"A Special Spring Tide..."

While even so called, I was to learn that such tides occur not just in the spring, but rather when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are in concordance. They are the strongest of tides; the tides of extremes for highs and lows, when the pull, the drawing, of both sun and moon work synergisticly together. The moon was indeed very full as I looked out over those island waters; in a way I had not seen them in some time... The tide tables also shared what could now be viewed out among these quiet points of rock that were growing higher and larger as the minutes passed. The waters were withdrawing, were retreating, were letting go of their grasp upon the land. And as with all true mystery, now things were being shared that were not known before... I was up at that very early hour for just this experience. To listen in the night, to converse with the moon, to watch the waters ebb beyond, to walk upon a shoreline that hardly ever breathes the air, and hopefully to find those treasures that are only shared in those brief, ephemeral, moments such as this... They were indeed there... The pure soft sands, the countless shells and sand dollars, endless polished cobblestones, and tidal life so vibrant and full of energy. I wandered and strolled and walked and mused and stooped and sat... for endless moments, until the waters voice became more insistent to return. Then the first full glow of a distant horizon began to more show itself... Such a special spring tide... Another of those gentle, hidden, beautiful gifts from out there..... DSD

My appreciation to K. Garrett for the top image above, and to C. Johns for the lower image.

"Foresight....."

I've got to say. when I stand still up here. upon this very high point, and not simply composing these words - but gazing too out upon the sea of summits, the pristine valleys, a distant river, way out far below... I've got to tell you, someone had some real foresight; such distant vision... To think that from way back then, they were aware of the probability that such wild places were so vulnerable; that they predicted those many potential pressures, and saw what could foreshadow and happen out here... I've got to say how amazed and impressed I am at that kind of foresight. In this National Park, as I ponder over a post for our shared Earth Day, I am so reminded of what they were able to foresee... The way they protected these wilds places and the wild ones too, for us all, for generations to come... The care they had for the future was indicative of so much. What gifts they set aside for us to enjoy, what stewardship they established, which was to predestine taking care of it all in this way... Those who saw this, those who did this, those who passed this forward for us; I've got to say - let's also honour them this day..... DSD

My appreciation to J. Chin for the great image above.

"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

My gratitude to S. Boulet for the top image above and to B. Bosin for the lower image. DSD

"Cresting That Ridge..."

There can be those certain objectives in our lives of adventure that we dream endlessly about, commit so much to, and plan over so often... There is this one elusive summit, this one special mountain peak, that I have gazed upon every summer in our Western Rockies. I eventually attained that goal of a solo climb upon it and those precious moments up there... My first time up on that mountain was a very unique experience and I longed to return there again. It had become something more than an objective for me.. I knew the route well and was confident in my planning to go solo again. Visualizing the whole climb was a joy - the very early alpine start, being alone upon that trail, just by myself through those long hours of scree... Then I would picture each rock band; their colors, textures, and individual characters. The preparation was such great fun, and the training very challenging, but worth every hour. I would endlessly see in my minds eye the approach, the ascent, descent, and return... There seemed to be, though, one point on the climb in particular that resonated deeply with me. The summit was important; yet it was the cresting of a particular ridge that was even more significant... I knew that when this steep ridgeline was attained, that barring the most severe weather, the summit was almost assured... Having been there before I could feel again that the real difficulty was getting to, and then up upon that distinct ridgeline. The point on that crest was where I had rested before, just as the newly rising sun came around the edge of the mountain itself... My silhouette was projected out and across the sky, then over the valley below - I had never viewed anything so amazing... Returning to such places and experiencing them again is so very special. Such goals, within those ridgelines of our adventure lives, become children of our soul, reflections of our spirit, projections of ourselves... Can you see yourself out yet again Dear Finders, upon your own distant ridgelines, with the beauty of the horizon endlessly shining out there ahead of you.....DSD

"A Percentage Mental....."

On Outward Bound we had many long engaging discussions while on the trail, or resting and during meals later in the day. One theme that became central was the strong opinions our Instructors had that, while we could learn as many outdoor skills as possible, and practice them often, that a percent of our performance out there would always be mental... On many later adventures with older mountain guides and wild place mentors, I would spark similar discussion to learn of their views on this. They would all agree, even if the percentages changed a bit, that the key element here, be it about skills, fitness, endurance, or persistence past adversity - was indeed a fundamental percentage mental... But what does this mean, what does this look like, I would often ponder further, and still do to this day... We are all very individual adventurers with such varied upbringings, backgrounds, and perceptions. Our natures can be so unique and our nurturing so different too. This crux of a percentage, can be the catalyst or the downfall, but what are those elements in this essential mental component... Is it the persistence we develop over time, particularly under the supportive watchful eye of a seasoned experienced elder out there. Could it be the time and practice we put in, to sort out our skills and develop earned confidence in them. Maybe its the accumulation of the adventure experiences themselves, where we learn there is so much more within us then we ever first knew... Possibly we may have a stubbornness, a persistence of character, a willingness to push a bit further - are these part of our percentage that takes us higher... Might it be the ways and means we each strengthen our convictions, that personal determination we grow from within. This percentage surely is a part of the inherent power of envisioning within our dreams is it not... Is it the way we each seek to clarify and crystallize why we do what we do out there until these become gems of our percentage. Then too, there is that shared source which is created among friends and companions with those potent fellowships and connections. What about that powerful something else - like when we are adventuring for another reason; when we are out there for things beyond ourselves... Essentially this must be found too in the promises and commitments we make to not let others or ourselves down. Is it the assurance we sense if we prepare well, to find out what we each feel we need to know, often from the discussions with those who have gone before, and then we carry this along with us... What about all those techniques, tricks of you will, that we each develop to enhance our focus, to get us up that next bit, to move us on to taking a few more steps; the little 'psyche' kind of strategies that take us a bit further along the trails... A love of the wild places must be a potent part of this percentage too, from the way we feel at home out there, and in the ways the wilds resonate inside of each of us... Then there is the creation and recollection of the memories themselves that certainly make up a piece of this puzzle. Could those hopeful possibilities of time with the wild ones, those special ones out there whom we all are in awe of - could that also be a clue... Is it simply that we accept that these ways, those paths, are means towards becoming the persons we always wanted to be, out there as adventurers, and when we are back here also, are inherently calling out as a mindful percentage... Might it be that there are things within the trials we decide to face when adventuring, those discomforts, adversities, even painful experiences that actually draws us to them... Imagine that - as could it be we are of that hardy group that choose to make things more difficult and challenging for the fun of it. There is surely, clearly, a significantly important percentage mental within all of these paths comprising our adventure approaches. Just as when water finally boils on our mountain stoves, a simple degree beyond its set point, these small percentages will fire our enthusiasms, motivations, and endurance which will certainly all contribute to our adventure endeavors in the wild places... There are likely as many paths to enhancing these mental percentages within our chosen adventure activities, as there are adventurers out there. Therein is the value again of musing and pondering the wonder of why we do what we do when we wander.....DSD

"I've No Idea He Said..."

We only met briefly; two trekkers out upon that long trail. Him coming back in, and me just getting going. Him returning with that look of such happiness and weathering; me simply beginning with no dust yet upon me nor a sun or wind burn upon my face.While we were only meet briefly we did talk for some moments. Some great shared time, like that we all have had on our trails, to chat about terrain, directions, conditions, vistas to enjoy, and secret places to discover...But when I asked that other question, we often query about too; that inquiry over timing, what he said intrigued me even more..."I've no idea", he said when I asked how long its' been and how long its' taken. "No idea at all, because I don't really know...", "What day or date it is, or the time of day really either...".All this said with a smile on the face of one who doesn't care, about such definers or parameters, when they long wander out there...He was returning with such a wondrous gift, of perceptions like these. I was just starting to head out, only beginning to sense, to be reminded again of the value of this way of wandering.We only met and shared briefly; but I won't soon forget...DSD

"When The Trees Sing..."

"When the trees sing, It doesn't really matter if you know the song,Or if you know the words,Or even if you know the tune. What really matters is knowing, That the trees are singing at all." M. Stepanek

Inspiration can be found in so many places. Inspiration may be discovered among such diverse voices. I ponder this quote today from a very young philosopher. Thinking how he would have been so wonderful a companion and wanderer... Now as I listen to the songs of these of these so old trees, Among the wilds visiting with these ever present ancient winds, Musing about 'knowings', and singing, and other subtle wonders.....DSD

"Goal Questing....."

"Goals... are part of an internal quest - one of fulfillment and excellence in the here and now. The key to goal realisation is to choose challenging destinations that will enable you to create joy during the journey." Huang & Lynch

Such enlightened perspectives on goals,

So personal reflections of our selves,

Adventures among every step,

Joy within almost all moments,

What could be more wondrous,

Than such quests for our goals...

DSD

"A Symphony Of Movement, Motion, And Music..."

Who first called them 'slabs' we may never know, and they likely mirror those countless other local cliffs hidden away out there, yet near enough to us all. It was just to be a quiet day for me. A rest day for tired legs and old tendons. A day for simple recovery of walking, carrying little except some books, water, and a big lunch. I remember that day chuckling how it wasn't that long ago that a much younger one had commented about how 'retro' I was in still using my old cassette player I had to listen to the muses and their music. Now I have a little Shuffle too which never ceases to amaze me with its size, capacity, and simple complexity. The name fits with me as well as that is how I feel my hiking is now at times these many decades in, especially with a full pack upon my back.

I was early and able to find and lay claim to the best shaded ground, under an even more perfect tree nearby our slabs, in this ancient valley. With some water and my journal in my lap, and those fancy little ear buds all tucked in my ears, I now could simply watch the many others here practice and move their way up and across these many polished rock slab faces.

After dozing for a bit, and then waking to wonder what the young ones must think about the grey hair asleep under the tree, I turned up the volume some. Then I began to just watch, to enjoy their enthusiasm, and to appreciate their boundless energy. The next few hours was the best blending of the most amazing symphony of music, motion, and movements I have experienced in ages...

While they were not listening to what I was, they must have been hearing their own harmonies as they climbed. What artists they all were that adventure day. Each had a grace in their movements, and a focus to their motion... All were joined in that wonderful vertical dance upon ancient rock...

Not all were as skilled as others in leading these routes, but all were still artists of a kind... Even those that struggled or fell, still did so in a dramatic fashion - like the heroes we read about who always get up even after being solidly knocked down time and again... It seemed that when the tempo of my silent music picked up, so did their wonderful efforts...

Then when I was listening to some quieter sounds, their focus seemed to increase but slow. What amazing synchronicity it was... What beautiful compositions this all made, this symphony of motion, and movement, and music...

What a wonderful adventurous rest day it was, out among all this spirit and stone.....

DSD

My thanks to B. Model for the lower image above, and to P&K Smith for the upper image.

"Touching The Same Cairn....."

Similar weather, such a familiar route.

The same sea of summits, views from memories too...

Ageless rocks of a cairn, holding close an old summit register.

Trembling some as it is opened...

And there, the same hand writing, now as back then.

Both words and paper faded; though meanings still so vibrant...

Then the simple placing of a few Summit Stones, and moments for quiet reflection.

Touching the same cairn, now with older lined hands,

Much greyer of hair as well,

Being tempered of energy,

Yet not of spirit.

So many years have passed,

To return to where it all began.....

DSD

My sincere appreciation to S. Abegg for the top image above, and to R. Ingraham for the lower image.

"Ask....."

On this adventure,

In those moments,

What is it that you might need to ask...

What ponderings do you want to have answered...

What is it you hope to find; to discover yet again out there...

What could there be that you wish to more understand; maybe even about what you may already sense...

About out there, in the wilds.

About in here, within your heart.

From deep within your spirit too.

On this adventure,

In those moments,

Ask.......

DSD

"Ceremonial Stones..."

The ancients called them Stones of Ceremony, Learning Stones, Rocks of Passage, among other cultural & spiritual references and descriptions too. They were used in sacred ceremonial experiences, almost always out deep within the wild places, most importantly as ways of keeping memories alive...

Being the substance of rock, that of lasting stone, they became symbols passed from one hand to another; from one generation forward hopefully everlasting in this way. They are instrumental as ways for remembering, for recalling significant events, to bring back memories of persons, in relearning lessons to important to lose, in sharing stories of challenge and accomplishments, wonderments, and especially of emotions too...

The stories that were symbolically attached to such Stones of Ceremony were woven into their history, beliefs, and ways of the people who polished them so. This is not surprising considering the enduring substance of stone, and the uniqueness of every one in its' own shape, color, texture, and even the character of each one.

I have seen how persons hold these memory rocks with such reverence, almost as if by handling them, they return to a time before and become more in touch with those who have long ago passed them forward...

Combined with the nature of stone we join and blend the wonders of memories and ceremony, and the synergy found in doing so, is truly another kind of elemental energy.

While we only pass through these elements, Stones of Ceremony are indeed one of the eternal elementals from out there. They are like the Scholar Rocks I have written about before, another of the mysteries of hidden history the I so enjoy reflecting upon within my own stone endeavours.....

DSD

"A Touch On The Arm....."

I was just catching up with one of my old friends made while out years ago with Outward Bound. Both of us had been away recently coastal winter kayaking. There is a very close connection developed there that we have had for what seems ages now. We often chuckle and reminisce about our novice selves and the way we first faced challenges way back then. He was one who brought confidence with him to that experience, and then found new ways to grow this internal element even further when out there...During one of the many shared trust and personal challenge exercises, he stood beside me as I was next to go. Certain heights and some kinds of edges have always invited a bit of anxiousness for me. He could read this upon my face, and at that difficult point, he simply reached over and touched my arm... Then with a smile on his own face he just nodded to me...

This was a gesture reflecting subtle, powerful, quiet messages of 'I'm here', 'You can do this', and as he had just gone before, of 'If I can then you can'...

His face always comes to mind as I have passed forward such encouragement to others over these many years. Encouragement is a gift twice given it seems, and always, always, will bring a smile to each and every one of us adventurers...

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

"Stone Stairways....."

I have always enjoyed reading by a fire and later yesterday I took an old tome off a shelf which had collected too much dust. Paging through it gently, as such aged books need to be handled carefully, I found a note on a piece of paper I likely used as a bookmark way back when...

After reading the words there, I reviewed the pages where it had been found, then pondered who might have first said it. I do not recall the words as my own, could not find them in the tome, nor had any reference been noted.

The mysterious quotation simply said: "The mountains are stone stairways...".

Just these five words; nothing more.

As I gazed into the fire, many musings crossed my mind of how the mountains are indeed such stairways - ascending ways and paths of rock and ice, scree and snow, of challenges and trials, of directions forwards and upwards, towards profoundly personal experiences and meanings that we each discover all along the way.

Such beautiful stone stairways are our elusive high places that we each seek.....

DSD

"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

My thanks for the top image above to A.G. Belt.

"Circumnavigations....."

The circle is a powerful symbol. Many adventurers embrace the concept of the 'Grand Circle', knowingly or not. It blends with all of what we do out there as we enclose our wanderings within the language, ways, and means of such symbols. The circle has also been viewed as a continuous path in many cultures and histories. Circles upon, and within circles - or circumnavigations; are very potent adventures. Such voyages and journeys take us all around, all the way to the edges, and then finally back again...

We so circumscribe the elements, crossing meridians, and all points of the compass by doing so, in actuality and through the adventure metaphor as well.

I remember... Circumnavigating those many coastal islands, then returning again to the same point we launched and embarked upon, but not as the same persons at all...

We recall... Surrounding Mt. Temple from east to west, north & south and then back again, from trail head to scramble route, through hiking and climbing, and so much more...

We remember... Following the circumference of so many maps from wild places to further wilderness, then on to that internal terrain even more elusive...

I myself remember... The circuitous nature of returning, coming back full circle, to the very first mountain climbed, the initial river rafted, where a certain wild animal was first sighted, that place where the worst fall was taken, the lakes of my youth, the injury that almost ended these journeys, and those so special wild places where some selected little stones were gathered up and an idea was formed...

Such potent symbols circles are, such wonderful journeys circumnavigations become.....

DSD

My appreciation to M. Hill for the above images.

"A Misplaced Dream..."

There is a river out there I know well, but have yet to run all of it. It is not the longest, or largest, nor the most grand - yet it holds a truly unique beauty within its' remote fluid wildness.

Near this river is a small somewhat hidden valley. I so want to journey down between the high rock walls that embrace the older growth forests held closely there. Some of those streams from this valley feed the waters of that river which is the only way to access this undiscovered area on my map...

At the far end, at the very farthest point from this river I have yet to paddle, is an unusual mountain. Not the highest, but certainly the most aesthetic one nearby. It is a severe craggy rock, with old ice and deep snow upon it on a scale not seen on many high points now. The summit of this distant mountain may not likely have ever been visited, other than by the wind or the feathered ones, or so it feels when I dream about it...

A season does not go by where I do not also find myself again envisioning a journey upon that river, down that pristine valley, and then slowly ascending that elusive mountain...

We all have such wild places & plans, possibly misplaced dreams that we need to revisit, from deep within our hearts, where our spirit longs to wander... The energy of life is made up of such hope and dreams...

I hope to dream again of my secret adventure there yet again tonight.....

DSD

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

"What Will It Take....."

What will it take, the Muses say,

Then too the storms call out,

What toll are we each prepared to give.

What will be asked of us, the shadows state,

What will it take, the echoes call as well,

For each to choose, then each to strive, with all they have,

On paths of efforts, and such trails of time...

Now let us commit, responds the ageless voices,

For then it seems, all the more surely, we will each discover,

Whatever it takes, to be on our way...

DSD

My thanks to F. Polimeni for the top image above, and to G. Wiltsie for the lower image.

"New Beginnings....."

"Prevalent in primal lore are stories of beginnings... Sacred myths and cherished legends narrate the origins of the cosmos itself, the earth and its life, and human beings and their purposes. Only if we know how things began, the primal mind seems to say, do we know how to continue..". P. Novak

Therein is one of our many reasons for why we muse about the origins of our adventures; for the very why we do what we do, out in the wild places. We often seem to grasp why it is we began; yet understanding too why we keep going especially when the trails become trials is certainly as important.

How & why & when did you begin to head out there - we often inquire of one another.

What adventures did you first start out upon we also share about.

Then, most interestingly, as the seasons pass, as the many years come and go, we just as often find ourselves returning to those times and places and reasons we began with...

Adventures within experiences,

Wonders within moments,

Returning to beginnings,

Full circle yet again,

This early new year.....

DSD