"Desert Spirit....."

"Rivers... are greater than their grandest canyons and biggest drops... for nearly all there is something more, something ineffable yet deeply satisfying, as we join with the ancient currents and flow, for a brief time, between the timeless banks." Bangs & Kallen

Our recent Grand Canyon rafting and Black Canyon kayaking adventures reminded me of this favorite quote and the nature of 'desert spirit', as in the energy, enthusiasm, fun, and friendliness we often find among fellows out in our wild lands...

The power of this most human element is immeasurable...

Such 'spirit' is most evident when it is a shared adventure experience; one of appreciation for nature's beauty, and a real presence of enjoyment, laughter, and fun...

A fellowship is created when people share enjoyment of experiences like deep canyon moments...

We rafted the Grand Canyon among five Australians, who had so much energy, with such vibrant humour and an appreciation of life's opportunities... They have been friends for a long time and seem so very young at heart... They are indeed spirited souls...

Kayaking in Black Canyon also offered a shared experience with a young couple from Nevada itself, married not yet two years, who at the beginning of their journeys together are already very thoughtful and reflective persons... One surprised the other with this adventure in a way we have over the years as well... They are such friendly and caring spirits...

I remember... the most beautiful Grand Canyon vistas, so very cold waters, endless smiles and laughter, standing under a refreshing canyon waterfall, the most intriguing conversations, a sunrise of gentle colors...

I remember... Black Canyons' hot springs, rain caves, reflections off the waters, quiet moments of drifting, the warmth of the rock, hiking to hidden places, the contentment of the familiar sweep of the paddle, emerald colors...

I remember... the immense depth of each place, the intense colors, especially the reds, the faces within the canyon walls, and the soul of the ancient rock layers themselves...

Kayaking and river rafting for us has always been a means to become part of an elemental medium... There have been many such rivers over the years, all with their own unique liquid expressions... Many done with such spirited groups, others experienced together, or solo...

Adventuring upon a river, now within the depths of deep canyons, adds other memories and meanings for us now too...

Deserts are places of paradox and contrasts... The sky and the waters; bare rock along with the fresh green of new spring plant growth; furnace like temperatures and bone chilling water - to assume these wild lands are barren would be wrong, they are so very full of life...

At times my spirit for adventure wains... Getting out there with adventurous souls, like these Australians and the young couple from Nevada, sparks within me the desire to adventure on...

We so appreciated them all sharing their desert spirit with us... The Australians will surely live and laugh very long lives... The couple will just as surely love and journey far too...

What amazing spirit they all have...

And too, yet again, I gathered small stones, and yet again anonymously placed many more...

I hope they enjoy their Summit Stones & Adventure Muse.....

DSD

"Happy Birthday World Wildlife Fund Canada..."

World Wildlife Fund Canada is today 'Forty Years Young...'

May 16th 2007 marks WWF Canada's four decades of achievements and stewardship for our wild lands and the creatures who live in them...

WWF is celebrating many accomplishments including the protection of wild spaces both at sea and on land. They also advocate for reducing pollution and increasing energy efficiencies.

WWF's efforts in recovering Endangered Species are probably what they are most well known for, particularly in funding over 700 Endangered Species Recovery projects. WWF works tirelessly too, internationally, on initiatives like rainforest protection.

I especially appreciate the adventures of WWF supporters such as the Trans Arctic Canoe expedition that is being undertaken this year which will raise awareness and funds for further WWF efforts.

Their stewardship provides a potent example of what can be attained when we work together towards a shared goal of giving back and passing forward...

That is, indeed, inspiring and worth acknowledging.

Happy Birthday WWF...

DSD

(Images by: Top - WWF Logo; Middle - Hoselton Tigers; Bottom - WWF Forest)

"Another Spirit Within The Experience..."

There are many spirits to be found within our adventure experiences.....

P. Ament offers another perspective on certain 'spirit' created out there, and I think, on the nature of giving back and passing forward... He wrote: "The spirit of the experience is what hangs in delicate balance... Success... might not be judged by whether someone reaches the summit. It should be judged by whether or not the time spent on the mountain upgraded the mountains beauty - rather than degraded it. A mountain's beauty is 'upgraded' by virtue of the spirit that is infused into its slopes by those who pass near it... The word is replenish, to give back. If we hope to draw into our spirits the beauty... we must return to it whatever is, or should be, some of the beauty that hangs from the edges of our souls. The inner feelings and ideas of those who visit the area are what is left there... Sometimes those attitudes and spirits are every bit as much garbage as piles of discarded oxygen bottles... The criteria for success should be measured by whether the experience has been one of integrity, pristine awareness, and love for one another and the mountains...".

I so strongly agree that who we are in these environs and what we do there in our wild lands all either contribute to that natural place... or not... Can we really 'be' out there and have it just remain a neutral experience where our presence is not assumed to have some impact?

I'm not sure...

Just being aware of this opportunity, means we are now more respectful of such a musing as Aments'...

We pass forward so much more when our adventure efforts do not impact anything other than ourselves, and possibly those whom we adventure with...

Passing forward here can also mean we preserve for others the opportunity to enjoy the same profound and powerful adventure experiences that we ourselves have so enjoyed.....

DSD

Images by: Top - Wiltsie; Middle - Moyes; Bottom - 'Climbing' Magazine Cover of Ament.

"A Story Of Two Jonathans....."

I have been just musing these last few days about some first beginnings, and my very first awareness of two Summit Stone 'Finders' out there.....

Quite a bit of coincidence here and much serendipity, as they both happen to be named 'Jonathan', and we all frequent the same adventure wild lands.....

Here is what Jonathan L. wrote back in 2003:

"I was climbing today... and upon my return to the car I found upon my windscreen a wonderful 'summit stone' courtesy of DSD. I found it really cool, touching and uplifting".

Jonathan amazingly happened to get a response from a 'Gary' later on 2003, who wrote:

"I was sea kayaking in the Broken Islands... Among the rocks at one of the beaches our group found two summit stones. My experience was similar to your Jonathan".

A year later, Jonathan M., a 'Finder' of two Summit Stones in Kananaskis Country near Fortress and Rimwall Mountains in 2004 & 2005 wrote:

"Have any of you found a Summit Stone by DSD on your journeys? The stones are small with exquisitely painted mountain scenes on them. They are quite a treat, and the collection of intriguing quotes entitled 'An Adventure Muse' is a priceless gift. I was delighted with this find."

And Jonathan said of the Muse and the experience:

"It is a wonderful compilation of inspiring quotes from various wilderness adventurers and others who possess a deep appreciation of nature."
"It is clear that the entity behind these stones and this publication is a dedicated outdoors person going the extra mile to make the outdoor experience even more special for people like me."

"It truly is an uplifting experience to find one of the gifts and to consider the great expenditure of time, talent, and energy that DSD has made in this unique endeavor."

"I am not so interested in discovering the identity of DSD as I am in sharing the stories of the discovery of these little but powerful gifts."

These comments were made very early on in the first years of this Summit Stone journey...

A friend had told me about them. I had little computer and Internet experience back then and was taken by the amazing connections to be made upon this medium...

I myself was so very touched by the two Jonathans' musings, especially considering at that time I had believed my anonymous efforts would never really result in such a connection with 'Finders'...

I am also very humbled by their appreciations... And to see that this gesture has put a smile on a few faces out there, and encouraged further appreciation of our wild places, makes every effort worth every moment...

My partner and the same friend encouraged me to acknowledge the two Jonathans' as two of the very first 'Finders' from those early years and as the original persons to share thoughts about their Summit Stone experiences... Posting about them and what they wrote is just my simple way of saying thank you.....

DSD

(Pictures from Jonathan M. at Clubtread)

"Age Is Relative..."

F. Mitchell wrote: "I believe you don't stop hiking because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hiking."

I'm just musing over these wise words, while pondering the ageless faces in the rock images above, and the flow of the 'Old Man River'...

I remember... the insightful attitude of a seventy plus year old climber who had more spirit than the twenty year old adventure athlete travelling with him...

I remember... a thirty something kayaker with more wisdom and insight than a retired wilderness guide we both know...

I recall too... that age is such a relative thing. As in what Grey Wolf said: "You may be as old as they say, but you are really as young as you do...".

A few climbing seasons ago, I was scrambling with a close friend on Mt. Indefatigable in the Kananaskis region. I was leading and had assumed with our very early start that we were the first on the route that day...

Just below the summit, and on their way down, came two other climbers, much older than I but also clearly descending after being first up... We spoke briefly, and with smiles and that enthusiasm that comes from having just summited, they told me about their last few mountains, their years of retirement, and their plans & adventures to come...

Yet again, just when I needed it, came an experience that gave me pause to muse about my own concerns over the passing years and the impacts this was having on my outdoor endeavors...

They gave me a gift that day; so much more valuable than the little painted stone I put in one of their packs as we were just about to part company...

I am so grateful to have met and shared a few moments with such ageless adventurers...

DSD

"Tom of Two-Heel Drive"

"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Emerson (Do not attempt in short pants. Tom. M.)

And that is how Tom's Blog starts off at Two-Heel Drive, both with a quote that reflects how Tom is one of the very first Hiking Bloggers out there, and with his sense of humour in how he does this.

Tom is a Master Blogger with over 1000 posts, in over ten years of blogging. His adventure focus is hiking, especially California, and he has wandered over many trails from mountains to canyons.

His accomplishments also include a huge variety of posts, extensive links, terrific pictures, and a style that is very inviting for comments. Besides being an active outdoor person who promotes connectedness within the hiking community, Tom is a journalist.

Tom is truly a steward of valuable hiking information and experience. I have enjoyed his great site immensely. His passing forward efforts captures our spirit and enjoyment of these adventures. He also often puts a smile on my face with his humour, such as his goal in life: "Staying above ground". Tom is a fellow adventurer, who I would quite enjoy meeting out on the trail. Have a look at his exceptional blog.

DSD

(All pictures above are from Tom's Blog)

"Tribute To A Rock Carver..."

The whole of Stawamus Chief mountain in BC, Canada, is often described as the figure of an Aboriginal Chief, lying on his back and looking up... An amazing image in old granite rock...

Squamish, where the Chief and other special things may be found, is an adventurers dreamland. The Chief itself is a most pristine mountain with endless climbing opportunities...

On our latest visit up Howe Sound for some hiking and gazing over bouldering problems quite beyond my means, I placed a few Summit Stones & Adventure Muses... We have returned there a few times now to enjoy and ponder over many hiking, climbing, bouldering, mountain biking, and nearby kayaking adventures...

While there, we discovered two new adventure experiences. The first was the wonder of learning about the Peregrine Falcon, which nests high up on the majestic Grand Wall and whom often competes with climbers for safe resting near cracks and ledges. Thankfully, some routes are off limits during the Peregrine's sensitive season. What beautiful creatures they are...

The second new adventure was discovering an amazing figure carved into a huge granite boulder! It can be found by hiking in off Psyche Ledge, the old access road, and going further past the Parks sign and then following the mossy trail to the right, below the Grand Wall area itself... Found upon about a six foot high boulder is a rock carving of at least five feet, etched into the very rock. The left arm of the figure, as shown above, is reaching to the very top of the boulder. I just had to place a Summit Stone at that very spot where the left hand is gripping the upper edge...

We did not see this carving on our other visits here, when wandering through the trees and boulder fields, yet it must have been done some time ago, from the look of the rock and the growth upon it...

I so enjoyed musing over the skill and technique needed, the hours of effort required, the motivation for, the message of, and the gift this will be to those who discover this unique rock image during their own adventures...

I thought to post a tribute here as I do appreciate such anonymous artistic endeavors...

DSD

(This may spark comment on the permanent nature of such art. I do wonder if this made for any controversy when it was completed; as I have many times over my Summit Stone placements - even as my intentions reflect that these are a gift to always be carried away. I sincerely hope so as to not be intrusive in anothers adventure experience.)

"Scholars Rocks....."

"Venerable Eastern esteem for wilderness explains the popularity of 'Scholar's Rocks', single stones which have been carved into intricate, dynamic shapes by the powers of water, wind and frost. The stones - were valued for how they expressed the history and the forces of their making... If you stare at one closely enough, and for long enough, you lose your sense of scale, and the whorls, the caverns, the hills and the valleys which nature has inscribed in them can seem big enough to walk through." R. Macfarlane

Look closely... look closer...

Worlds inscribed within; reflects adventures experienced without...

Simple stone; venerable histories. Only rocks; but amazing images and meanings...

Imagine how these have been crafted so eloquently by natures' hand, and what it meant to discover them...

B. Juyi also wrote, of finding some Scholars Rocks: "Then I turned towards my two rocks asking if they would stay with me when I am old... They could not speak yet seemed to say that they would remain my faithful friends."

Interesting musings over the powers of the elements in shaping rock, stone, and most importantly... our perceptions...

DSD

"Returning To Mt. Niblock....."

Mt. Niblock is located very near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It is the peak on the right in the picture of the double summit above...

J. Waterman wrote: "No climber, active or inactive, young or old, can help but look back to one of their earlier climbs with a sense that they had touched something beautiful and elusive, and found movement upon rock and ice as creation... In these remembrances most climbers find necessary definition for the rest of their lives."

How I've mused over the meanings within this quote when remembering the days of adventure out with Mt. Niblock. Over the years I have gone back three times; two solo trips, and one with family and friends. It re-minds me of the essential concepts of 'returnings'...

Mt. Niblock is 2976 meters or 9764 feet in height, while its sister peak to the left is Mt. Whyte, which is 2990 meters or 9810 feet. Niblock was named after John Niblock, an early traveler in this area.

My first visit was to complete a double solo summit traverse of both, and doing so in one day gave me a real sense of the nature of sustained scrambling. With an alpine start (as if there were any other kind in those early days) meeting nobody on the usually busy path up from Lake Louise, there was cool air and cobwebs letting me know I was first up. The full moon was still out, and I often have thought with such alpine starts, that I must either be some nocturnal creature or a lycanthrope... After much route finding and traversing upon loose rock, the day was to be mine alone on the summits of Mt. Niblock & Whyte, as were many during seasons where I was out solo...

That day too was one that seemed to be of 'Flow' as Csikszentmihalyi has written about, where gravity was working in reverse, and things got lighter and faster the higher I went...

My mantra was one of practicing a Mountain Guide's musing of remembering 'Posture & pace; breathing & rhythm'...

The second return to Mt. Niblock was with family and friends, where I was able to lead, and experience the mountain in yet another way... My third day upon Niblocks' rocky slopes was a further solo, where I returned again, somewhat older, definitely slower... but welcomed back as if by an old friend...

I was also to try a classic technical climbing route on Mt Whyte in later years to gain even other vistas...

I believe we all have our own special mountains and days out upon them... I imagine myself returning to Mt. Niblock once more in future seasons... But if I don't... the memories of these adventure experiences have made impressions upon me as lasting as those made upon rock by the passing of countless seasons...

DSD

"More On Storms....."

Storms.......

G. Gissing said: "For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; any sky has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously."

Even while almost recovered from a winter storm and an injury, I do so love musing on elemental storms... Musings like this are what contribute to whatever soundness of mind and body that we may have...

I remember... Rough seas, big waves, crashing water upon rock... Mountains after a day of rafting, in a small tent, listening to the thunder that sounded so close... The wind on a summit day that had a life of its own... An approaching storm at 10,000 feet near the continental divide... Windstorms through forests...

Then too there have been... 'Storms' of uncompleted objectives; around the intensity of relationships with adventuring partners... Storms can seem to be metaphors for the emotions and energy we experience within our adventures...

Storms arrive in many forms... Sometimes we see them approaching; other times they can be upon us so quickly... Kind of like the nature of many adventures themselves...

Do you see those clouds? Can you hear the thunder? The wind?

DSD

"Mystery Of Canyoneering..."

E. Van Tilburg wrote: "To Canyoneer...is to enter another world...one with cold water, slippery rocks, tight narrows, and tall sheer cliffs. A little Narnia world locked into its own."

Canyons offer opportunities for adventures full of wonder and mystery...

They are simply waiting to be discovered... I dreamed and mused about heading out canyoneering for years... Finally last year we made it to Utah. What an amazing adventure experience it was... After just sitting here, musing over some maps and pictures, I had to post again about these places of mystery...

Canyons themselves have often been described as inverted mountain ranges. I quite like that description. There is intense fun to be enjoyed there involving rappelling, climbing, scrambling, route finding, and endless lowerings...

Then there exists the surprise of discovering water and greenery in the depths of a desert, tracks of unknown creatures, and the simple joy of finding ancient polished rock... And of placing a few stones of my own as well...

Returning there will be special; if not this season, maybe the next... Thoughts like these are what often keeps us going and feeds the flames of enthusiasm...

DSD

"Painting Rocks..."

Rock painting is an ancient practice of placing images upon stone... The strength and durability of the stone was said to add to the power and presence of the paintings...

Aboriginal peoples on many continents have also colored and painted stones as gifts, rocks as markers, and rock walls as a means to record their histories...

At times it was the character of the stone itself that would also influence the eventual image that appeared. The paints themselves were often made of water and clays, berries, selected soils, animal fats, even blood. Some rock was also etched and then painted to enhance the chosen image with more than one dimension...

After collecting these little rocks on many adventures, cleaning and polishing them, musing over the stone, I now splash a bit of paint upon them, and then give them back...

Just my own simple way of passing forward and yet being a tiny part of an ancient past ritual...

DSD

(FlickR Images by: Top - Goblin Valley/Faca; Middle - Superstition Mountains/NatureMandala; Bottom - Brian9000)

"Twenty Years From Now....."

What adventures do you have on your horizon.....?

What hopes and enthusiasms will you create these seasons.....?

The time will pass anyway... So what do you want to do out there; to experience; to share; during these adventure filled days while out in our wild lands.....?

What do you want to try... Which different adventure do you wish to enjoy, even if only once...?

Hope is a process of keeping our adventure dreams alive...

Enthusiasms seem to be about staying connected to what creates fun and challenge for us within our adventure endeavors...

It is, for all of us, very much about small steps, initial goals, short terms plans... Yet the above quote re-minds us of the longer term perspective too...

I get a sense of this when I muse over how it is a wonder to me that I've tried so many different adventures, let alone kept going now for over thirty years...

We do seem to create our own adventure futures by present efforts... As in Blair's image of the "Once & Future Forest" above, what we plant and tend, is what will grow around us...

Such questions and musings may help us clarify and amplify our adventure motivations...

DSD

"Earth Teach Me to Remember....."

Below is a reading from the Ute Peoples of North America, as quoted by P.Novak, that I've mused by this week... When pondering over adventure and life lessons learned and experiences remembered...

It could be said that the Ute Peoples were among the first climbers, canyoneers, and rock artists out in our wild lands...

"Earth teach me to remember...

Earth teach me stillness

as the grasses are stilled by light.

Earth teach me suffering

as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility

as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring

as the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage

as the tree which stands all alone.

Earth teach me limitation

as the ant which crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom

as the eagle which soars in the sky.

Earth teach me resignation

as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me regeneration

as the seed which rises in the spring.

Earth teach me forget myself

as the melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me kindness

as dry fields weep with rain."

Metaphors with such meaning...

Each day a new beginning...

Every day something worth learning...

All adventures within themselves...

DSD

Not So Seriously...

I was musing some about deleting last weeks post... It was a difficult week...

But a friend and mentor reminded me to be more aware of not taking it all so seriously; and where is it written that others are not entitled to their opinions; and also that such comments are actually what I myself invited anyway, and maybe may learn the most from, if I just relax and listen...

It would seem my challenge within this quest is to be passionate without being preoccupied, that this is a climb in itself to consider things important but not overly, that this is an adventure too in believing so much in stewardship without pushing my own attitudes upon others...

I recall the great human Ghandi, who wrote: "Almost everything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it". And also what Bernbaum meant by: "Rather than conquer the mountain, the climber vanquishes himself, much as a hermit or yogi overcomes the enemy of his own pride and arrogance on the way...".

So much more to learn about adventures, giving back, myself, and others...

DSD

(Images by: Top - Brown; Center - Marrott; Bottom - Henry)

"A Somewhat Interesting Oddity..."

In the midst of this down time and injury, I find myself ruminating, pondering and in a mindset recalling I've had more than a few comments like this over the years... They usually speak to another's impressions of these little Summit Stones and assumptions about my intentions in placing them...

So... I find myself today, writing here, as in a journal I guess, and hopefully this will enlighten my day and lift my mood...

As for being 'somewhat interesting'... Well maybe, just maybe, if my efforts have gleaned even a little of your attention, invited a small turn of a smile on your face, some tiny bit of wonder to your adventure day, then its all good... If someone is curious enough to make a comment of this sort, I guess it affirms that people will make what they will of such an experience.

An 'oddity' can be defined as something reflecting a strangeness, an unusual event, something puzzling, also a 'fantastic object', even 'something wonderful'. So I'll consider this a small appreciation of sorts... Being an 'oddity' can also represent something non-conformist. Absolutely! To be any kind of adventurer, is to be an individual. So to be referred to as such, seems to reflect a little of my simple intentions after having placed well over a thousand out there now.

As Lewis wrote: "That's the area in which climbing becomes an art, because it allows for individual expression". This Summit Stone journey has been that and more...

What we 'see' in nature and our adventure experiences, is very often odd and unusual; yet these same things often hold a special interest for us. Efforts, like art, really are reflected in the 'eye of the beholder'...

When I think of the strange rock formations I've seen, the odd knotty krumholtz trees encountered, the results of how wind and waves act upon secluded beaches - I can appreciate such peculiarities... I believe, as Patterson said: "The whole country is filled with adventures... there is also adventure in the visual landscape... There is always something familiar, but if it looks too familiar, you just have to look a little farther for the oddity".

Do I often question my naive artistic abilities, have I at times doubted my intentions, worried that my actions may be intrusive to anothers experience in the wild lands, and have there been challenges within all the time and effort required to undertake this journey... Most certainly!

But what adventure does not hold such challenges...

And in more recent years, I have also had more opportunity to muse as well that while being an oddity, there too have been many acknowledgements on behalf of other 'finders' of these gifts... In how for many, these Summit Stones, and the Adventure Muse they were placed in, have become a touch stone of sorts, even invited a bit of mystery to their day, and for a moment put a small smile upon their face...

Thus being referred to in this way may just grow on me...

DSD

"Waterfalls and Stones..."

A terrific picture posted recently by Tom on Two-Heel Drive, sparked some memories and musings on the wonder of waterfalls for me...

J. George wrote: "To climb a waterfall, go to the foot of the mountains. Look for a cleft in the skyline... toward the mist that hangs over the canyon... the climb becomes steeper, the water wilder... hear the thundering roar? There in the sunlight plunges the waterfall. An artist might be there... He will probably tell you he has been coming back to this spot year after year trying to paint the spirit of the waterfall... Step out on the ledge. A writer might be there composing a poem about the many sounds of the waterfall... The waterfall is now part of you...".

Waterfalls are another simple magic to be found out in our wild lands... Discovering them is another style of adventuring... Visiting and enjoying these surreal interactions between water, rock, gravity, mist, and sound, has provided many unforgettable moments...

So many times, I have also let out an exclamation of excitement after finding perfect, small, polished stones near falls. Some that I have gathered, painted, and passed forward as Summit Stones... I recall also what P. Collins wrote: "The rock is what makes this waterfall".

Falling waters make for natural places of musings; natural environments for simple ponderings, waitful watchings... As in F. Sheen who wrote: "The silence of contemplation such as occurs when we let our minds rest on a rosebud... a divine mystery... or a waterfall".

As George said, and as I believe, there always can be found a spirit within falling waters, an entity that will mirror your own spirit and enthusiasms, that reflects your own wonder, that inspires your very personal meaning for why you are there and what you wish to experience in your adventures...

I remember...

Yosemite waterfalls in all their grandeur...

Frozen falls and the excitement of ice climbing...

Falling water over cliffs and high rock hidden within the Rockies...

Finding secluded secret locations where streams & small rivers flow and fall and blend with our oceans...

And within all of these, musings and imagining, who had the first accent of these, and who will later enjoy this element...

By leaving these special areas in exactly the same way as we discovered them, we pass forward the same opportunity to yet another adventurous wanderer...

DSD

(Images by - Top/Walker, Middle/Farlow, Bottom/Lee)