Often... When painting these small rocks... While listening to the birds or the wind in nearby trees, and sometimes to specifically selected music... I will choose my next stone... Admire it closely, and turn it over as I decide upon its best surface...
They are such an enduring, unique medium for my simple form of Naive art...
As I gaze over the three dimensional surface I can sense its character... The tiny ridges, crystals, and cracks, that form a small world of their own, with all the elements of wild lands themselves... I enjoy them much like the Ancients would a Scholar Rock...
I can, at times, lose myself, in running my fingers along and travelling over a stones' face...
Often... Can I recall too what adventure I was on when this particular rock was gathered up...
My friends chuckle about how my pack or kayak is usually very much heavier coming back than when going out...
Then, as I begin this special process... The same unanswerable question develops as a thought in my mind... "Where will you end up little stone...?" "You have come such a long way", I muse, and are now undergoing a transformation of sorts... Much as I have over these last decades of adventure in the wild places, in slowly gaining an awareness of the importance of giving back...
Although I know I have no control over who will find these, I do wonder about that moment in time, place, and activity... Will they see this as an intrusion in their adventure day... Or will they accept this small gift, and take it away, in the spirit in which it was gathered, painted, mused over, and later placed...
The locations these stones are returned to are usually not as wild as where they were originally found... The vast majority are placed where a human presence has already been long established...
While I understand people will make what they will of them... I hope... As I begin to slowly paint... That the 'Finders' just may reflect for a moment upon this little stones' journey... Why someone would do this... And just maybe they might consider for a moment... What they themselves may choose to give back & pass forward...
Then this little stones' journey really has no end...
DSD
34 comments:
You ended up in Port Angeles, WA, from Dodd Island in Barkley Sound, B.C.
I was out on a 6-day adventure, my first time in the Broken Group, when I said to my friend, "I wonder what I will find on this trip. I always find something when I'm out . . ." Well, the next day I found the Summit Stone and Adventure Muse tucked into the rocks. What a treasure! When lagging a little behind my friends, I remembered the quote from the muse "Being an adventurer is in your state of mind which is not bound by age, performance, or place in the pack." It really kept me going and enjoying my adventure, strenuous as it was. Thank you!
Hello Thistleback,
Thank you for this timely comment to this post about "Where...".
Isn't the Broken Group an amazing place... Dodd Island has been fun to explore over the years too...
It sounds like you had a challenging yet very rewarding adventure! I have as well out there...
DSD
You ended upback home in Calgary. You were on the summit of Mt Niblock.
You must have gone a long way as no rocks like you are around the Rockies.
Now you are all mine.
I have decided to link this post under 'Finders'...
Thistleback's story is such a great one... I remember the enjoyment of the days out there...
Thistleback's experience is a real reflection of my intentions too...
I wanted to be re-minded of this as I painted the last few days; so I kept a copy of this comment in front of me...
DSD
Little Stone:
You ended up, with our hiking group on a five day trip.
You were discovered in the high sierra.
You were found very near a distant summit.
Now you are at home with us in Colorado.
"Little Stone"
You have settled in your new Ontario home.
We discovered you on Silver Peak where you had the highest, best views in Killarnet Park.
I carried you over the La Cloche Trail where the Muse and I became good friends.
Thank you DSD for sharing.
A little stone journey:
From Strathcona to the mainland.
From altitude to sea level.
From a cairn to my den.
From just a rock to a Summit Stone.
Much thanks!
C. McMillan
On the summit of Mt Niblock!
May 24 2008
Red Rocks Las Vegas
Pretty cool! Great view up here!
Deep in my canyon country right at our camp site!!!
Pete
On our coastal hiking trip.
After lots of rain and damp spirits. :(
What a terrific discovery!!
BD
"I saw it at camp in a sunbeam!"
Our group was scrambling on Temple Mountain and just before the first major band of rock we stopped by one of the cairns. Under the top rock of the cairn were two summit stones. We were impressed by your gift DSD. We hope to meet you someday and thank you properly in person!!
In Moab country.
You climb Niblock a lot DSD?!?!
The cairn had two of your stones in it and our group made off with both of them!
We left some chocolate for the next party though!
Thanks much man!
A few ended up in Ontario as well! I help in the sharing of the karma. Did you know that there were once active volcanoes in Ontario? I followed a muse, and left some muses :) Temagami is beautiful this time of year don't you think? Also in a few other quiet places. Life is short.. Go take a hike!
Anonymous
The Fist.
Kananaskis Country Summit.
I ended up being the lucky one to get it!
Pete
Wonderful post and wonderful stones! A friend of mine first mentioned your blog to me earlier this year. I was immediately inspired and in May placed my first stone ... in a spot where it likely would be a long time before someone stumbles across it. More recently this same friend received several of your stones and was generous enough topass one on to me. I believe that the best place for them is a spot out in the wild, in palces that bring us so much joy, but after seeing how elaborate it was, I couldn't part with it just yet. So, I put it into my mini zen garden, which is comprised of stones that I bring back from my adventures. I don't know how to attach a photo to this post, but would be happy to pass one on so you can see where the stone currently is. I'll need to think of a very special summit to take it to and my goal is to do Mount Athabasca in 2 years.
Hi B,
It sounds like we are kindred spirits in how we each appreciate these little cobblestones from our adventures, and in how we then enjoy sharing in the karma of them. Mt Athabasca was one of my first major summits many years ago and is a very special place, for the challenges, the vistas, and the spirits of those who climb there...
Post an email address here for yourself (which I will not publish) so we can catch up. I would enjoy painting a few of these for your future adventure on Athabasca, and if you would like to take some there, especially for your rope team climbing companions.
Happy trails & summits B,
DSD
Out SummitStone is now at home with us after an amazing and challenging canyoneering trip. You must have put it in our packs as we were all getting our equipment, food and water all ready. It was really nice to meet you DSD and thank you very much for your suggestions, the inspiration, and our beautiful SummitStone. What an amazing adventure we all had!
From our desert campsite to our home in Utah. We are very happy to be given this gift We are also very much enjoying your posts!
From Thomas Peak, North Shore Vancouver to my back pocket!!!
After a grueling 20km+ hike it really lifted my spirits!!
Thank you for your 'project' & the beautiful stone.. In a way I would like to leave it for another adventurous soul once I am ready to part with it..
Thank you for your beautiful gift!!!
DOLOMITES 2011.
Thanks DSD.
Dood Island 2004. Gibralter Island 2006. Tiny Group Islands 2007.
We must paddle there as often as you do DSD, and finding these magical stones on three of our five trips was awesome. We enjoy your Adventure Muse very much too. There is a quote on page 54 which we think you included just for us.
We are really happy to have discovered your gifts and your musings. Thank you very much.
My wife and I found the Summit Stone on top of Middle Peak in the Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego County. We have always enjoyed the outdoors, and last February we decided that we wanted to become more healthy, and what better way to do it than by hiking. We started walking every night after work, and then went on some local small hikes. Also in that first month we started on our goal to climb the 100 peaks of San Diego County as described by the Sierra Club. As of yesterday (3 Aug 2012) we have climbed up 19, and that is where we found the stone. As we approached the hikers register, I saw it off by itself in the rocks. There had been a fire in the area, and part of the stone had been scorched and blackened by the flames. But I think that in a way that adds to what the rock is, a reminder that whatever happens, or whatever gets in the way, that we can persevere:( To continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with with little or no indication of success.) I guess we all have our own summits whether its a distant peak, or walking down the street. But sometimes I think that the trip up to the top even though it may be difficult, can be just as great as standing on top and taking in the view. Thank you for this. I would like to send you a picture of the stone as it looks now, and if I can figure out how then I will. This Summit stone is now a touchstone for us. A reminder to always look around and enjoy what we see. Whether its standing on top, or on the way, not just on the peak, but in our lives.
Hi Bob,
Thank you so much for your invitation to send a picture, and also for your thoughts about your hiking and climbing those summits for the two of you. Those are the very kind of reasons I muse the way I do on this blog after wandering out there...
(You can post an email address here as a comment, which I will not publish, so we could catch up that way)
DSD
I found two and will pass forward one.
I climbed a mountain and found a book of wisdom and will give that to another.
What I found was not only a stone.
What you share is more than a gift.
I will climb many more mountains and I hope on one of them, I will meet you at the summit, and tell you what where my Summit Stone has taken me.
Thank you very much DSD for your precious gesture and messages of inspiration.
Martin B.
When I completed my first solo climb in banff I can't describe the joy I felt then on the summit.
I climbed the last part and was full of emotion as I reached out and touched the summit cairn.
I was overwhelmed.
When I completed my first solo climb I did not expect to find what I did in the register.
Your gift of a summitstone has a special place in my memory of my climb.
Thank you D,
J.M.S. 2012
I wonder which summit J.M.S. successful reached solo and found the treasure awaiting there in the register?
J.M.S. I am curious too. :)
Please let us know as your little gift was likely placed up there by a Friend this past season.
Your solo sounds like it was a very meaningful adventure. That is such a gift as well...
DSD
Just saw that someone planted a stone on the Manaslu Circuit at Larkya La, Nepal. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickmccharles/11142863455/in/set-72157638227456873
Cheers.
Thank you very much Derek! That was Rick on one of his amazing adventures. He truly passes forward many smiles in some far and wild places! :)
D
We were on a hike up on Coquihalla Peak, and on the summit, found these summit stones. So happy to have one now. They were an inspiration to the whole group. Thanks!
Hello Awger,
Very happy to hear that you discovered a smile up there, likely passed forward by a friend, Mick, who surely signed the Register before you. Always wonderful to hear these little gestures have found a good home with fellow adventurers!
Laurie Normandeau said, " I love your musings...".
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