"A Summer For Passing Forward..."

I wrote for the last page of the 'Adventure Muse': "Passing things like your experience, a 'Summit Stone', or adventure quotes, forward, is a way of giving back and sharing wisdom, strength, and hope. If you enjoyed your 'Summit Stone' and the Adventure Muse, then pass something along to someone else you see on their own journey"...

A few selected fellow adventurers from out there have taken this to heart... And this I am so grateful for...

There are so many paths to take, rivers and lakes and trails to explore, distant islands and elusive summits to quest for... On occasion I have asked if certain fellow adventurers might be intrigued in becoming part of the karma of this small stone endeavor... And some indeed have...

This is a concept, a sharing theme, that was suggested to me by a close friend; one who lives very much within the wild places...

There are a great many adventures out there, and so many elements of the wild places I will never see, wild lands never to set foot upon; that I still so enjoy imagining and musing over...

I ponder while walking one path how a fellow adventurer is on that very same day, making their way to one of their own elusive summit experiences...

So, my sincere appreciation and thanks to you dear friends, who have shared in this journey, the efforts and messages of giving back and passing forward, the mystery and karma of it all, and especially for the smile of a Finder who discovers a small gift that we all shared in placing together...

DSD

"Lawrence Grassi & The Lake O'Hara Trails Club..."

Here we have... Two unique elements caring for our wild places... linked through time, intentions, and real efforts... An historical man of our mountains and an Organization who continues in the same nature of giving back and passing forward...

Peakfinder.com wrote of Lawrence Grassi (1890-1980) that his: "Love of the mountains is legendary. Grassi visited all areas of the Rockies, making many solo climbs, some of them undoubtedly first ascents that were never recorded. Although he climbed many of the high mountains of the Rockies his favorite was probably the technically demanding Mount Louis, which he climbed thirty-two times. In the summer of 1925 he is said to have completed the first solo ascent of Mount Assiniboine and in 1926, together with another climber, ascended the east face of Cascade Mountain. Although he loved to climb he also loved to build trails in the mountains. An examination of the trails Grassi built, not only in the Canmore area but in other valleys of the Rockies as well, demonstrate his strength. Huge stones were moved single-handedly to construct steps, bridges, or simply to provide stepping stones. He set off into the hills, axe on shoulder, to make trails to points on interest. It was a labour of love. He loved the mountains but enjoyed having others share their beauty. So day by day he pushed through the bush discovering the best ways of approach - blazing a trail, cutting out the underbrush, grubbing out stones and rocks, bridging little mountain streams."

J.S. Woodsworth said of him: "The world needs Grassis'... men who will seek new paths; make the rough places smooth; bridge the chasms... point the way to higher levels and loftier achievements."

Grassi has an Alpine Hut, two beautiful lakes, and a mountain very much worth climbing all named in his honor... And this is the legacy that Grassi gave us, which the Lake O'Hara Trails Club continues to pass forward, season after season, year upon year...

The Lake O'Hara Trails Club is a non-profit group of energetic and enthusiastic volunteers. They were established in 1949 and continue with their efforts and intentions today. Committed to this cause are: "Those individuals who, moved by a deep love for the beauties of the mountain areas of western Canada, volunteered their efforts to create a system of trails in the Lake O'Hara region." These trails are some of the most eco-friendly , ingeniously made among many of the most pristine mountains and lakes of North America...

The Lake O'Hara Trails Club Mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of this vulnerable, beautiful wild place... Their motto is: "Preserve through appreciation"...

Three words that convey intention, commitment, understanding, and sharing at many levels...

Grassi passed his creed forward to the Lake O'Hara Trails Club, and they like many other such dedicated organizations, continue to give back to his memory, while also passing forward to all of us season after season... year upon year...

DSD

Link for the Lake O'Hara Trails Club: http://www.lotc.ca/

Link to Peakfinder.com: http://www.peakfinder.com/

"The Spirit And Need For Adventure..."

"Adventure is a human need. We recognize it as the daring thing which makes us bigger than our usual selves. Adventure is the curiosity of man to see the other side of the mountain, the impulse in him that makes him break his bonds with lesser things and frees him for greater possibilities". W. Burnett

Sometimes... A fellow wild place wanderer is able to capture such spirit of adventure within certain images... Dru accomplishes this in special ways...

DSD

My appreciation to Dru on Flickr for his enspirited photography that blends with Burnett's quote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/druclimb/

"Spirit Island Kayaking..."

With a very early start, we were first upon the waters that day... It was so very calm, yet we were wary as it was to be a long, full kayak day to Spirit Island and return. Maligne Lake is known well for how the wind is caught and funnelled down its long shorelines and narrow waters... Just after first light, bright newly born sunbeams were reaching high as we set out with a strong cadence. The only sound was of water upon paddle; a meditative experience in such calm... Later during a short break we drifted slowly and were amazed at the picture perfect reflections of each of us in the water... 'Which was real'... I wondered... the one above, or the one below these special enspirited waters...

The pebble beaches found here and there had some prior existence of camping. Among these rocks and fire rings I placed a few Summit Stones with a gesture of reverence for these wild place surroundings... Our only fellow adventurers' we later paced and then shared a moment with were canoeists out on a multi-day trip. They were a fun couple, full of energy. We talked about the beautiful terrain, the surrounding mountains, the days to come, our shared cautions over the winds, and then parted ways. I passed them a Summit Stone and said, 'For around the campfire'...

While there were other boats out later in the day, on the tours to this place of spirit, we were gladly on our own when quietly arriving at Spirit Island... It can be a popular place and site to see. Yet our moments there were mostly about reflection, softly spoken words, both collecting and placing a few cobblestones, some journal entries, and gazing... simply gazing upon this tiny enspirited island, among majestic snow capped summits and waters from thousand year old glaciers...

On our return much later in the day, those winds began to make their presence known. We were in single kayaks; which made for hard paddling and a sustained cadence, even drafting each other somewhat. We dug in and just kept going... We tried both sides of the lake for the most sheltered water, but the nature of the long terrain and the persistence of the wind in seeking us out, meant for no breaks at all...

We were rewarded in seeing a huge moose which joined us in the water just before we landed. At the end of this very long paddle, my partner tiredly said that the day felt like a marathon of sorts; but like with that event, while very tiring, they still are such great experiences...

When resting and stretching after on shore, we reflected upon the spirits of the day, Spirit Island itself, in placing a few gifts for Finders out there, and in the stories and memories we found out there.....

DSD