“Want Her to See as Much as She Can”: Daughter Encourages Blind Mom to Experience 75 Minnesota State Park Hikes With Eyes Shut and Spirits High

The mother-daughter duo from Minnesota embarked on an extraordinary adventure navigating through the unseen landscapes of 75 Minnesota state parks. However, this mother-daughter adventure has not been as smooth as it seems, since the mother, Candie Woods is on the brink of vision loss.

Transcending the physical limitations, her daughter, Katie Woods redefined the boundaries of exploration proving that the beauty of life is more than seeing what is supposed to be felt. The spirited mother and the enthusiastic daughter hankered on the indomitable spirit that propelled them forward.  

Hiking saga of mother-daughter duo navigating through unseen terrain

The hiking expedition of the mother and daughter expanded over the vast landscapes of Canada to the historical allure of Croatia. It was in 2017, the Woods duo set out on their hiking journey accompanied by their two loyal dogs. Initially they hiked across every state park in Minnesota that ranged between one to six miles.

 

However, these hikes had its own challenges since Candie could no longer visually navigate. As a result of this, Katie shared her wish in an interview with Action News 5, “Because she is losing her vision, I want her to see as much as she can see”.  

Driven by the desire to seize every moment, even though the mother failed to experience the hiking journey with her eyes, the daughter ensured the adventure filled their hearts. It was in the sounds and stories that surrounded Candie during her hikes that found her solace in. 

A journey towards enjoying a life beyond sight

Travelling with her mother Katie could comprehend the challenges her mother faced during the hike with her limited vision. There were instances when being unaware of the topography, Candie failed to make a stop and found herself standing near the cliffs of an unknown depth.

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She shared how her experience has been different to that of others, “Being in the outdoors, being in different places, hearing about what everybody else is seeing, you stand there and can’t see it, but you’re listening to everybody else talk about the beautiful stuff.”

However, with the help of her daughter, Candie has defied all societal perceptions that went hand in hand with hiking and disability. On the sixth year, the Woods duo have completed hiking to the final park covering a total of 200 miles. Relying on communication, trust and with a profound sense of resilience shared the tales of their remarkable journey overcoming every step. 

After completing the hiking journey to all 75 state parks in Minnesota, mother Candie Woods and daughter Katie Woods proved that the most profound beauty lies in the unseen and the unfelt. With their accomplishment, the Woods left behind a trail of inspiration reconsidering the true essence of life overcoming odds. 

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