Grady, who lived briefly in Buena Vista , stopped by the Salida center unannounced and offered to allow the center to use his walk as a fund-raiser.

The 49-year-old man – who said home is where he is sitting at the moment – made the three-month journey two years ago for the first time.

Walking alone with a 10-pound backpack, Grady will make his way through mountain and desert wilderness areas, stopping in small towns every week or so to pick up food packages.

Randy DeTurk, president of Salida Pregnancy Center , will mail the food to designated areas two weeks before pick-up.

Excepting days he stops in a town to resupply, Grady will sleep under a tarp tent weighing less than two pounds.

In town, he will stay at a motel and enjoy a hot shower, hot meal and a soft bed.

A typical day means getting up between 4-4:30 a.m. and hiking as far as 50 miles. Although he likes to stop about 7:30 p.m., Grady has, on occasion, continued hiking until 10 p.m.

Other than random hikers he passes along the trail, Grady's primary company will be whatever wildlife he encounters.

“Spending time on the trail makes you appreciate the many small things people take for granted every day.

“I enjoy the solitude of hiking alone. It gives me time for inner research, to figure out why I'm here, and it brings me closer to the creator of the universe,” Grady said.

It was during his first long-distance hike Grady had an epiphany of sorts – he realized he was on earth to serve the creator, he said.

“My hikes are a spiritual event. By spending so much time away from others, I've had time to figure out what really matters in life.

“I think so much of what we live is a fairy tale. Solitude and the physical demands of the hike have made me seek out things of enduring value. “Pushing myself has also raised the bar on everyday living.

“I've learned I can tolerate much more than I thought I could,” the Illinois native said.

Dubbed, “Uncle Green Bean” by fellow hikers a year ago because he wears all green when hiking to honor his Irish heritage and because he is a “6 foot-4 inch beanpole,” Grady said he enjoys his trail nickname.

“(Long-distance) hikers are a funny bunch of people. Trips of 3,000 miles aren't for everyone, so you tend to see the same people on the trails from year to year.

“It's nice to hook up with someone for a day and to have company, but everyone has their own rhythm on the trail and we seem to know when it's time to go our separate ways,” he said.

When not contemplating the meaning of life, Grady sings and talks to himself, not only to pass the time, but to scare away bears.

Once in 1995, on the Pacific Coast Trail, Grady came between a mother bear and her cub.

Although he escaped unharmed, the encounter left its mark.

“Most of the time, the bears don't want to see you any more than you want to see them. The trick is to make lots of noise, especially in thick undergrowth, so they know you are coming.”

Bear encounters aside, Grady said he is anxious to begin his trip. He expects to pass near Salida, at Fooses Creek, sometime in mid-September.

In Colorado , Grady will stop at Steamboat Springs, Grand Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park , Silverthorne, Copper Mountain , Twin Lakes , Fooses Creek, Creede and Pagosa Springs for food pick-ups.

Cheryl Walker, director of Salida Pregnancy Center , plans a barbecue “meet and greet” party for Grady when he arrives.

His progress during the hike – and photographs – can be monitored at www.walkingthedivideforlife.com . On the site, there will be a link to connect users with a pregnancy center in their area and a place to make donations to the Salida Pregnancy Center building fund.

“Our mission is twofold,” Walker said. “First, we want to raise awareness about the value of life and what pregnancy centers have to offer.

“Second, we need to raise money to purchase a building of our own. The Salida Center operates on a budget of $28,000 and about a quarter of that goes for rent.

“We've outgrown the building we are in. For the last few years, with the help of local churches and fund-raisers, we've been able to pay our rent with no problems.

“Our funds are pretty good and if we can find a larger building with a similar mortgage payment, we should be able to swing this,” Walker added.

Not only is the center seeking monetary donations, volunteers to help staff the center are needed.

For more information about the center or the hike, log onto their website.

Used with permission from the Mountain Mail, Salida, Colorado.,