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Hi, I'm Willow Belden and you're listening to Out There, the podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors.

As more people are getting vaccinated and the world is slowly opening up again, many of us are

reflecting on the isolation we've experienced this past year. I know I am. The pandemic cut me off from

normal human interaction, and especially in the early days, that brought a level of isolation

that I had never experienced. It's a relief to know that I'll be able to start getting back to normal this year, or at least whatever the new normal looks like.

But not everyone can escape their aloneness.

On this episode, we're going to hear the story of one woman who has been dealing with deep isolation for decades.

Isolation is not what defines her by any means, but it is an ongoing reality for her.

And it's something she will continue to experience, even after much of the world returns to a new normal.

Stephanie Maltrich has the story.

I met Luann Burke nearly six years ago on a backpacking trip for visually impaired women.

The trip was dreamy.

We spent five days in the desert near the Colorado-Utah border.

I was one of Luann's hiking guides during the trip.

...