"Desert Spirit....."

"Rivers... are greater than their grandest canyons and biggest drops... for nearly all there is something more, something ineffable yet deeply satisfying, as we join with the ancient currents and flow, for a brief time, between the timeless banks." Bangs & Kallen

Our recent Grand Canyon rafting and Black Canyon kayaking adventures reminded me of this favorite quote and the nature of 'desert spirit', as in the energy, enthusiasm, fun, and friendliness we often find among fellows out in our wild lands...

The power of this most human element is immeasurable...

Such 'spirit' is most evident when it is a shared adventure experience; one of appreciation for nature's beauty, and a real presence of enjoyment, laughter, and fun...

A fellowship is created when people share enjoyment of experiences like deep canyon moments...

We rafted the Grand Canyon among five Australians, who had so much energy, with such vibrant humour and an appreciation of life's opportunities... They have been friends for a long time and seem so very young at heart... They are indeed spirited souls...

Kayaking in Black Canyon also offered a shared experience with a young couple from Nevada itself, married not yet two years, who at the beginning of their journeys together are already very thoughtful and reflective persons... One surprised the other with this adventure in a way we have over the years as well... They are such friendly and caring spirits...

I remember... the most beautiful Grand Canyon vistas, so very cold waters, endless smiles and laughter, standing under a refreshing canyon waterfall, the most intriguing conversations, a sunrise of gentle colors...

I remember... Black Canyons' hot springs, rain caves, reflections off the waters, quiet moments of drifting, the warmth of the rock, hiking to hidden places, the contentment of the familiar sweep of the paddle, emerald colors...

I remember... the immense depth of each place, the intense colors, especially the reds, the faces within the canyon walls, and the soul of the ancient rock layers themselves...

Kayaking and river rafting for us has always been a means to become part of an elemental medium... There have been many such rivers over the years, all with their own unique liquid expressions... Many done with such spirited groups, others experienced together, or solo...

Adventuring upon a river, now within the depths of deep canyons, adds other memories and meanings for us now too...

Deserts are places of paradox and contrasts... The sky and the waters; bare rock along with the fresh green of new spring plant growth; furnace like temperatures and bone chilling water - to assume these wild lands are barren would be wrong, they are so very full of life...

At times my spirit for adventure wains... Getting out there with adventurous souls, like these Australians and the young couple from Nevada, sparks within me the desire to adventure on...

We so appreciated them all sharing their desert spirit with us... The Australians will surely live and laugh very long lives... The couple will just as surely love and journey far too...

What amazing spirit they all have...

And too, yet again, I gathered small stones, and yet again anonymously placed many more...

I hope they enjoy their Summit Stones & Adventure Muse.....

DSD

"Happy Birthday World Wildlife Fund Canada..."

World Wildlife Fund Canada is today 'Forty Years Young...'

May 16th 2007 marks WWF Canada's four decades of achievements and stewardship for our wild lands and the creatures who live in them...

WWF is celebrating many accomplishments including the protection of wild spaces both at sea and on land. They also advocate for reducing pollution and increasing energy efficiencies.

WWF's efforts in recovering Endangered Species are probably what they are most well known for, particularly in funding over 700 Endangered Species Recovery projects. WWF works tirelessly too, internationally, on initiatives like rainforest protection.

I especially appreciate the adventures of WWF supporters such as the Trans Arctic Canoe expedition that is being undertaken this year which will raise awareness and funds for further WWF efforts.

Their stewardship provides a potent example of what can be attained when we work together towards a shared goal of giving back and passing forward...

That is, indeed, inspiring and worth acknowledging.

Happy Birthday WWF...

DSD

(Images by: Top - WWF Logo; Middle - Hoselton Tigers; Bottom - WWF Forest)

"Another Spirit Within The Experience..."

There are many spirits to be found within our adventure experiences.....

P. Ament offers another perspective on certain 'spirit' created out there, and I think, on the nature of giving back and passing forward... He wrote: "The spirit of the experience is what hangs in delicate balance... Success... might not be judged by whether someone reaches the summit. It should be judged by whether or not the time spent on the mountain upgraded the mountains beauty - rather than degraded it. A mountain's beauty is 'upgraded' by virtue of the spirit that is infused into its slopes by those who pass near it... The word is replenish, to give back. If we hope to draw into our spirits the beauty... we must return to it whatever is, or should be, some of the beauty that hangs from the edges of our souls. The inner feelings and ideas of those who visit the area are what is left there... Sometimes those attitudes and spirits are every bit as much garbage as piles of discarded oxygen bottles... The criteria for success should be measured by whether the experience has been one of integrity, pristine awareness, and love for one another and the mountains...".

I so strongly agree that who we are in these environs and what we do there in our wild lands all either contribute to that natural place... or not... Can we really 'be' out there and have it just remain a neutral experience where our presence is not assumed to have some impact?

I'm not sure...

Just being aware of this opportunity, means we are now more respectful of such a musing as Aments'...

We pass forward so much more when our adventure efforts do not impact anything other than ourselves, and possibly those whom we adventure with...

Passing forward here can also mean we preserve for others the opportunity to enjoy the same profound and powerful adventure experiences that we ourselves have so enjoyed.....

DSD

Images by: Top - Wiltsie; Middle - Moyes; Bottom - 'Climbing' Magazine Cover of Ament.

"A Story Of Two Jonathans....."

I have been just musing these last few days about some first beginnings, and my very first awareness of two Summit Stone 'Finders' out there.....

Quite a bit of coincidence here and much serendipity, as they both happen to be named 'Jonathan', and we all frequent the same adventure wild lands.....

Here is what Jonathan L. wrote back in 2003:

"I was climbing today... and upon my return to the car I found upon my windscreen a wonderful 'summit stone' courtesy of DSD. I found it really cool, touching and uplifting".

Jonathan amazingly happened to get a response from a 'Gary' later on 2003, who wrote:

"I was sea kayaking in the Broken Islands... Among the rocks at one of the beaches our group found two summit stones. My experience was similar to your Jonathan".

A year later, Jonathan M., a 'Finder' of two Summit Stones in Kananaskis Country near Fortress and Rimwall Mountains in 2004 & 2005 wrote:

"Have any of you found a Summit Stone by DSD on your journeys? The stones are small with exquisitely painted mountain scenes on them. They are quite a treat, and the collection of intriguing quotes entitled 'An Adventure Muse' is a priceless gift. I was delighted with this find."

And Jonathan said of the Muse and the experience:

"It is a wonderful compilation of inspiring quotes from various wilderness adventurers and others who possess a deep appreciation of nature."
"It is clear that the entity behind these stones and this publication is a dedicated outdoors person going the extra mile to make the outdoor experience even more special for people like me."

"It truly is an uplifting experience to find one of the gifts and to consider the great expenditure of time, talent, and energy that DSD has made in this unique endeavor."

"I am not so interested in discovering the identity of DSD as I am in sharing the stories of the discovery of these little but powerful gifts."

These comments were made very early on in the first years of this Summit Stone journey...

A friend had told me about them. I had little computer and Internet experience back then and was taken by the amazing connections to be made upon this medium...

I myself was so very touched by the two Jonathans' musings, especially considering at that time I had believed my anonymous efforts would never really result in such a connection with 'Finders'...

I am also very humbled by their appreciations... And to see that this gesture has put a smile on a few faces out there, and encouraged further appreciation of our wild places, makes every effort worth every moment...

My partner and the same friend encouraged me to acknowledge the two Jonathans' as two of the very first 'Finders' from those early years and as the original persons to share thoughts about their Summit Stone experiences... Posting about them and what they wrote is just my simple way of saying thank you.....

DSD

(Pictures from Jonathan M. at Clubtread)