Colleen Drake

Hiking in the Rain

Clouds come from time to time, and give men a chance to rest from looking at the sun. Henry David Thoreau Readers of my blog will know by now that I grew up in western Washington. That means I grew up under gray skies and frequent rain showers. My family never canceled camping trips becauseContinue reading “Hiking in the Rain”

Some Thoughts on Aching Backs

Give me the courage to stand the pain to get the grace. Flannery O’Connor I sit at my desk this morning with an aching back. It is not unusual for me. It is just a little worse than usual. For that matter, it is not unusual for many adults, more common in tall men andContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Aching Backs”

The Lizard and I

Wherever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars that you see. You are still one with everything. That is more true than I can say, and more true than you can hear. Shunryu Suzuki I write this from the Arizona Desert this week, my laptop balancedContinue reading “The Lizard and I”

Down and Out on the High Sierra Trail

That’s it, I guess. Just go on living, whether you feel like or not. Anton Chekhov I lived in Wyoming for many years, where my home sat on the edge of the Bighorn Mountains, looking east towards those ancient weathered ridge tops. While I lived there, of course, I regular hiked in those mountains, asContinue reading “Down and Out on the High Sierra Trail”

With Friends on the Solitude Trail

Although all have a common destiny each individual also has to work out his personal salvation for himself. . . We can help one another find out the meaning of life. . .But in the last analysis, each is responsible for finding himself. Thomas Merton Regular readers of my blog may be surprised to seeContinue reading “With Friends on the Solitude Trail”

Valley to Summit

I will walk by myself and cure myself in the sunshine and the wind. Charles Reznikoff Any of you who are thru hikers. . .or section hikers. . . or LASH’ers or just about anyone else who has thought about a trail and heard it calling. . .will know what it is like to wakeContinue reading “Valley to Summit”

WEBO, EABO, and Just Hiking

Throw everything away, forget about it all! You are learning too much, trying too hard. . .relax a little bit, give life a chance to flow its own way unassisted by your mind and effort. Stop directing the river’s flow. Mooji It’s official, and if you have been sitting on the edge of your chairContinue reading “WEBO, EABO, and Just Hiking”

Fire Fire Burning Bright

You must have an exalted mind and a burning heart in which, nevertheless, reigns silent stillness. Meister Eckhart Some of my readers will recall a post I wrote a couple of months ago in which I had recently learned of the death of a close friend and had gone for a hike to try toContinue reading “Fire Fire Burning Bright”

Never in September

Through practice I’ve come to see the deepest source of my misery is not wanting things to be the way they are. Not wanting myself to be the way I am. Not wanting the world to be the way it is. Not wanting others to be the way they are. Whenever I’m suffering I findContinue reading “Never in September”

Solitude on the Solitude Trail

At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint, or even remember it. It is enough. Toni Morrison Yes, there really is a Solitude Trail, and it exists in a place outside of imagination and metaphor. It is a sixty mile loop that makes its way around theContinue reading “Solitude on the Solitude Trail”