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 accompaniedContinue reading “More about Enchantment”
Tag Archives: backpacking
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.Continue reading “Enchantment Under Pressure”
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 thatContinue reading “The Only Lasting Truth”
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 ofContinue reading “Moving Mountains”
Around the Campfire
It is not the length of life but depth of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson It has been a long time since I sat by a warm fire on the trail. The world is simply too warm and campfires too great a risk. Where I live in northeastern Washington, even outdoor barbecues are not allowed typicallyContinue reading “Around the Campfire”
A Song for Africa
If I know a song for Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on its back . . .does Africa have a song for me? Karen Blixen in Out of Africa Two new field guides have recently been added to my bookshelf: The Animals of East Africa and The Birds of EastContinue reading “A Song for Africa”
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
In the midst of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. Albert Camus Like many of you I wrote that essay every year after returning to school in September: How I Spent My Summer Vacation. It was an easy task for me because it was always the same. Of courseContinue reading “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”
This Land is My Land
I usually try to keep politics out of my posts, but a recent decision by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee should send chills into every aching bone of a hiker’s body. The bill forces the sale of more than 250 million acres of public land, including Forest Service and Bureau of Land ManagementContinue reading “This Land is My Land”
Hiking Through the Pain
You must remember that no one lives a life free from pain and suffering. Sophocles Thru hikers and other long distance adventurers all know what it is like to be injured on the trail. In fact, anyone who has carried a pack and set off to explore a mountain trail has experienced discomfort. Even withContinue reading “Hiking Through the Pain”
A Cabin in the Woods
Dwell in peace in the home of your own being. Nanak When I lived in western Washington I used to regularly go on an early season hike, usually April or May, when the high country was still covered in snow, but the beautiful low elevation river valleys of the Olympics offered many miles of solitaryContinue reading “A Cabin in the Woods”
The Solitude Trail 