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"So if you cannot understand that there is something in us which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go...". G. Mallory
Dedicated this adventure season to all our Friends who understand this 'something within us', and who are Adventuring For Another Reason ..... DSD
There is a person I hope to see out there often, hiking on a trail of dreams to a very distant valley.
There is someone I feel we know quite well, out upon those ocean waters, among those so secluded islands.
There is a wanderer we each sense out beyond too, wondering at the beauty & mystery of both sunrise and sunset.
There is also a familiar individual rappelling, deep into those canyons, just out there a little ahead of us.
There is a climbing partner of ours, who waves once again at us, from those heights of rock and spirt and thought.
That person, that paddler, this climber, and hiker, is the real adventurer within each of us my Dear Friends.
There is an Adventurer inside each of us here, waiting to journey out there, so we can meet with each other again, and share so much more with ourselves in all of these wild ways..... DSD
"Be like the explorers of old... Never stop learning, never stop exploring, never stop going on adventures."
D. Ming-Dao
So never shall we..... DSD
It is one of those distinct truths, we adventurers come to know so well, within our awareness of time, and especially of moments out there.The real truth of it is, very much written in stone it would seem, that the time will pass anyway, regardless of how we plan or wander.A truth we learn to hopefully embrace, not in any way of sadness or loss, for this potent awareness is so valuable, when understanding the depths of moments we each are gifted.Time will indeed most certainly pass, no matter if we are aware, or do not choose to participate, as it is our time, and our own choice, to blend with this as we will.When looking ahead over decisions and directions, then when gazing back upon memories and wonders, all the while accepting the elemental adventurous nature - of time..... DSD
A small book, a great mountain, slowly unfolding sunrise, then a powerful storm.
Endless unique rock, many little stones, very strong winds, then some gentle rain.
An old book passed forward, now read upon a mountain seemingly on fire, gifting images of spirit, and lingering alpenglow.
A very old weathered tome, with an aged character and cover of leather, discovering the experience of losing oneself in its musings, now finding even more to ponder , then to write about too...
A small book, a great mountain, a brilliant sunset, and then such calm.
All reflecting the spirit of our adventures, and now of such lasting precious memories as well..... DSD
Dedicated this adventure day to all of you hardy spirits who are 'Adventuring For Another Reason' .
“Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human..."
Viktor Frankl
This, my Friends, is what we as adventurers do each and every step on our journeys...
DSD
Having mused these many years here, there are times when I've included phrases a number of occasions over. One in particular many of you have commented about echoes with the words, and the metaphors reflecting: "Further, farther, onward, upward, and inward as well".
I describe such phrases as echoes, as they are not really mine, but potent words, within powerful memories from out on Outward Bound courses. Every time, each moment, one of our Leaders shared such an encouragement, it resonated and resounded greatly with all of us. They often only used a few simple words, then began inviting and allowing for us to find our own meanings for them amidst our experiences out there.
"A little longer", they would say, "A bit further", they said, and then too, "A touch farther", "Onwards", and "Upwards".
Then so quietly, "Inwards" too, they would gently invite us to gaze.
The passing forward of such echoes, are gifts given many, many, times over..... DSD
There are
always subtle choices to be made when adventuring out there... In the ways and means we each choose for our own paths. Especially knowing all the while we will need to forsake soreness.
We press past our perceived physical limitations so many times.
When mountaineering, hiking, and paddling, we deny the discomforts and refuse to give in to whatever pain is often present.
Being tired and sore is a price of admission we have each committed to pay, as we break away from whatever soreness used to mean to us. When preparing and training, we already know that it not just about pain & gain, but respectfully, purposefully, guiding ourselves past those prior points of reference.
As many have mused before, and as I have always held closely to, we would rather be worn out than not have gone, and soreness simply tells us we are chipping away at the rust of it all...
While forsaking such soreness, we do not withdraw our enthusiasm, nor renounce our intentions - we simply refuse to allow such fatigue and physical discomfort to make us abandon our chosen adventure objectives. We will not desert our goals for wandering out there.
We have broken away from more commonly held notions, because we know in our hearts that the toll & price of the pain of regret is much higher than the costs of our efforts. For if we relinquish what is truly important to us, if we give up on what is distinctly meaningful for each of us - then we have forsaken so much more than soreness..... DSD
Dedicated to all those who keep going, putting one foot in front of the other...
Countless dreams, endless visions, like eternally polished stones,As we so journey, very far away, we then discover home...Hand worn wooden staff and paddle,Ancient trails of rock and water,Along paths of such immense beauty, enduring memories then to share...Elusive summits, among open valleys,Overlooking deep canyons, at first so very hidden,Islands of wonder, wild rivers and oceans,Seeking the whole mystery, becoming even quieter still...We are able to discover, so much eternal wonder,While musing and pondering, lingering and wandering,Seeing with new eyes, within our many adventurous ways...Finding such connections, along our shared paths,As we so long journey,We will surely then discover home..... DSD Dedicated this season to all you Fellow Wanderers, who are out still 'Adventuring For Another Reason'.
“Make this tale live for us in all its many bearings, O Muse...". Homer's Odyssey
We all have blue mountains within our dreams, and distant endearing islands too,
Hidden wild places we very much hope to see, with so many possibilities awaiting there...
We all have blue high mountains within our dreams, and hidden islands too,
Elusive experiences we simply call adventures, our personal journeys of effort, mind, and spirit...
We all have blue stormy mountains within our dreams, and misty islands too,
Such ephemeral memories that are yet to be, true paths and trails we are each destined to share...
We all have countless blue mountains within our dreams, and endless islands too,
Always echoing from our ancient selves, while we forever seek such horizons to this very day... DSD
