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So many wonderous shadows, even more subtle stories,
Tales of bold adventures, such efforts, and dreams...
Shadows of long journeys, high upon bare rock faces,
Dark images of knife ridges, exposed cliffs and high clouds,
Then there are those other shadows, of the whole mountain itself...
Now comes a simple calm slowing, therein an even quieter recognition,
Of the questing shadows of us wanderers, now a part of such elusive mountains...
So many wonderous shadows, now even more shared stories,
Such tales of bold memories, from our efforts, and dreams..... DSD
Dedicated as we head out this morning to the long shadows reflecting your efforts and commitments my Friends...
Just a little musing to ponder this adventure day...
Let's just imagine for a moment, about the potential of what could be.
For if we can do THIS, then what else can we do...
Let's just envision for a moment, about the possibilities about who we each want to be.
For if we can do THIS, then what else can we be...
Even if it is for Just One Thing.
Or maybe for Another Reason.
If we can do such things, then....... DSD
Oh, as we all know, it is indeed one of the prices for admission out there. For being way beyond our usual comfort zones means that we will often be pressed, cold, on edge, and always it seems - especially tired. We intentionally exhaust ourselves on those adventure races, put it all so far out there during very long climbs, and thus fatigue ourselves physically, emotionally, and even in spirit at times. But we also have surely sensed, then learn to know so well, as our many adventure seasons pass, that there is a depth, even a sagacity to be embraced if you will, within those experiences of tiredness...
It's not really about being sleepy, nor even about being weary and having had enough of something, and certainly not about the wild places themselves ever being tiresome. For we choose to gladly pay such prices of admission as we want things to be harder, to be challenging, to be happily tiring, for the real potential fun of it all.
Adventurers are tireless in their seeking and questing within those endless depths. For in those deep places far within we know too that other elements reside. In the supposed darkness of that internal abyss, among the innermost parts of ourselves, rests many mysterious regions of emotion & endurance, beliefs & persistence, awareness & abilities all about keeping going. In the depths of apparent tiredness resides untapped measures of wisdom for ways unyielding, means that we tap into to keep on, and then also to return yet once more on our journey farther, higher, and further within too.
Now these are all paths we will never grow weary of..... DSD
Dedicated this rest day to all our fellow wanderers who are on their way, part way, half way done, or nearing the end of their journeys of Adventuring For Another Reason.
There is indeed something shiny up there I thought, as I paused briefly for some water and snacks, halfway up this long mountainside. Something very shiny...
I had caught an initial glimpse of this reflected or projected light just a few hours after beginning this scramble route. Interesting as it was, I needed to focus more on the rock and scree slope right in front of me. But I did keep looking up though.
What could that be, I later wondered yet again - a bright shiny bit of something, a reflection maybe, or the sun glancing off a camera lens. Possibly even from another scramblers sunglasses. Or maybe someone who enjoys taking compass bearings from up there as they orient themselves, and establish what the many surrounding summits are. It could be the shine off the mirror of their compass.
It sure is shiny, I remember saying to myself a number of times, as I began to pay more attention to this puzzling yet beckoning beacon of something. The nearer up there I got to the ridgeline which led directly to the summit, the more curious I became, and the more this shiny something was to draw me on and up...
The closer still I went the more too I sensed some kind of movement of this shiny something. Someone must be moving it about as no rock would do that in such a way, and it seemed to be somewhat above the rocks for that matter. That will be nice I thought too, for some company up on the summit can be very welcome and the shared moments quite special. They must have gotten a very early start on the trail towards this scramble as my own alpine starts tend to be long before first light.
Once upon the ridgeline, with the last bit to the summit right before me, I could still see my shiny presence right there. The exposure here became more severe, so I focused in closely, and yet my mind wandered some to reflections of other shiny sightings too. I remembered past experiences of such summit surprises, glimpses of things I wasn't expecting, the glint off items that were to become treasured memories, and even the sun playing tricks with me and upon my sunglasses the way it does at times.
Finally, and as some summits do, that last bit of rock was right before me, and I could now stand safely and look all around. What should have been there too - was another climber, or some other kinds of things that would be the source of my shiny something. I knew this was a smaller summit up there, the highest on this corner of my map, but other than the rock itself, a small cairn, and the drop off on all other sides, I saw no one else present. Then, when I realized it was to be simply me and this summit, I went on and enjoyed my moments of wonder with those vistas, the musings, the cairn & summit register, and finally placing a few little painted touchstones for those who were next to wander up here. But there was still some time to ponder and wonder, what could it have been beckoning me on throughout my climb, such a shiny something it was. Yet nothing with that kind of reflection was to be found and that I felt only added to its mystery...
Then came the time to descend, and in those moments just before beginning down, which almost always brings both music to mind and a tear to my eye, I thought once more how grateful I am, even with these old legs, that my weathered motivation still gets me to such elusive and beautiful wild places...
A short time later, and as I always do, I paused to look back upon the summit block behind me. There, I caught a glimpse again of this mountain's shiny something, again with some movement up there too. Maybe in my imagination, or possible at another level of perception, it actually looked to be a wave, seemingly a brief wave, of something very bright, from my shiny little mystery, that ephemeral summit presence..... DSD
It's not that there wasn't an objective in mind for this mountain scramble day. It isn't that I hadn't chosen certain goals to attain up there, from gaining that height, traversing those ridges, and making my way through those very challenging rock bands. Yet today, I had also intentionally decided upon a more subtle focus, a quiter way of being, even in the midst of this fully committed climbing adventure. Thus, I also wanted it to be a day of wonder...
For such mindful journeys out there - of the body, mind, and spirit too, open us up to so many other levels of experiences, different epiphanies, surprising, remarkable, even strange and puzzling marvels...
It's not that the objectives weren't important, but it was a matter of putting the goals into perspective: Yes to perform but also to attend; certainly to push yet also to allow. Of course this all would require effort - but of another gentler kind as well...
I believe when we are aware of wandering in this way, we return to our beginnings, to the origins of why we do what we do out there, to those primal elemental sources that called to us in the very first place. It is not that we are ignoring our goals and expectations; rather we are adventuring a bit beyond them...
So, that day I must have gently reminded myself a hundred times (like with the simple returning to the mantra of a meditation): 'I wonder...', 'I wonder...', I said about what was coming next, over what I would really see, then feel, and eventually embrace and remember... I long wondered what the next unfolding step would reveal. Then wondered what wonderous things would show themselves from within that beautiful alpenglow, and from above those engaging cliff bands. I long wondered, and longer wandered, very much beyond those initial objectives, and became further filled with so much more..... DSD
My gratitude for sharing your wandering images my Friends.
All of us who adventure know real persistence when we see it. Every one of us respects the distinct potency of endurance when we feel this.
Some of us though, take these experiences just a little bit farther, and by doing so, invite every one of us on trails of perception that lead all so very much further.
He is a close companion who has wandered as much as I. A friend who has shared in it all out there, even more back here, and in this little Summit Stone endeavour too. His many varied adventure aspirations have a dedication and sincerity to them I so admire. Yet this story is about just one mountain. An elusive summit it is...
Four times he was turned away by lessons needing to be learned, three times by storms striking almost out of nowhere. Three more times the intricate route and the stubborn rock would not agree to go at all. Then this last time, the eleventh time, fittingly in those hours, it all finally unfolded so beautifully for him...
Sometimes it is asked, more times also wondered - who does that; who goes back for such challenges time and time again, after all that has not worked. Who keeps returning after those many previous experiences that were not at all what had been hoped for...
For all of us who adventure as we do, the answers are in the questions themselves...
The responses are reflections of who we each are out there, and also who we envision ourselves to be. His particular persistence, and sustained endurance, over those long eleven times - echoes out as inspiration for all of us who continue to wander the wild places..... DSD
My appreciation for sharing your images as well fellow wanderers.
I glimpsed a mountain in the mist, yet very near an open ocean it was.
Calling out softly to my longings, with those gentle forever words.
Then I truly saw this mountain in that mist, persistent winds and endless waves could I also hear.
They were siren songs needing an answer, that only we who climb could give.
Then upon that elusive mountain in such mist, gazing up so far, now seeing that summit where I have longed to wander, reflecting where we each dream to be...
Time to climb once more..... DSD
"As I was shaping my walking stick to fit my hand, I started thinking that it resembled my life...". Anon
How nice, I thought, here at the trailhead,some past wanderer has left an old hiking staff. It was more of a sturdy branch from a tree, but clearly had been polished from many hands using it and also was quite worn on the end which met the trail. I had not brought my own hiking poles this day as my intention was only to find a series of hidden waterfalls and not head up any mountain side. These were waterfalls that would be in full glory and force this past early spring, with the extra snow pack up high and the recent now warmer temperatures.
I have always liked hiking staffs and the usefulness of one is so often appreciated by us when out there. So this old staff which had been simply waiting there, was now to accompany me for this adventure day. It later shared a few stories from what seemed like small carvings upon it. It would also be so helpful when crossing the wet rock near those waterfalls. Handy too as I poked among the stones there for those special few who might become inspiration and a medium for me. I hope it felt welcomed, as I was certainly now grateful for its company, and when I returned it later as the sun was setting, a bit more happily worn it was. I smiled at it once it was placed back in its resting place at the trailhead, now patiently awaiting another companion, when it would then share in that next wonderful adventure..... DSD
My thanks for your image, as hiking staffs do very much take us in many directions. And, by the way, Dear Finders, have you ever wondered why so many artists carve faces in their hiking staff...
Far out upon the open ocean once more, out in my sea kayak with friends yet again, noticing the setting sun's light shining through the waves - discovering rainbows in the water then dripping from my paddle...
Long minutes become enduring memories, precious moments of time, then so very cherished, quiet reflections of these endless wonders, we are all so gifted to experience...
Quietly, gratefully also remembering, such rainbows too from forever flowing waterfalls, those colors as well amidst falling rain and rising mists, after powerful storms have quieted, and double rainbows that always carry such ancient meanings...
Then, when out upon the open ocean, once more drifting slowly with the currents, the blending of experiences and emotions all unfolding, simply pondering little rainbows off my paddle..... DSD
Dedicated this adventure day to all our Friends who are starting their summer season of Adventuring For Another Reason . May the winds be at your back, the sun over your shoulder, the rainbows showing their smiles, and the whispers of those moments be forever heard...
My appreciation too for sharing your rainbow moments with us my Friends.
"When I was young, very young, I remember reading a book, sadly now lost, that told the story of a rather strange old man who lived at the top of a particularly high mountain. This man knew all the answers to all the questions; all you had to do was climb the mountain and ask him. I always wanted to find the old man before I grew too old myself and ask him my own questions...". N. Shulman
I've always so appreciated this quote. It reflects a wonderful exercise we did on Outward Bound so long ago. Nowadays as well, I often ponder who will I meet up upon my next mountain quest. What kind of Elder will be up high, patiently waiting for us to pose those quiet meaningful questions we all have inside...
On Outward Bound, we talked about the very ancient story of the 'Old Man Of The Mountain'. Then we were to envision a mountain of our own choice, a summit challenging yet engaging, a place of rock and stone, even ice and snow if we wanted, yet a contented wild place to be in. Then we were asked to imagine, because such rarified air and endless vistas allows this - our meeting an ancient welcoming Elder up there. This person would eventually answer for us all the questions we were eager to ask, but first, in turn, this sage asked something of us...
We were to picture ourselves aging as well, see ourselves - a few, then five, fifteen, even twenty five or more years out ahead. We were to long pause at each of these waypoints of time and life, and gently ask of ourselves:
What are we doing with our time... Where are we at in our lives...
Who is sharing this with us... What has been moving and motivating us...
Are we happy... Are we enjoying meaningful experiences...
After then, this friendly knowing Mountain Elder would answer any of our other questions - but now, as this Elder knew all along, many of the answers, those realizations and new perceptions, were already dawning upon us...
Now this ancient one would invite us to let those growing messages, those soft echoes, all truly be heard - for they came from the Elder within ourselves, up upon our chosen mountain, and were very much meant for our younger self. For all those things our 'Elder within' could envision unfolding over all those years, that were meaningful and meant to be - are available to us still in the beginnings before us right now. Such possibility, energy, and potential we all still have..... DSD
It is a subtly interesting thing that we creatures who breath often do. Have you ever watched a companion animal as they settle down to rest, and then when they breath in with that slow sigh. Such contentment there is on their little faces within that moment...
We adventurer's do this as well, many, many, times. When we sigh we usually pause too and become centered for a time, with a real sense of 'something' else being present...
Today, before I head out, I am remembering an experience of a sigh like this. A huge, deep sigh it was, reflecting meanings that still touch my heart... It was a fulfilling breath that marked an enduring moment I will always cherish so very much. It was in those moments when finally then resting, upon a very elusive mountain summit. A place distant in terrain and perception for me as well. Where the weight of the world semmed lifted from our shoulders for a time. Funny how that always seems to happen in the thinner air up there... Especially for those of us who embrace not only adventures, but those other challenges within our health as well.
A great, huge, so deep sigh we experience - simply so appreciative and so grateful, just to be out adventuring in the wild places once more..... DSD
A dedication this Canada Day to all those fellow wanderers who are 'Adventuring For Another Reason' and who then share such efforts and sigh's with us all. May you all breath very deeply this day...
My appreciation too Friends for sharing your images here.
