of the Continental Divide.

Near the headwaters of the Colorado River.

Crossing the Colorado River.

More mountains.

Frost in the morning on the outside of the tent. This was the night my drinking water in the tent froze. It was a miserable night's sleep.

The closer I got to the front range, the more I was in awe by the majesty of this part of the country.

Beauty at its best.

Something about this photo reminds me of half of the men I've dated in my life.

Ahhhhhh. If only I could just stop walking right here.

This is outside of the Keystone area. Here comes the biggest mountain pass of them all!

As I begin to climb Loveland Pass, I see this sign. Have I mentioned yet how lucky I am to have made it here JUST before the big snow falls start?

Two-thirds the way up the pass is this ski area, that just so happened to open the day or two before I was here.

The climb continues. When will it end!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!

At the top of Loveland Pass - 11,990'. This is the highest point above sea level I will be on this walk.

There is feeling, like a murmur inside the soul, that I have felt a few times doing this work. This was one of those moments. It’s as if the soul is taking time and stretching it out to make sure I remember the energy I’m living in right then and there. The universe is saying, “Shh. Just be here. Just know something monumental is happening in this instant.” I experienced this last year, after being released from jail for co-organizing a mass die-in in Grand Central Station in NYC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDxSEpSrz8k).
These are not moments I can plan. And that’s what makes them so special.
Whereas I have had a broken sprit many times. Whereas I have been so depressed I questioned living all together. Whereas I mourn for all of us who have been hated, misunderstood or oppressed because of how we look or who we love.
I declare this moment in my life the very moment I staked my claim on the human dream. I am equal and will demand to be treated as such until the day I die!

Another view from the top of the world!

During the last 1/4 mile or so, David Duncan (right) watched me push up Loveland Pass. He was congratulatory of what I had accomplished. So much so, he invited me to sleep at his home for the evening and bring me back up to the top of the pass the next day. These folks were great! This was one of their poker weekends in the mountains. It was great getting to spend time with them.

Eisenhower Tunnel from above. If I were in a car, I would have passed through it, instead of climbing to nearly 12,000'.

The bike path along I-70 on the other side of Loveland Pass. While walking, I kept bursting into tears thinking about the totality of this walk thus far.

Awesome antique car.

The homes in the towns along I-70 are adorable! This is old mining country.

Railroad bridge over river.

Another adorable house.

Downtown Georgetown, CO, the cutest town I've been in so far! You have to visit here if you ever get the chance!

My host, Stacey, seeing me off. She, her parents and her friends were great to get to meet while I was in Idaho Springs, CO.

Stacey's adorable dog.

A huge quartz rock on a private road. Oh, oops, did I walk on a private road to get where I was going? That's right, because remember, the Alan Bounville walksssss where he wantssss. Well, the choices were I-70 (where walkers are not allowed) or a private dirt road.

Making the final descent into the Denver Metro area.

Yay! I made it to, well, just southwest of Denver proper.

David Andreason from Salt Lake City met me at Morrison - oh yeah, I walked into Morrison on my 35th birthday! Here David and I are visiting the Occupy Denver protestors.

David with Occupy Denver protestors.

Occupy Denver. I love the signs - AND THE MOVEMENT!

More signs.

The movement grows!

WAKE UP AMERICA! The future is in OUR hands!