When I was quite young, decades ago, I was able to visit a very experienced, wise, and aged mountaineer whom I admired greatly... He had journeyed to wild places I had only dreamed about and embarked upon elusive adventures that I could hardly yet envision. In his small, but very comfortable home, he was surrounded by mementos from afar. On one wall in particular, were mounted some stunning pictures of this adventurer, most of summits of immense rock, the deepest snow, and ice so sharp and blue. I would sneak away while others were visiting and spend as much time as I could gazing intently upon these images of adventures on that wall of mementos...I could always also see myself in the reflection of the old glass of these pictures. It was a surreal experience, because besides the adventures being depicted there I could also see my own face smiling back at me... Those moments were to set me upon a path of wild place desires and wonderment that I still follow today.
In later years, after many of our own journeys, I started my own tradition of having large picture copies of adventure experiences made to put up on our den wall. There are dozens of them now, from Outward Bound courses, elusive summits, river rafting, sea kayaking, canoeing, long distance treks, among other so very special wild place journeys... I know they are just simple pictures on a wall, but mementos like this, images so vivid, are so very subtle and powerful at the same time. I often return to our den for quiet moments after busy days and especially during my painting sessions, to listen to selected music, and to relive the moments of what is reflected there on that wall... I really need such reconnection's when these same images in my mind become fuzzy like the dusty frames do, and have faded due to sun and the passage of time...
I was so much younger then in many of these photographs. Yet even now, when I need to fan the embers back into flame to recreate my own motivations, the experience of looking upon that wall and reliving memories, assists me greatly.
Recently we had company over; some close family and friends. Later in the evening I noticed one of the much younger guests wander into the den. A bit later I strolled over to look and see what might be holding his interest. It wasn't my old wood ice axe, or any of the many stones laying about, nor any of the many adventure titles of books or other wild place mementos on those shelves... Instead he was gazing up at those many framed pictures, much as I done so very long ago... I didn't want to disturb his moments, and knew I would ask later anyway, so I left him there to wonder and ponder...
While they are just pictures on a wall, I am sure the young ones can see, can envision themselves in the reflections there... and the special cycles of inspiration may just begin again...
DSD
"We cannot control the wind but we can adjust our sails." Anon
Whatever that wild place goal... However you define that adventure project out there... That 'summit' is quietly awaiting you. 
When I was quite young, decades ago, I was able to visit a very experienced, wise, and aged mountaineer whom I admired greatly... He had journeyed to wild places I had only dreamed about and embarked upon elusive adventures that I could hardly yet envision. In his small, but very comfortable home, he was surrounded by mementos from afar. On one wall in particular, were mounted some stunning pictures of this adventurer, most of summits of immense rock, the deepest snow, and ice so sharp and blue. I would sneak away while others were visiting and spend as much time as I could gazing intently upon these images of adventures on that wall of mementos...
