Moments of Wonder
My three-year-old Bernie Doodle, Bruno, has a morning routine that is the same everyday. I get up and let him out to relieve himself, and as soon as he comes back into the house he runs down the hall to the toy basket and begins the thoughtful process of selecting the toy that will be…
Walking Quietly
In old age I shall walk quietly the beautiful trail. Navajo Prayer The photo you see above was taken on my last backpacking trip in August of 2024. It was probably the worst trip I have ever taken. ( See Savoring the Warmth 9/8/24). A couple of hours after I took the picture those beautiful…
Alone but Not Lonely
I started hiking and backpacking alone when I was in my early twenties. I was working my first job as a Registered Nurse, so I had weekdays free when the trails were less crowded. My friends all had “normal” schedules or were having babies. I could either hike alone or not at all. It was…
Meteors and Moonlight
As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can. John Muir My last post (Get Up and…
Get Up and Walk
As many of you may recall if you have been reading my blog for awhile, last spring as soon as the mud had dried up and the road was passable, I spent several months getting my beautiful log home in the Okanogan Highlands ready to sell. As you probably know if you have ever moved.…
More about Enchantment
In the bigger scheme of things the universe is not asking us to do something, the universe is asking us to be something. And that’s a whole different thing. Lucile Clifton I was not surprised when my post about the desecration of the Enchantments last week resulted in many comments and horrific emojis, typically accompanied…
Enchantment Under Pressure
It isn’t enough for your heart to be broken because everybody’s heart is broken now. Allen Ginsberg I like the word enchantment, as I referenced in my last post when describing Enchanted Valley in the Olympics. It is a pretty good bet that the place will be beautiful, and your hike will not be disappointing.…
The Only Lasting Truth
Recently I returned from a short visit to Glacier National Park, which was a chance to visit with old friends as well as to take in the magnificent scenery. It has been a long time since I visited that park, and there were many memories held for me in the peaks and valleys of that…
Moving Mountains
It is Mt. Kilimanjaro, and it is the last photo I took on my recent trip to Africa, taken out the window of our plane as we began our long trip home on the flight from Zanzibar to Nairobi. We never saw this magnificent mountain from the ground, though we were near it much of…
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The Solitude Trail 