"That Which Nutures Us All..."

"To the Four Legged Ones, who know wilderness as home and teach us how to live there; To the Winged Ones who see the larger picture from above... To the Plant People, who live the bloom of life constantly; to miraculous Water, who keeps life flowing... To the Stone People, who ground life with ancient wisdom and mountains of beauty; to the Earth, who holds and nurtures us all...".  Stephen Lyman

"Shared Sunsets..."

"Some who have observed bears in the wild speak of them sitting on their haunches at sunset, gazing at it, seemingly lost in meditation." J. Masson

I have always so loved this quote.
It reflects upon so much yet to be understood and the words resonate with such wonderful meanings...
That the Great Furred four legged Ones also share in the beauty and moments when meditating and appreciating a quiet, wonderful sunset, is a metaphor for all we need to know at times..... DSD 

"All Spoke The Same Language..."

"In the very earliest of times, when both people and animals lived together on earth, a person could become an animal if he wanted to, and a animal could become a human being. Sometimes there were people, and sometimes animals, and there was no difference. All spoke the same language...". Author Unknown

"Amidst The Quiet....."

"After a long day of walking in the mountains, the ancients sat alone and in the quiet...". Deng Ming-Dao

In stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
Now calm and vividly remembering,
Every single step of our long journey.

In stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
For a very challenging mountain had been chosen,
Knowing we would then embrace all then wildly given.

In stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
Atop the summit of a further elusive mountain,
Being present for all of that which has happened.

In stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
After a descent as challenging too,
Then so tired, and now safe as well.

In stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
Amazingly welcoming was that mountain,
With such adversity and then those teachings.

In the stillness we then rest,
Amidst the quiet, with our breath.
Having shared in those many precious gifts,
Meditative forever moments nourishing our very being... DSD

Dedicated to those wonderful wanderers who are out there still, Adventuring For Another Reason. 

"A Communication With Nature..."

"I came to believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our Stone Age forebears possessed not only incredible strength, but also a consciousness and a communication with nature that I could only vaguely comprehend. I'm sure that I could never completely understand this consciousness, but I could come closer, as I spent more time out here...".  J. Turk   

"Greater Than....."

"Why do we believe we are greater than...

Greater than the Bear whose strength is unmatched, the Wolf who understands more than we know.

Greater than the Eagle which views all from above, the Rabbit that quietly watches us pass by.

Why do we believe we are greater than, when we more truly are of the same family...

They are our Brothers, our Sisters, our Elders...". 

GrandFather, Mountain Elder

 

"Nature Reminds Us..."

"Nature is thrilling - its solitude, its peace.
It is spiritual.
Nature reminds us of who we are and how we fit into the web of life...". 
Bev Doolittle 

"Grey Wolf's Gifts....."

"Find your places of power; where you become part of the magic. Return there many times; enjoy your experiences - then give back to those places...". 
"Elusive lessons hold the most to be learned...".
"Remember... The gifts of the four directions. The East is the new day, renewal, innocence, hope, joy, and new beginnings. The South is learning, preparing, strength, sensitivity, goals, and reflection. The West is the unknown, of dreams, meditation, going within, and a place of testing. The North is about wisdom, moderation, teachers, elders, fulfilment, and memories. There is no ending in the journey of the four directions...". 
"You will find more in these mountains than climbing...".
"You will not find all your reasons in these mountains or on those lakes. What you find out there you had within you all along. These places are just a trail towards those lands inside of you that have yet to be travelled...".
"The symbol for what drives you, for the source that moves you, in many cultures - is fire. Your energy, your power, your enthusiasms, are all fire and flame. Read the coals and discover what you need...".
"Collect experiences, not things, for that is what will truly nourish you...".
"Meaning is relative - your choices, where you journey, what mountains you climb, what rivers you paddle, the day you do so, the weather, your energy, solo or with partners - all relative elements that contribute to different meanings. Who is to say which is more meaningful, which has more value...".
"Yes, there are sacred things. A pine cone, a feather, bones, a herb - or even one of your stones. All are sacred because of the deep meaning given to them. Sacred things help you focus; yet consider where their real source of power is...".

Thank you, Wild One, especially for, "Let the mountains and the waters themselves be your guide...".  DSD 

"Whom Was Watching Who..."

"Allow mystery, which is to say to yourself, 'There could be more, there could be things we don't understand'..." B. Lopez
"The Bella Coola Indians believed that someone tried to change all the animals into men but succeeded in making human only the eyes of the wolf." B. Lopez
"If you could be an animal, what animal would you be? Answering that question creates a powerful personal metaphor." Grey Wolf
I once was able to watch a grey wolf at play when out on an adventure.
This animal was a mystery in motion to me.
At that time I knew so little about them, and yet found myself so very impressed by its grace of movement and its playful behavior.
When it finally looked over in my direction and met my gaze, there was a moment there, where I wondered whom was really watching who..... DSD 

"Then It Becomes Magic....."

"If I am hiking along a ridge with my mind somewhere else, then the rocks and grasses between my feet are just rocks and grasses. But if I am mindful, curious, and observant enough to stoop down and pick up one stone because it has an unusual shape, then it becomes magic, not just for me but for everyone around me... If I go one step further and grind up some pigments to make ochre dyes, paint the stone lovingly, and set it on the mantle as a reminder of this hike, then the magic has become a prayer for the survival of my tribe...".  J. Turk

"Keepers, Holders, And Bearers..."

Ancient legends tell of these stories, and the Elders of many lands speak to their truth...
At way points within all our histories, some of us - maybe even in past lives so the stories say, became the holders, the Keepers of the Stones.
These were, and still are, positions of responsibility and respect. Sacred stones were often those needed for flint and fire. Many other such stones held images upon them of great value to the persons and their group, for the stories they held within. Still other stones were themselves of singular importance for memory & meaning, considering who and where and when they were discovered. Thus they became so very cherished by their holders.
We each are Keepers of such memorable stones in our adventuring lives...
As we each wander, we also become what is now reflected in and represented by, the more current meaning of these legends - as the bearers of the stories themselves that all such 'stone' experiences represents...
We are all Keepers, Holders, and Bearers, my Friends... DSD

Dedicated this adventure day to those wonderful 'Partners In Placing' who share in the smiles all along the way. 

"The Most Beautiful Stones..."

"The most beautiful stones...
Have been tossed by the wind,
And washed by the waves,
And polished to brilliance,
By life's strongest storms...". Anon 

"Adventuring Artists, Wandering Poets..."

"Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul...".  W. Maugham
"A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind...".  E. Lonesco

The substance of our adventures,
And the echoes of a poem,
How very much alike,
They feel so much to be...

The elements of adventures,
And the essence of many poems,
Far away they always take us,
How much then we will see...

A life among adventures,
The feelings within a poem,
Experiences we reach with hope towards,
Understandings that then embrace us too...

Truly they are one and the same,
So wonderfully similar they always are,
The adventuring of shared perceptions,
The poetry of our forever wanderings..... DSD

Dedicated this adventure day to all those 'Artists of Being Alive' who continue to Adventure For Another Reason.     

"You Are Indeed Artists..."

"The most invisible creators I know of are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible... Their medium is their being. Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They are artists of being alive..." J. Stone

As this season unfolds and as I read over this favorite quote yet once more today, I began reflecting on each and every one of the links to the right here under 'Giving Back & Passing Forward'.
These adventurers, these special people, who are 'Adventuring For Another Reason', are truly such artists of life...
They are showing us all how to 'express the inexpressible' - those feelings, those emotions, those knowings, truths, and creative connections we wanderers have all experienced out there.
These special adventurers have indeed made their 'being' now their 'medium' as well. Their unique efforts to give back & pass forward very much demonstrate how their presence ' touches and increases' life.
What an honour it is to have connected with such adventurers, such artists of effort and life, such creators of intention, motivation, and commitment.
Please support one of your choosing as best you can my Friends.....  DSD 

"Adventurum Mysterium....."

Musae, Movere, Ignis. Significatio, Elementi, Vita. Ignis, Ubi, Natura... Nine words of Latin. Written on some parchment. Found in an old register. Upon an elusive summit. It seems the interpretation though, is now up to each of us. Calculus...  DSD 

"Victurus Vicero..."

"Victurus Vicero..."
"This Latin Proverb makes the clear statement that motivation is momentum from the inside. There is no greater stimulation for one's own enthusiasm than self-determination. This critical dimension of self-motivation includes mind, spirit, and body. It controls the will, and stokes an inner fire...".  R. Messner

"I Wonder..."

There are many hidden valleys out there, waiting, just waiting...

I am sure some hardly ever see the shadow of a human fall within them; hardly ever hear the breathing of a person among them.

Many such hidden places only the feathered and the four legged ones know about.

It was on a solo, just off the regular trail, while hand-railing a small alpine lake, that I was to enjoy the serendipity of discovering the remnants of a very old trail heading subtly north off into the trees.

It wouldn't have even been noticed if I hadn't stopped at just that spot to adjust my pack again as it often shifts about as if it has a mind of its own.

"I wonder...", are two words which have led me out both on amazing unplanned adventures and epics as well. I pondered these words again in my mind, and then just stepped out and started to follow where this musing and that trail might take me.

It was a very old trail.

After an hour it only led to what seemed to be a narrowed section where two rock bands met and embraced each other.

I 'wondered' again, and after some struggling with scree and scrub, made my way up and through this stony cleft. The trees beyond only thickened further, but after just a bit more persistent bushwacking, the rock dropped away, and a small hidden valley opened up.

There are times out there that brand an image within our minds as any tattoo upon the skin - so memorable, so vivid are they...

I wandered about there for hours. For such a small place there was much to explore. Trees to gaze upon, a small stream to listen to, polished rock to hold, lichen to wonder over, high cliffs on all sides to look up at, and tracks to study.

That was a very special day of wandering and wonderment.

Of simple exploring and enjoying.

Of reflecting upon summits and secrets and musings among that little hidden valley.

I have yet to return to that secret place.

Part of me kind of hopes no one else has discovered it since; but I am sure someone has. On those quiet reflective evenings, I wonder again if that old snow ever really melts in there, I ponder how much growth has taken place, and what flowers are out this season. I wonder too if that ages old cairn I found still exists, and I smile as I think of the little surprise I placed there...

And then I begin planning to return to that special hidden valley.

There are many of them out there waiting still..... DSD

"Wonderings....."

"Yet another burned area presents itself further along the trail with many a scorched tree still standing, very likely to live on through many more thunderstorms. But one dead tree... seems to have stood in the ground through many revolutions of the earth... its bark peeling away exposing its wood to the elements. While the sides of the dead fir are charred, its upper surface is smooth, bleached to a uniform grey, and as inviting to an artist as a chalkboard. He takes a piece of charcoal in hand and sketches a woman's face, not in bold outline, but subtly, with shadings and blurred features, so that an unsuspecting hiker coming upon it later might wonder if Mother Nature hadn't drawn the image herself." M. Mardon

"A Farther Adventure Of Mystery..."

"At other times, when the sun shone out clearly, they witnessed a most unusual weather phenomeneon, one that none of them had ever experienced, or even heard of before. All of a sudden the pale mist, lit up by the sun, seemed to 'ignite' somehow, shining out a pure white that obscured everything else in the world...".

"A matter of mere yards before them, the ground dropped away all of a sudden down into almost a sheer abyss, and below, in front of them, and all around them opened into a massive bowl-shaped valley. It stretched away for miles all around, its floor at least a mile below them, and almost sheer cliffs hemmed it in on every side. Great. towering cliffs soared out of the deeply sloping valley sides, and the light of the golden early morning sun streamed all the way through from the eastern end to set the bare rock of these cliffs afire with a deep orange radiance. At the foot of them, a thick wall of trees plunged farther down into the shadowed depths of the huge valley, shimmering and swaying peacefully in the breeze...". D. Bilsborough

Two favorite quotes that were remembered on this adventure day, as I gaze over some maps of mountains & valleys near here, that I am now dreaming about discovering. What will be revealed, what will unfold - well that then will be much of the mystery...  DSD 

"A Simple Bow....."

We were not sure what we were watching, but were certain it was important, when a fellow climber had stayed back some during our descent.
Then when finally mostly alone, she quietly turned and slowly gave a simple bow in the direction of the mountain.

We needed no explanation at that point...

A mountain upon this Earth is an elemental entity like rivers, canyons, and oceans that as adventurers we learn to respect.

Adventures are experiences that may instill such reverence too for these elements, the challenges, and the wild places themselves out there.

Well known among our Eastern Family - the nature of the bow; when we incline our head or body; when we bend or kneel - is an acknowledgment and appreciation for something we find very important to us.

Something that is often perceived as greater than ourselves.

In bowing down before or to something in such salutation, we are saying much without words.

What seemed to be a simple action by our fellow climber has resonated with us now in a profound and powerful way.

Experiences are often ushered in or out with a bow; a moment of distinct pause; where we wish to express our respect and thanks together for what has been passed to us. Something I intend to practice more of each sunrise in my wanderings...  DSD 

 

"Life May Be Short....."

Those mountains of ours are very high.
But, life is short.
So we go and climb them.

Those trails we share appear daunting.
Yet, as compared to what.
So we get out and hike them.

Those coastlines simply go on forever.
Though, we do not.
So we ensure to keep wandering them.

Those canyons and caves appear quite dark.
Quite seemingly full of all the unknowns.
So we bring much light with us.

Those river waters move through very fast.
Yet, so do our kayaks and rafts.
So we go and run them.

The weather often might not cooperate.
Still, always are there whispers of what could be.
So we go and laugh among the winds and rain.

Adversities out there are apparently inherent.
But, there are valuable lessons for us as well.
So we go and learn them.

We may be even a little bit afraid.
That, so far out we could lose our way.
Still we go anyway and find ourselves.

Challenges are naturally and clearly present.
Yet, our close friends smiles are too.
So we go and share them.

Sometimes we may also go by ourselves.
That, is another farther kind of adventure.
As we embark on discovering even more within.

Our dreams may feel like they are fleeting.
But, they are all too important to walk away.
So we go out an envision them.

We think that there may always be time for this.
Yet, that is not something anyone can ever predict.
So we decide not to wait for the magic to appear.

Adventures at first can seem misty and ephemeral.
But, their echoes are always awaiting there.
So we go and experience them.

Life may at first appear quite short.
Still, our choices are very far reaching.
So let's go and create our forever moments right now..... DSD   

"Dragon's Breath..."

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight... it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of memory, and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." J. Tolkien

Legends and even older stories tell of the magic of the Dragons Breath...
That indirect kind of light, not quite sunrise nor sunset, that reflects back off the mountains from water and ice and other less known particles that drift through the air. Dragons Breath has been said to be the very essence of our own fires too, those from within, that rise from deep in the belly, that we draw upon as we make our wild passions become realities, as we walk with our adventure enthusiasms, as we dream our desires out there... I write this today as I gaze across during this very early hour at a most beautiful mountain embraced by the Breath of a Dragon...  DSD 

"Of Our Life Lists....."

"A Life List is, in the end, nothing more than a tool to look back on our lives and consider how we spent our brief moments on Earth. And what if, in those final breaths, you realize - I never gave anything back...". J.B. MacKinnon 

"Farther Blue Mountains..."

"The acid test of a true adventurer, if presented with certain anonymity, is whether each of us would still have made the journey beyond the last blue mountain...". M. Clark
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  

"Adventure Musing....."

"I have found power in the mysteries of thought, exaltation in the changing Muses..." Euripides

"Muse on nature with a poet's eye..." T. Campbell

"To muse: To ponder, reflect upon. In Greek & Roman Mythology, Muses were the Daughters of Zeus; Inspirers of effort, music, and poetry.
The Gods sent the Elemental Muses to us as gifts. Water, wind, air, earth, and especially fire - these are the spirits that sustain our enthusiasms." Anon

Oh, to forever Muse, while out wandering among the elements. Is there anything more full of awe and wonder..... DSD  

"Of Magic Within Adventure..."

"Every time I went up there, a kind of magic happened to me: I felt a nameless wildness flow into me, a strangely serene longing for tundras, unbroken forests, rivers and mountains without end... I changed, into a benign kind of lycanthropy...".   R. Schultheis
"It was indeed magic to find that the initial commitment and inner strength can bring you back down alive in the midst of such an undertaking...".   J. Waterman
"The waving of a pine tree upon a mountain - a magic wand in Nature's hand...".   J. Muir
"Climbing... offers a wise 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
"What made it incredibly tantalizing was that It, the magic, was somewhere inside me. It had always been there... waiting to be awakened...".   R. Schultheis
"Magic, as I am using the term, is a sudden opening of the mind to that wonder of experience. It is a sense that there is much more to life than we usually recognize; that we do not have to be confined by the limited views that our family, our society, or our own habitual thoughts impose upon us; that life contains many dimensions, depths, textures, and meanings far beyond our familiar beliefs and concepts."   J. Welwood


From within my musings around the flickering campfires out there, to the ponderings by the ancient hearthstones back here, thoughts begin to take shape about how we all sense the wondering importance of the magic of our wanderings...
As in the quotes above, we read and write such words quietly as we know of the elusiveness of alchemy.
We each speak softly of these elements as we have experienced their ephemeral spells.
Adventurers seek out our magics among the mountains and valleys, rivers and lakes, coastlines and canyons.
We quest through these journeys to embrace the conjuring mysteries and the sorcery within these wild place moments.
Why...
Because we know as we sit by the warm hearthstones; we know these whisperings about such beautiful, natural magic...
Are all true..... DSD 

"The Mountain And I Were Comparing Ages..."

Oh, I have been realizing these later years, the relative nature of it all.
One more of those clear yet subtle messages, those of us who long wander always revel in.
I was feeling my age, if you will, antiquated that adventure day, right down through my legs and especially my knees. Easy to do also at times if sensing a bit of wistfulness, when we allow such self-ageisms to seep in - and then to possibly limit ourselves within all of that.
These were very old mountains I was wandering among. Not quite as fresh and newly stark as the usual Northern Rockies we have endlessly journeyed in.
During a few particularly sore moments, feeling not as energetic as I would have wished, I pondered to myself how at times it feels as if the mountain and I were comparing ages.
Then with a laugh out loud, I kept going, as we adventurers naturally do, sensing the generations and chronology of rock & stone around and above us - to be an elder second to none...
We simply pass the time out there.
While the mountains exist and endure through ever longer passages of timelessness.
We feel and may lament our age, yet these venerable seniors comparatively have more maturity and experience than we ever could really understand.
Their greater age of the eons support us in putting things into perpetual perspective.
It's not about age these mountains say, as it is so much more about what we do with the time we have. It's not at all about being older, it is very much about why we still wander...
No relativism was then needed. As I further journeyed farther out among my real elders. For truly these mountains and the wild places they are embraced within are wonderful ageless guiding symbols for us all..... DSD 

"Forever Adventurous....."

"Being an adventurer is in your state of mind which is not bound by age, performance, or place in the pack...". Anon
"I believe you don't stop hiking because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hiking."  F. Mitchell

"Music & Poetry Of Rock Piles..."

"In this work of beauty, every boulder is prepared and measured and put in its place... You will then find your feet playing a tune, and quickly discover the music & poetry of these magnificent rock piles...".  J. Muir

"Of Ikigai & Tian....."

Ikigai: The search for our life of purpose; our Reason D'etre; what makes our living worthwhile; the meanings within our adventurous journeys; the 'why we do what we do' when we wander the wild places...

The cairns and registers we find upon mountain summits tell so many stories...
What we often discover there can be fun, historical, enlightening, and at times a real mystery of words and meaning up above those thousands of feet and more. I so enjoy pondering who wrote these things and what experiences may have prompted such musings. At times they have sent me off on other journeys too of looking to find the meanings of these notations.
Here is what I've found out about two words written large, upon a single page, within the register of a favorite summit climbed again that past season.
They simply said: "Our Tian".....
Now the oldest 'Tian' literature I discovered were references to certain kinds of 'Elders'. There was also a very interesting 'Treasure of Tian', which was said to be mysteriously hidden, yet somehow still available for us all.
In my search for its possible earliest meanings I found that Tian seemed firstly to represent a 'summit' or 'mountaintop', but also interestingly refers to the top of our head and that which emanates from there.
Depending upon which tome you muse over, Tian further reflects meanings of the weather & climate, sunrise & sunset, all of nature and the elements within, and what seems to be called the 'seven seasons'. Most intriguing for me are the Tians as stories of mystery, of the heavens and sky's, of that which is beyond human will, and of the celestial energy and spirit worlds both out there and within. These two words writ large were beginning to really engage my attention...
Tian is written about to also be an elemental but indescribable thing, the natural character of a being, something that reflects instinct too. It looks to originally be a Taoist or Confucianist reference. It is one of the oldest Chinese symbols that represents the cosmos, the heavens above us, and those hidden within us.
What a most interesting ancient phrase. What an intriguing high place to have found it...
I have returned many times to that same silent summit, and hopefully now too, I have come back with more of an understanding of what our fellow climber may have meant by writing "Our Tian". Now as I write this and gaze out across a sea of summits, valleys and rivers, up to a shimmering sky of blue, while feeling the winds ebb and flow at this height - I begin to sense what our shared Tian, and thus our own Ikigai, may be about in this wonderful, peaceful wild place..... DSD   

"My 'Mixing In' For You..."

Thank you for your wonderful, humbling, words Dear Friends.
And yes, Robert, your Summit Stone does indeed have these special elements mixed in upon it. 
I so enjoy this forever changing, always evolving process of 'Mixing In' as I paint these little Summit Stones.
For years now, and ever since the beginning, this unfolding process of ancient artistry keeps me focused, amazed, and so very intrigued as well. Within each adventure experience I find myself not only gathering up a few selected touchstones, but now as often especially chosen elements from far out there. Then into these small nalgene containers & bottles they rest.
This is not really a well known style of artistry, yet still a timeless tradition, that only some artists seem to blend in with their kind of painting. It has its' own unusual discipline, and with the over 200 colors of paints I am able to apply in this style of Naive Artistry , the results are simply wonderful.
Certain elements like small drops of glacier melt, or from ocean waves, often pure rain from storms, even tears of the deepest desert moisture, from snow & ice too, and the northern lakes, mountain streams & tarns I so enjoy - all mix in really well with these bright colors before painting.
Other elements like crystals of desert & coastal island sands, finely crumbled leaves & pine needles, tiny particles of ash & charcoal from campfires, or bits of shell too - need to be gently prepared, then slowly mixed in during different stages and with each layer of paint.
There is such a Mystery & Magic to this ever evolving process...
Later, when the right time and image presents itself on the face of these revealing Summit Stones, the very tiniest strand of a wild ones fur, like that from a Bear's rub tree, a Grey Wolf tuft I excitedly discovered, of from near a Beaver's dam - can be snipped so small, then deliberately and gently mixed in within the swirls of newly placed paint.
Later too, often when almost finished painting, and when the right time and symbolism presents itself, I have mixed in the very smallest section of a Loon's, a Raven's, or other bird's feather.
Then too, the powder from bark of a tree or driftwood, alpine flowers dried by endless winds, and the ancient dust from so many summits themselves are blended in.
In recent years I have sought out high ridgelines, and other such exposed areas, where at times the remnants of a lightning strike may be found. A little scrape of that rock provides yet another truly unique element for the paints' layers and thickness.
This little Summit Stone endeavour has always been about giving back & passing forward. Hopefully too it invites a few smiles from Finders of them, and Partners In Placing as well. Raising a little awareness along the way for all of the amazing Fellow Adventurers here, who Adventure For Another Reason is key to this journey. If my little renditions of Naive Artistry and 'Mixing In' within the images of the sky, mountains, forests, waters, campfires, flowers, beaches, and rocks of your discovered touchstone have invited these kinds of gratefulness - it's all good...
As another approach or technique is developed, a further element included, the more involved the process becomes. Which means I complete fewer Summit Stones each year. But as well, with each new element that is discovered, each new paint to be tried, this process changes yet again in ways I usually never expected. This affirms for me yet once more, how there is always more within than we ever first realize. An Outward Bound Metaphor that continues to echo out for us all...
Thus, hopefully, symbolically, all of the elements we each love are reflected upon and come alive among the slowly applied layers and swirls within every one of these little Summit Stones.
Then, like the stones in the image above, hopefully too they provide some moments where a Partner In Placing and an eventual Finder are gifted with a Hmmm Moment , like Jeff wrote so eloquently about.
A continually changing, always evolving process, much like the forever unfolding moments within our adventures as well, that I am so happy to share with all of you Dear Friends..... DSD

"I Am Only One....."

"I am only one... But I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do...".  E.E. Hale

Even though I am one, when I do what I can, then pass this forward, I may become we, and our shared journey continues... DSD

"The Nature Of Gifts..."

"The first pale light of dawn... Stars are still out, the sky barely blushes with a hint of color. Hills, trees, grasses stand quietly in silhouette. Fresh smells of early morning arrive clean from the night wind, moist with dew. Presents from the night, presents of spaciousness, presents of the open sky. All these are gifts...".  S. Kaza

"Another World....."

"Down into the hanging valley that nestled between pristine blue mountains they went, and were swallowed up by the swaying, whispering trees. Along fair woodland tracks bordered with random scatterings of red-and-white toadstools, bluebells, and snowdrops they strolled; into the sun dappled verdant of hidden sylvan glades; along softly chattering rills of the purest spring water; through tunnels of trees heavily laden with white blossoms. It was another world...".  D. Bilsborough

"A Story For Tomorrow..."

Some time back, Kraig at 'The Adventure Blog' posted about: Video: A Story For Tomorrow , I was intrigued, then so very inspired...
Here was a very powerful video story of two young adventurers and their journey through Chile, from the Atacama Desert in the north, to the mountains of Patagonia in the south. The images are amazing, the music so very engaging, the voice of the narrator so inviting.
These few quotes resonated and echoed out each time I played this:
"A long, long time ago, there where two people who looked very much like yourselves, and as with you, they were on a journey, a quest if you will, to find what we all seem to be searching for. For reasons they may never know... They entered... A place where time and direction don't exist. Yet they still pressed on... Each day a new door, a new direction, a new way to be... Until time simply faded away. As with all those who have come before you... They only found me - their future, quietly waiting, and I asked them the same two questions I will some day ask you: Is it possible to be happy with this life? And then I will ask as I do to everyone else: Did you enjoy your story?"
My thanks again to Kraig for this special past post, and our gratitude for this gift from these two young adventurers at Gnarly Bay, who shared about their wonderful wanderings...
Please visit and enjoy: http://vimeo.com/36519586 ..... DSD 

"Our Story With No End....."

That is what our adventures are.
A story with no end...

A story of promise, of possibility, desire, and high expectations. The wild places inspire these stories and we become trusting of such experiences from out there.

We remember the uplifting moments, the fulfillment's, and the transcendence's of the mountains.

We remember the knowings, the innocence, and the expressions of the desert...

We remember the potentials, the futures, and the feelings that the rivers share...

We remember too the oceans and lakes with their newness, the breakthroughs, and their messages of hope.

Wild places for many often especially create experiences of freedom, sometimes for redemption, even emancipation's and forgiveness.

They are a story too so phoenix like in spirit, with endless new beginnings and meanings, grand memories and sensing of something 'more than' to be found.

So many musings to be discovered, so much to be enjoyed, all inviting us to go onward, to go forward, to go beyond.

A spirited story with no end, as there doesn't need to be, because the wonders are also in the journey and the telling of the story itself too..... DSD

"Our Shared Adventurous Stories..."

Oh, the tales we tell when we return from way up there.
The fireside reports we present of places so very wild and high.
The challenging accounts given of our wonderously elusive adventures.
All those forever moments about which we so wish to share...

There are many endless meanings to be gleaned.
Such immense laughter and fun to be experienced.
Even more to say and then reflect about.
Within the stories of our adventurous journeys...

Then, when resting in the quieter lingering moments .
As we gaze longingly back towards our distant summits and shorelines.
That is when we begin to listen ever more deeply.
Hopefully then to gratefully hear, and remember as well.
For how the mountains, islands, forests, and canyons.
Also begin telling us their own secret stories too..... DSD

Dedicated this adventure day to all those who are out there Adventuring For Another Reason. 

"Stories Trapped In Stone..."

"Mountains are stories trapped in stone...".   J. Auld 

"Beside Me....."

"With the long trails... I'm in the habit of rarely stopping, but I keep turning and listening to the silence, as if someone walks beside me...".  J. Auld

"Our Pictures On A Wall....."

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...

We all 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.

Some time back 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.

After a while 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 our pictures on a wall, like we all likely have my Friends, 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 

"An Immeasurable What If..."

What if.....

What if it all means we should go. You know, even with all of 'That'...

What if all of those other so important distractions, that daily distress, those preoccupations of people and time pressures, the never ending deadlines, family concerns, others issues, lack of support or sleep, that extra work, or feeling quite tired of it all - what if on another level of understanding and need, what if it all means you should go...

Of course, many of these are real concerns, important in their own way, and needing of some time and attention. But, what if, having all of these kinds of storms in our lives - rather than meaning we shouldn't or seemingly couldn't go, what if they all actually are telling us a different secret...

Even while they are trying us, testing us, to see how much we want these adventures; what if much of what we really need many times is to be found in the avocation of our wanderings out there... What if, by going, we discover more clarity, become centered again, more focused yet relaxed, renewed of energy, and so much more able to return to navigate all those other such things back here.

What if, after pondering this seemingly simple question, we each uncover a heretofore hidden and immeasurably valuable answer for ourselves...

What if.....  DSD 

"Become Your Longings..."

"In the mountains... There are times when a person's soul sets forth upon rambles of its own accord...". J. Muir

Become your longings my Friends...
Closely embrace the very things you wish for.
Then take form within your desires.
And become your longings my Friends.
Move towards your most inner knowings.
Mirror those things, those dreams you so long for.
Know that what you want can then be made real.
Take on your commitment and intentions.
Then create your very own motivations.
Look beyond any apparent mists of adversities.
Gaze past any regrets, even from long ago.
Find what is truly heartfelt just for you.
Such longings will then be so very lasting.
The eternal elemental essence of our lives.
Become your adventure longings, your very wantings, my Friends.
And thus create a source of endurance without end..... DSD    

"When We Embrace Our 'Why'....."

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how...". Nietzsche
"Such happiness as life is capable of comes from the full participation of all our powers in the endeavour to wrest from each changing situation and experience its own full and unique meaning....". John Dewey
"Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked...". Viktor Frankl
These words were certainly posed for us all to ponder, especially Nietzsche's above. Interestingly, he was an accomplished mountaineer of his time, and this quote of his is one of my very favorites. 
I have been musing about how there is so much within the subtle significance, the often hidden meanings , for why we do what we do out in the wild places.
I've written this post as specific affirmation for all the links under my "Giving Back & Passing Forward" section. All of the quotes here speak to the amazing and moving efforts these dedicated Adventurers put forth in the important support of so many others and their own trials and challenges...
When we rest and pause for reflection upon what is meant by our adventuring, we discover many impelling reasons. For what purpose do we wander - is it for the freedom, the joy, and the fun of it all...
We ponder too what grounds make up our intentions for our adventures; as it could also involve the deep confidence and competencies developed, and the fulfilling skills we eventually so practice and polish...
All so very true.
Then there is the pursuit of our dreams and visions, which are truly meaningful to us as premises too, are they not Dear Friends...
We often pledge ourselves for other reasons as well, involving motivations not only of our own, but mindful of dedication and devotion for a cause , an entrusting through our adventure efforts in support of others who have their personal challenges of health and life.
Such a weighty 'why' can provide powerful motivations unknown to us before; such momentous justification creates motives that take us so much further, very much farther, and truly more inward...
Every single one of these individual explanations speak to the depth of the 'why's' behind our commitment, our endurance, our resoluteness, even when amidst the challenges, trials, and inevitable storms out there and within. What is of real consequence then, reflecting the why's of our adventure lives, not only represents our chosen adventure objectives like a mountain summit - but more accurately reflect the personal and potent meanings these have for each of us...
So, here I now share a small compendium, a special collection, of further Viktor Frankl favorite quotes that echo such important meanings - for the 'why's' behind and beyond all of what we do out there:
"Man's search for meaning is a primary force in his life... I think the meaning of existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected....".
"There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one's life..."
"Suffering ceases to be suffering in some way at the moment it finds a meaning..."
"The meaning in life always changes, but it never ceases to be...".
I hope you have enjoyed this musing today about meaning and reflections among these insightful quotes, as a dedication this adventure season for the wonderful efforts, and the important meaningful work, each of those in my "Giving Back & Passing Forward" link section performs in 'Adventuring for Another Reason' ..... DSD

"Adventuring For A Farther Reason....."

There are so many adventure experiences that may be enjoyed by each of us, so very many terrific interests for being out there... So many motives for such efforts and for taking on these challenges, enduring the trials, pushing through the limitations... They are such personal, individual grounds for going we each hold to, yet on occasion, at very special times, we can move among the wild places for another reason...

Something else becomes the fire in our belly for being out there. Something very special transforms both our purpose and our very being. This evolves from a different kind of motivation, from a whole new level of intention; for why we do what we do in our chosen adventures. There is a unique energy within such reasons. There is also a special kind of commitment towards then fulfilling such an adventure objective. What has now influenced us to go, what then induces us to keep going, is seen to have a very different genesis. We have now chosen and committed to another kind of adventure - an adventure of cause, of purpose, one that we see as so deserving of support. Be it as a soloist, or within the symphonies of a group, we set out on a trail of inspiration, resolution, determination & dedication, that has its' own unique nature within it. We are adventuring for another reason, often for another person, who may not be able to wander the wild places as we might. While they may not be with us, they are causal, truly instrumental, as to why we are out there...

Their needs become our inspiration; their wants become our objective...

We have committed to paying a different price and our efforts, and our following through, are reward enough themselves. We are out there for anther purpose... Climbing, scrambling, hiking, paddling, trekking, biking, running; now for an ideal - for another very special reason...

What might those reasons be for you Dear Friends.......

DSD

 

***Please see all the wonderful sites linked to the right, for many amazing opportunities to 'Adventure For A Farther Reason'...***

"Romantic Realists....."

We adventurers are such romantic realists, when we turn and face that which we each have chosen, as we make our own way out among the wildest of places...

To be an adventurer is at heart, to clearly be a romantic, and yet it seems very much a realist too. We take our dream like visions and make them come true. We move past everyday life back here, and journey into the extremes and emotions out there; and then return with spirits, hearts, and perceptions renewed.

That which really matters become the elements we seek to embrace; what is within the true nature of an experience becomes that which we seek to engage.

As adventurers, we deal with things as they are, while following enthusiasms towards things that are yet to be...

We are so imaginatively practical in the pursuit of our wild passions. So often playfully serious about our fun and our freedoms. We blend risk with romanticism, and distinct objectives with subtle fulfillment's.

Such romantic realists are we, such pioneers and wanderers, poets and bards, explorers and philosophers.

We everyday adventurers..... DSD 

"Of Love And Nature..."

"I love this lake, basin of heavenly tears, tilted from lunar pull, jostling its shore... I love these mountains, stark rock outcroppings, sculpted by the oceans, lifted at some unknown time, isolated in a field of vetch, cleaved by silver falls. A sentinel owl regards me unblinkingly, and beyond alpine forests form a cadence, to a distant moon..."   Deng Ming-Dao

"We Give Our Hearts..."

"I gave my heart to the mountains the minute I stood beside this river with its spray in my face and watched it thunder into foam, smooth to green glass over sunken rocks, shatter to foam again... By such a river it is impossible to believe that one will ever be tired or old...".   W. Stegner

"Of Love & Serenity..."

"Serenity does not cancel hope or adventure, work, or love... It flows through the heart of a landscape... quiet and strong, clear and gentle. Refreshing all we do or dream...".
Patrick Brown
Serenity, contentment, love, and peace... What gifts we discover as we far adventure... DSD

"We Who Love Mountains..."

"To those who have struggled with them, the mountains reveal beauties they will not disclose to those who make no effort. And it is because they have so much to give and give it so lavishly to those who wrestle with them, that people love mountains and go back to them again and again...". F. Youngblood