"The Way Of Adventure Xing..."

Following the Tao is an ancient way of wandering through many levels of understandings...

It is a way of living, a path to head out upon, a trail of mystery to follow, and an enlightened course set out before us. It is one of countless ways of being in the world, and especially out among the wilds, that I have pondered over so many seasons. Tao is one way of many that I am sure adventurers seek out and embrace... A way of seeing, of moving, of blending with what we discover out there and within each of us as well...

In the woods, by those waters, I was recently reading and musing over the Tao concepts of 'Xing'. Interestingly, Xing (pronounced zing), seems to reflect further, deeper concepts involving meditation and moving, waking and walking, and holds to other ancient ideas as well that involve finding certain personal pathways, of following the flow of things, of becoming the activity itself...

Xing is written to have even more elusive, more hidden meanings, that reflect something of the elements. So Xing may mean not just a 'way' of being, but the very means - the elements themselves, the very music by which everything is then composed.

To wander a trail, to muse by the water, and to ponder one of the many great philosophies... Such wonderful quietly adventurous moments in the wilds as we approach this Day for the Earth...

DSD

"Of Images And Reflections..."

There is a small mirror in this mountain hut, placed just by the door. When I return here, I have often thought about why it was placed just so; positioned in that location and in that unique way.

I wonder... was it put up by one who knew that the image we see of ourselves just before we head out on another alpine start - is a telling reflection... Of excitement and desire, of commitment and confidence, maybe of challenges and even a touch of doubt at times...

All those who have made it to this remote point before would have passed this piece of glass and silver. All would have shared in the hopes we each have of summit dreams and our aspirations of altitude out there... All those yet to come will stand there too, seeing themselves before they adventure out, registering for a moment before they depart, the images of our outer self and often of our innermost self too...

These glimpses are telling, often calling, sometimes quietly sharing of the adventurers' we hope to be in the wild places, the experiences we so desire to have, among the journeys we intentionally undertake.

Then, when we first step back into the warmth and comforts of that mountain hut, returning from a further high point, maybe another trial by rock and ice and snow... That mirror waits there still - holding within it reflections of another kind... Those of accomplishment, of a wonderful summit success, even of humbleness, of fellowship and fulfillment. A simple small mirror it is... With such powerful, lasting reflections...

DSD

"Over And Over Again..."

"Over and over again, those with the 'adventure attitude' return to places of previous failures. They do so not only out of sheer persistence, but because they are slowly gathering knowledge that they know will eventually lead to success." A. Hobson

Time to reflect again on the gathering of such experiences... DSD

"Working It Out..."

"There is a way out of every dark mist; over a rainbow trail." R. Motherwell

Adventuring is often about solving problems out there, and meeting challenges while encountering and tangling with the unexpected. Many times there can also be no better place than the wilds to get a sense of whatever else may be being bothersome in our lives. While wandering we find room to back away from concerns and develop more perspective and clearer horizons on any issue. The wilds inherently provide us with the ways and means and elements to see any such distractions in a much greater, richer, and larger vista...

Getting out there supports us in seeing things in new ways, for our resolve towards solutions, and provides the energy to get whatever it is out of our system. We work it out among the waves, sort it out while moving over rock, find the quiet we need in the desert to think, the meditation so useful along the river to let go, and the inspiration among the mountains to keep on...

Many times whatever it is, seems to simply disappear like the fog does when the sun rises high, and then we often discover there was nothing of real substance there to worry endlessly about anyway.

Wild places are a gift for natural resolution... It's not about escaping from something back here, its more about working it out by embracing the wonderful elements and rainbows out there...

DSD

My appreciation to K. Su for the above wonderful images.

"Gifts Of....."

"We were two men in a land of stone and we walked toward the same star...

That... was the gift of our mountains". G. Rebuffat

Stones and stars,
Rock and sky,
Wind and waves,
Wild wonders to ponder,
Elemental gifts while we wander...
DSD

"Listening For Echoes..."

Once again...

Finally, wonderfully, quietly and closely,

Because if we keep listening,

Then our echoes appear...

From ages past they call out,

Within experiences long over,

Ringing of inspiration,

Noiseless sounds of such beauty...

From what others have shared,

Precious strengths and their wisdom,

The encouraging substance,

These elemental echoes of hope...

Quietly waiting once more,

A glad tear in my eye,

Being as still as I can,

When listening again,

Now the echoes come calling...

DSD

My sincere appreciation to K. Su for the top image above and A. Plummer for the lower image.

"Remember......."

"Remember... The dream that comes true in midocean or at the dry waterhole or on black ice; the animal that appears at the precise and empty instant you need it to whisper in your ear."

R. Shultheis

Remember, my dear friends, remember such moments from within our lives of adventure, and smile once again at the wonder of it all... DSD

My thanks to A. Jones for the top image above, and to G. Glembin for the lower image.

"Spring Shugyo....."

Shugyo is an ageless Eastern tradition and regimen for training and testing oneself. This is a process of personal tempering that is applied in many martial forms, such as the Shotokan and other traditional styles I have studied over the years. It is also an approach to preparation many adventurers I know practice during the spring. Shugyo is a part of the 'Budo' systems where very intense physical training is designed to develop oneself, not just physiologically, but also in character and especially spirit...

F. Morgan wrote, "Shugyo isn't a routine part of training; it isn't something you do daily, weekly, or even monthly... The idea is to find a memorable occasion that will have emotional significance to those taking part... Then shugyo serves as a cleansing rite of passage." He said too, "Shugyo doesn't have to take place in the training hall, and if your spirit is strong, you don't need someone else to drive you on. In fact, undergoing shugyo alone, with no one else to motivate you or look after your safety, can temper your spirit like nothing else can." I and some friends have often thought of our adventure spring training in this way. This kind of journey has also been a part of many of my own solo's through the mountains or when sea kayaking by myself out among the islands. Through such a process we embrace not something we so much learn, or is taught to us, but more so something we find deep within us... It is a part of our shared indomitable spirit and that personal inner voice which says quietly, but firmly - we will return and we will not give up... At certain times and significant points in our adventures things may seem beyond us - and then such spirit can be the difference between being able to go on, keeping safe, or not.

So as F. Morgan writes further, "Plan a project that will truly test your physical and emotional limits, an obstacle you previously believed insurmountable... Where you do need to carefully and intelligently push yourself to the edge of your limits and beyond."

In doing so, we will be both tired and tried, but in unusual and truly rewarding ways. This is about a toughening, but not just of the body... There is a real tempering of the spirit, where we will rise to new levels of understanding and motivation, create distinct enhanced endurance the likes of which we may not have experienced before... This is about developing a different kind of discipline that polishes our spirit like a gemstone...

I believe as with adventures themselves, and as A. Hasegawa wrote ages ago, that "Paradoxically the need for shugyo is even greater in an affluent society."

Enjoy your spring training my friends...

DSD

"A Wide Canvas....."

"Climbing... offers a wide canvas upon which to paint adventures... the mind is working, the body is working, and the spirit is working to get up this puzzling piece of rock. The same elements, I have found, exist in running rivers... tell of magic in that moving water, and its many gifts: gifts of beauty and adventure, of battle and achievement, gifts of joy and skill, of the pride of mastery, gifts of solo endeavour and of rich companionship." R.Robbins

So well said and such truths to be found in these many gifts... What shall we each paint next...
DSD

"Why A Mountain Has A Face..."

We were by the rocks and rushing waters deep within that valley; feet up, cloud gazing - when we each said in almost exactly the same way, 'Why do you think they say a mountain has a face?'... It must have been because we were both looking at the same cliff above us that had some very interesting hidden images seemingly within it.

A mountain, we mused, is most certainly an entity... a creation of nature and those mystical forces that blend elements and energy in ways not fully understood. Peaks always have their own personality too and in that way have many faces. The profile of a summit is as unique as any human figure, and the weather, among other elements, puts a new face upon that rock that is never the same twice over in any season. It may be well too that we believe in such images because of how these high places support us in facing up to so much out there...

Cliffs and slopes and summits of mountains are mysterious places where we become by overcoming - we meet confidently, resolutely, and steadfastly, that which we must face in ourselves by letting our real natures be seen and experienced. We turn our faces upwards and discover courage, determination, and composure too upon such a visage...

When we trace the face of a mountain with our chosen routes we now more closely experience this adventure with heightened senses. Then a mountain slowly allows us to get to know its' image, the emotions hidden within it, the expressions of its' moods, all with such intensity...

Even after many years and seasons have passed, we can then return yet again to the familiar faces out there, and smile... Much like how the mountains surely smile back in return, as we reach out and touch our close friends' face once again...

DSD

"A Threshold....."

"At some point in every wilderness journey, a moment comes when triggered by a sudden sensation, a glance backward or a stop to look all around, the trekker realises that a threshold has been crossed, that the last vestiges of tamed landscape have been left behind and the surrounding territory is purely wild." M. Mardon

I do so love that very moment..... And often ponder how it seems very much like that, both externally out there, and also within our internal landscape as well.....

DSD

My gratitude to C.Rouse for the top image above, and to B.Carmichael for the lower image.

"A Thousand Meanings....."

Deng Ming-Dao mused, "When one walks in the woods or climbs mountains, there is a wonderful unity of body, mind, and spirit... One is freed to observe nature's lessons. Gnarled roots. A flight of swallows. Bladed reflections of rushing water. Just budding bare branches. Gray rock, cracked, shattered, and worn. A fallen tree. A lone cloud. The laughter of plum branches. Even a little circle of rocks beside the trail - who put them there, or did any hand arrange them, and no matter which, what are the secrets of that circle? There are a thousand meanings in every view, if only we open ourselves to see the scripture of the landscape."

Today, I hold a single rock in my hand, from such a circle, remembering one meaning from within a thousand... Now, I think I will splash just a little bit of paint upon this stone, and place it somewhere special just for you...
DSD

"Tracking Them... Tracking Us..."

They are such beautiful, ephemeral entities... Wisps of fur and grey that we are so lucky to hear let alone ever catch a glimmer of... Their beauty is a reflection of those truly wild beings within the timeless wild places. No wonder they are such a cherished spirit animal and clan whose ways of being many have wondered over. This day I am remembering, was unusual in that late season - the conditions of the ground, such moisture, remnants of the last snow, and that cool air, made for a perfect combination of elements...

As we set out we were just beginning to sense what an amazing day this would come to be. We were simply hiking and had no initial intentions of any kind of tracking. Yet now, when we discovered their fleeting impressions crossing the trail more than once, this now grasped our attention closely. We followed what we could in our inexperience and excitement, hoping to be able to see more of what we were attempting to read. But spirits like that don't leave much sign and mostly only give a sense of their presence, and that I pondered, is exactly as it should be...

But the distinct moment that gave us such pause, that took us in real surprise, was to come near the end of this full day of wandering and followings.

Not long before we regained the trailhead, at a curve in the path among old thick trees, we came upon a different kind of layered tracks... These tracks were our own, still apparent although changed, for clearly across them and also right within them were more fresh tracks of the grey ones themselves. We were startled with this discovery, trying to understand what was represented there. Then with a dawning of awareness we became amused by what it likely meant. From the number and direction of their unique prints, there could only be one interpretation. We pondered in wonder over, at what point in this day, as we had slowly journeyed along - at what point, did our novice attempts to track them - become moments when they were now tracking us...

The shivers of excited realization experienced at that moment were from much more than the dropping temperature...

DSD

"Momentum From The Inside..."

The great mountaineer Reinhold Messner wrote: "There is no greater stimulation for one's own enthusiasm than self-determination... motivation is momentum from the inside... The critical dimensions of self-motivation includes mind, spirit, and body. It controls the will, stokes an 'inner fire', and lets us do things completely... Motivation does not fall from heaven. It is hidden in all of us. It has only to be awakened... Motivation is like bottled, concentrated energy. It is stored for a long time as expectations, hope, and dedication... I know that the strongest motivations come from the inner depths of the soul."

Time to mine those depths we all have for the gems of motivation that will surely be found there... DSD

"The Adventurers Vitamin 'I'....."

The Ancient Ones forever mused over the wonders within being in-spired: To breath in that which would keep us going... As Adventurers, we know about the importance of many kinds of sustenance, be it food, water, sunshine, even friends. Sustenance for the ephemeral kinds of endurance we need out there, would seem to be as much an essential element as any other; this 'inspiration' - this Vitamin 'I'.

What a critical substance for our wanderings, for discovering the meanings within the why we do what we do out there... I believe it is something we would seem to need daily. Do we not desire, even crave this on so many levels? Seeking inspiration in itself can become a wanderers dream, a pilgrimage of endless purpose...

There are so many avenues for inspiration. It is so very abundant. A few sources that fellow adventurers and I have evoked include: Simply getting out there, for the wild places themselves offer endless gifts that inspire, even take our breath away; within dreaming & vision questing; from others wonderful stories & experiences; images & memories; readings & quotations; and especially within those potent unexpected moments of serendipity & mystery we will most surely find ourselves in...

Such inspiration is truly a fundamental energy within motivation for setting out upon any path, an energy needed to understand all challenges, and an energy essential when wandering towards any chosen horizon...

What fuels; that which drives our enthusiasms is drawn from this well with no bottom...

Inspiration is an elemental energy that is indeed priceless, ageless, timeless, and boundless - and yet available to every one of us.....

DSD

"Just One Step Beyond..."

We never know what might be just one step beyond...

We may never see what may be reached for just past our last effort,

We might never realize what possibilities may be just out of sight,

We may never grasp what is just beyond what we think we know, a bit further away from what we believe to be fact,

We will never know, never see, never realize, nor grasp...

If we do not stay the course,

If we are not continuing to challenge perceived limitations,

If we will not allow ourselves to become all of who we could be out in the wild places...

We never know, if we don't go, that simple one step beyond...

DSD

My appreciation to T. Kennedy for the top image above, and to Wiley & Wales for the lower image.

"A Trail With No End..."

The foundational creed of the upcoming Olympic Games reflects an essential belief that: "The goal is not to win, but to take part". To be immersed like this within the process of our adventures, is also to be on a wonderful journey about more than a destination...

Indeed, we do need a distinct kind of focus upon our adventure objectives as any athlete does.

Our eyes best be open and clearly set upon that elusive summit, and our efforts dedicated and consistent towards that distant shoreline. Yet, such elements of endurance are not only why we are there I believe... It would seem as important not to lose sight of the mountain for only the peak; it feels as significant not to lose touch with the river when churning among the rapids.

To be out there - to simply, profoundly, participate in our own way, is to be in concert with our personal dreams for adventure.

Outcomes, heights, times, distances, and totals, are useful measures yet can also be limited too if they are all we reach for. Maybe, most moments, just to take part in our wild place wanderings, is truly an award already won, a beautiful trail with no end...

DSD

"Symmetry, Summit Stones, And Sharing..."

"The butterfly's attractiveness derives not only from colors and symmetry... deeper motives contribute to it. We would not think them so beautiful... above all if they did not enact the mystery of metamorphosis; the latter assumes in our eyes the value of a message, a symbol, a sign...". P. Levi

Recently I received a wonderful gift from G.B. She wrote, about her experience of symmetry, Summit Stones, and sharing that: "One of your stones has been passed on. When I gave it away I explained how she could keep it for herself or pass it on by leaving it at a trail head or a summit just as you do. Her eyes got big as saucers as she exclaimed, 'Oh, I want to keep it!'.

Stone number one now rests on her meditation mantel with Buddha joined by some candles. Stone number two is on my desk at work with a few other rocks from the Eastern Sierra's and Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Next to the stones is a small vase of yellow wild flowers with two Obata post cards hanging above. As far as passing it forward, here is where I find the symmetry delightful. While driving back to the Bay Area from Yosemite on New Year's Eve I stopped in Groveland and had some time to kill. Wandering on the back streets I entered into a small bookstore I've noticed before but had never visited. While poking around I ended up chatting with the owner. He had recently taken over the book store and sells mostly history and civil war books. He commented on how surprised he was that the locals come in all the time requesting poetry books and he didn't have many to offer. Upon arriving home I sent him five poetry books from my book shelves. I received summit stones from a poet with instructions to 'play it forward', which I did by passing on poetry books. Symmetry."

In response to G.B., I wrote:"I so enjoyed receiving your thoughts here, and have often pondered about the unknown symmetry that may take place as we embrace experiences and then pass them forward as you have done... There is a beauty in the spirit and actions of doing so, be they a small cobblestone, some cherished literature, or the simply profound quotes from those who have wandered before us... The person you now know from your gift to him will surely have enjoyed both object and gesture, and thus the spirit, the karma of it, and the beauty as you wrote in the symmetry of it all, as it gently keeps flowing on... Thank you so very much for sharing your experience of passing a Summit Stone forward and your friends' enjoyment of that. It also resonates with the few times I learn of how someone has positioned their own little cobblestone in a place of importance to them, with other memento's of personal symbolism like your flowers and Obata's pictures. Happy summits, trails, and sunsets..."

Symmetry.......

DSD

"Perseverance....."

"I think that one of the lessons of climbing is perseverance, having a vision and continuing on in spite of obstacles, putting one foot in front of another steadily until you get to your goal. Learning that lesson in mountaineering helps you apply it to all other activities." A. Blum

'Perseverance...'

Not a word, but a concept, a way of being, a way of living, that the wild places share with us and we continuously teach each other about time and time again...

DSD

My appreciation to M.Brown for the above persevering images.

"No Guts...Know Glory..."

"A path... to the innermost part of his being..." D. Ming-Dao

Please read the title above these images slowly again, in case you went over it too quickly, as it is not just a play on words, but a significant metaphor of meaning & magic, of inspiration & spirit...

In his early twenties, Rob Hill himself (pictured above) was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and underwent serious surgery. He also unfortunately discovered the stigma that often accompanies this disease. His not-for-profit program IDEAS, (International Disease Education & Awareness Society) sponsors children with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) so that they are then able to attend summer camps where they learn, grow, all while sharing and enjoying experiences with other children living with IBD. IDEAS also raises funds for research.

The IBD site says that: "Some of you may be wondering why the name (No Guts Know Glory) also puts a focus on 'know' or knowledge. When Rob was sick, like many people who are deeply affected by inflammatory bowel disease, he came to realize that knowledge of himself was his key to a complete recovery. One of the most attractive things about spending time in the mountains is the self reflection these experiences often create - being high up tends to give you a completely different perspective on your life, your world and the things that are important to you."

They write further: "If you ask a marathon runner or an Ironman triathlete why they do what they do, push their bodies the way they do, many will tell you it's because taking on these kinds of physical challenges creates the conditions necessary to truly understand themselves. There are few lonelier times than when you are deep inside yourself searching for that something to get you through a significant challenge. That something is knowledge. It's the knowledge that you have it in you, a strength, a faith, a desire, a will, to drive forward, to reach high, to aim your sights on a new goal, a new vision or sometimes even just survival in the face of a potentially life-threatening illness like Crohn's disease."

For Rob, his adventure message is all about that having IBD or an ostomy, as he does, shouldn't stop you from leading a full life... What he believes resonates close to our own adventurous hearts when he says inspirationally,"While reaching the top of each mountain is a great accomplishment, with respect... removing the social stigma associated with these diseases and having an ostomy is a far more daunting task". He quotes a young person too whom he has met and inspired recently who said, "This isn't really about climbing mountains, it's about moving them".

Powerful words, potent concepts...

So how has Rob put his ideas into motion, how has he used his life experiences to inspire... In an amazing way that almost all adventurers, likely every climber, and certainly the rest of us ordinary wanderers can look up to: Rob is climbing the highest mountain on each continent...

There are not many who have done this; only a few hundred, and only fifteen Canadians - who have taken their dreams and dedication to the highest points on these areas of our continental earth.

Rob though, is the only person living with Crohn's disease and an ostomy to do this...

He has climbed six up till now, raises funds for IDEAS on the way, and provides many with inspiration as he ascends each one. He started with Mt. Elbrus, Russia in 2002; Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in 2003; Aconcagua, Chile in 2004; Denali, Alaska in 2005; Mt. Vinson Massif, Antarctica in 2006; the Carstenz Pyramid, Indonesia in 2007... Now this spring, here in 2010, Rob is looking towards the last of his Seven Summits - Mt. Everest...

Rob won't be alone on this purposeful vision quest, as other adventurers like Paul Head - their 'Super Baje', and Clinton Shard - their youngest member, and Phil Wu & Bob Peterson will also be along on the Everest Trek portion of this wonderful adventure.

Rob, IBD Adventures, and his support team are inviting any of us to delve into our own adventurous dreams, create our own personal motivation, and go along with them. You can inquire about this on their site linked below, where donations are also accepted.

From my own perspective, everything I have done in my adventure wandering, and every moment I continue to have out in the wilds, has grown from the spark of such inspiration as that which Rob gifts to us. I experienced this first within Outward Bound, later with Mountain Guides, Elders, and the many challenged yet so hardy adventurers who have journeyed with us out there. For many years our inspiration has been not only about elusive adventure objectives, but in moving towards the horizon with those in mind who climb mountains every day of their lives, as I have written about in the link below of "There Is A Place We Go In The Mountains"...

Rob & IBD Adventures are a wonderful example of 'intestinal fortitude', if you will, of courage in the midst of pain & adversity, where we discover certain kinds of hidden strengths which as adventurers we all admire and aspire to.

So let's be sure to follow along with Rob and IBD's "No Guts Know Glory" endeavor - a metaphor of meaning & magic, a journey of spirit & commitment...

DSD

"Know Guts Know Glory" - http://nogutsknowglory.com/

"Changing Attitudes With Altitude" - http://summitstonesadventuremusings.blogspot.com/2009/09/changing-attitudes-with-altitude-ibd.html

"A Place We Go In The Mountains" - http://summitstonesadventuremusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/there-is-place-we-go-in-mountains.html

"Mixing In....."

It is not a well known practice within the ages old lore of painting, yet it is though an especially endearing and timeless tradition among some artists. One that I have learned over time to so appreciate. There is such a process of trial and error to it. It begins with the selection of just the right paints, and is then blended only with certain other elements... But though the results may not be apparent, the hidden meanings of these mediums feel so very profound...

This is the practice, the painters slow artistry and discipline of 'mixing in'... Where select very small amounts of silt or earth, tiny particles of desert or coastal sand, maybe bits of crumbled leaves, possibly ash or charcoal from old campfires, even pure rain or ocean waters, or the strands of some wild ones' fur - among other unique elements, are gathered from chosen wild places, and other power places... Then they are very carefully mixed in with these paints. This technique makes the paint come alive; with a brush that takes to this blending, and is then applied so slowly in swirls and layers and coatings...

Within my own naive renditions of mountain ranges, forests, waters, sky's, and fires are often found such mixings. They then become an elemental part of these Summit Stones that I am sure the Finders can sense when they are held closely.....

DSD

"No Stone Unturned..."

"To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says: 'Leave no stone unturned'...". E.Lytton

We turn over so many cobblestones on our journey...
Under some we find what hides in the dark, damp places, and that which maybe should be left alone.
Under most others though, we discover treasure we learn to embrace and define within our adventure ways.
Yet all likely need to be turned, experienced, pondered, and mused about...
Where will your next stone be found Dear Finders...
DSD

"Visiting The Dogs....."

I was up still watching the small fire stove glow and pulse with warmth in the old canvas tent...

The others had long gone to sleep while I remained up to listen to the night sounds and the occasional crackle of burning wood. It had been a challenging distance covered that day, up along a frozen river valley by dog team, through snow drifts so deep. Each two of us had our own team to run and it took a lot of continuous but fun attention to do so. I was remembering our first time out years before, when initially learning to bond and work with sled dogs. Such a unique, lively adventure experience. We were very aware of the style of approach these Guides used in training the dogs, as some tend to be unnecessarily quite harsh. That was not ok with us at all. With this trainer were learned only about bonding as best you can when working alongside them, while still clearly acting as the leader of your small energetic pack. Only when you are moving do you turn over some of the leader role to your first front dog, and even then they still need to respond quickly to your voice.

Our lead dog was a female whose one ear always was turned at such a cute angle. Her strength and enthusiasm were amazing as was the position she has earned on her team. Since I was not sleeping anyway it seemed like a good idea to go out for a moment to visit and check upon all the dogs. As I crunched through the snow I could see most were tucked down deeply into the drifts. All were tethered to the base of their own tree in snow beds their thick fur would make so comfortable. Some had actually chewed upon the small trees around them until fed their rich mixed diet.

I slowly moved among them so as not to give any impression we may be readying to go. They sense your intentions and mood so well, but this was a time for calm and rest, not preparation nor travel. I'm not sure how long I sat quietly with our lead dog, sharing our warmth and the comfort of a few treats. The northern lights were dancing some and the winters cold made few sounds at that hour. While pondering the next day of snowshoeing from camp to a hidden area of this valley, I glanced beside me to see if another treat may of been in order. There she was... gazing up at the northern lights, just as I had been... Maybe our lead dog and I shared as much wonder in that moment too of the wild place we camped at, and over what adventures were yet to come...

I know my excitement and appreciation mirrored theirs for all of what was being gifted to us...

It was a quiet yet very memorable visit we had, our lead dog, all the others and I, within those tall trees in a deep wintered valley... among snow capped mountains, and below the spirits dancing in the the sky...

DSD

My thanks to K.Thompson for the top image above and to G.Wiltsie for the lower image.

"Distant Winter Wanderings..."

Amidst winters deep embrace upon the wilds...

Endless mist and mystery among the valleys,

A windy breath so very cold,

Sun too though upon frozen waters,

With crystal jewels all a shining,

Clear sky reflections, endless blue mountains,

Crisp sounds to ponder,

Now time to wander.....

DSD

My thanks to D. Cayless for the above top image and to G. Dixon for the lower image.

"In The Dawning Of A New Day..."

In the dawning of a new day, within the dawnings of this new year, we may find so many promises...

A promise of assurances that we will be just fine, just like what our climbing partner offers as they hold out a rope for us.

A promise of possibilities yet to be discovered as when we first launch out from the shoreline.

A promise to enlighten us with being able to see with new eyes, as we always feel when gazing out from that finally attained elusive summit.

A promise that we will indeed find our way because the compass will always point north.

In the dawning of a new day are promises reflecting hope, that which affirms the future, and holds out the potential for as many things as impossible to count as the pebbles on an endless beach.

In the first moments of dawn all things may come to be...

During that first light within a new days beginning, wonderment is always present.

We are promised too that the such dawnings will forever be there for us, full of prospects, new horizons, and gifts of refreshed perspectives and renewed energies.

These are the profoundly simple promises we may discover within the dawning of this new day among the dawnings of this new year...

DSD