"Just An Offering..."

"Having nothing to offer but broken pebbles, I have nevertheless tried to express myself with sincerity..."
Henjokongo 

"Ephemeral Connections..."

Remember, the last time you heard an eagle's voice. Those who have also heard the longing calls of a loon out over a northern lake know how moving this is as well. We who have listened intently to the haunting music grey wolves create in our forests and mountains, have felt so much within those meaningful moments too. When sea kayaking out near grey whales, or nearby orca's, these momentous experiences become unforgettable memories.
Who has stumbled upon the tracks of a wild animal, like a mountain ram, or those of a grizzly bear out among the high peaks, and has not known the wonder, the tingling, the impelling attention such a discovery invites within us all...
When we ponder the distinct significance of these moments, as we muse over the importance and symbolism within these lasting connections, we then discover such amazing meanings ...
We are all seeking so many things out there. Something reflecting our personal purpose, our individual insights, our own unique motives, These are enduring perceptions that affirm what is most moving for each of us.
It truly can be those ephemeral connections with the wild ones, our wild animal friends, that present exactly that kind of wonderful possibility. 
Then, when we share something of our intentions and commitments with them in turn, we begin to understand our most inner selves as well..... DSD 

"A Never Ending Wonderful Journey..."

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others...".    Gandhi

"A Further True Journey..."

"Remember, again and again, that the true journey is into the undiscovered land of your own imagination, which you could not have explored any other way than through these adventures, with gratitude in your satchel, and compassion for all you see as your touchstone...".  P. Cousineau  

"I Have Been Given More Than My Share..."

"I have had the world lie beneath my clumsy boots and have seen the red sun slip over the horizon after the dark Antarctic winter. I have been given more than my share of excitement, beauty, laughter and friendship...". Sir Edmund Hillary
When we climb on further, as we then attain such altitude, in those long moments along the way, and then finally up there among the ancient rock, maybe snow and ice, clouds and winds, of our chosen summit - we can be struck by so many things, even when no passing storm is present...
It doesn't matter at this point how hard it was, or what efforts and endurance were asked of us. We have paid the price and often see how inconsequential this is now. For we would do it all over again, because of those meanings are worth every step.
In these forever moments too other things of significance hit home as well. Those insights, those epiphanies, that awareness, which takes us beyond ourselves and the vistas before us.
Within those lasting seconds, in however we each define this, the inexpressible now becomes illuminated, the physical is now transcended.
Such philosophical time up at altitude within our adventures is indeed so very striking...
We begin to truly realize how lucky we are to have a body, a mind, the ability, will and spirit, which takes us upon such wild place experiences.
We have all felt that depth of appreciation when at such heights of emotion.
Then to remember those connections for those present with us, those who have gone before, and even those yet to come. Now we too, are of that family, whom the mountains' embrace...
There is indeed an elevating hopefulness and thankful gratitude that at times surpasses explanation up there. For suddenly, surely, completely, these heartfelt moments take us away and we stand in awe and wonder, as if struck by lightning, yet with no storm passing..... DSD 

"Of Gratefulness, Thankfulness, And Moments..."

Let's all take a few moments, to simply reflect upon our appreciations, and the gratitude we each have, for having one another in our lives.
A thanksgiving homage for all of you my Friends.

"Deeper Within Our Moments..."

Back in those initial moments,
During all of that intensive preparation.
We each dreamed of eventually being on our way,
Towards a longed for journey of adventure - and then we began...
Up there in those unfolding moments,
Upon that long winding ridgeline,
Over rock we were not sure of,
We felt there would be so much energy and excitement - and there clearly was...
Amidst those very challenging moments,
Throughout the route, and then the crux of this chosen mountain.
We thought there would be those engaging sensations of such focus and concentration - and there certainly were...
Then deep within those forever moments,
Finally upon our so elusive summit.
Within that calmness of winds, clouds, and perceptions,
We hoped for those gentle emotions of contentment and connection - and now there always will be..... DSD 

Dedicated this quiet thanksgiving, as we reflect upon that which we appreciate , that which we are grateful for, and as we muse over the many meanings of our wonderful journeys. 
For the WWF , WSPA , IFAW , and Vital Ground .
For all of you too who are still underway 'Adventuring For Another Reason'. 
It is a privilege to share in your journeys .
It is an honour to know you all my Friends....... 

"Rapt In Awe..."

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. 
He whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as gone; his eyes are closed...". A. Einstein

"Gaze Up..."

"I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly -- or ever -- gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a dark night sky filled with countless stars loses a sense of their fundamental connectedness to the universe...".  B. Greene

"Kinship....."

"In earlier times, people recognized and respected animals as kin, as living relations sharing the earth. Through such kinship, animals were our totems, familiars, and healers long before they were ever domesticated...".  M. Fox  

"Each And Every One..."

"Some places in this world are very hard to climb.
Sometimes people ask animals to help them with this.
Each person can only ride one.
And each animal likely has a different name.
The riders go up the trail in different orders.
They often discuss their various opinions about their experiences.
They may even have conflicting opinions.
At the summit the travelers all stand in the same place.
Each of them has the same chance to view the same vistas.
The animals are then put to rest and graze.
We all travel such paths.
The animals are like the various doctrines that each of us embraces.
What does it matter which doctrine we embrace as long as it leads to the same quiet summit...".
D. Ming-Dao

"Begin With Fun..."

"The best climber in the world, is the one having the most fun...".   Alex Lowe

"Start Somewhere..."

"One who can move mountains, starts with the little stones...".  Confucius

"Unity Of Body, Mind, And Spirit..."

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 wild place, 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   

"Farther Harmony..."

"Love is the life of the soul.
It is the harmony of the universe...".  W.E. Channing

"Such Harmony..."

“I tried to discover, in the rumor of forests and waves, words that other men could not hear, and I pricked up my ears to listen to the revelation of their harmony.”  G. Flaubert

"A Further Secret..."

There is a great wealth of wisdom literature around about the ways and means people keep going when the going gets extreme and severe. 
Most reflects upon how and why and with what motives they draw their strength from - even long after most of us might have expected to have given up. 
Much of this writing defines principles of behaviour and describes strategies by which severe challenges may be met and overcome.
Yet what I find of most interest is that a great many of the examples used and the case studies applied involve those who would see themselves as adventurers...
The unique hidden gemstone in this literature is that we, ourselves as adventurers, are very often the 'subjects of study'. 
Be it climbers, trekkers, soloists, survivalists, kayakers, adventure racers, mountain bikers - all of us at one time have become the prime case example in such studies.
The research typically looks at why we do it, how we bounce back, how it is we keep going, and going, and going; and also inquires about the paradox of us actually making experiences harder for the 'fun of it' out there.
This wild resilience we adventurers have is both puzzle and paradox to those who study us. 
Yet we know, don't we... 
The secrets of what is to be found out there... 
And within each of us as well...
Such examination and the wisdom literature that comes of it would seem to be of real and distinct value to all of us wild place wanderers who muse and ponder through tough times.
But also clearly for anyone hoping to better understand human resilience in general.
We are an interesting wild bunch aren't we Dear Finders.....  DSD   

"A Little Secret..."

"One of the deep secrets of life is that most that is really worth the doing is what we do for others...".  L. Carroll  

"Sincere Appreciation..."

“A sincere attitude of gratitude is a beatitude for secured altitudes. 
Appreciate what you have been given...".    I. Ayivor 

"A Subtle Truth..."

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

"One Of Our Oldest Questions..."

"The Greeks pondered the causes of things. If you had asked them, 'Why are there mountains' they'd give you four causes. The Material cause is the ground has the potential to become a mountain. The Efficient cause is that mountains are just elevated earth standing up. The Formal cause is the earth raised them up. But the Final cause is where it gets interesting. They'd say the Final cause of mountains is they exist because humans need to look up and dream..."
"I've always been fascinated by the why . You know, the oldest questions in the world...". J. Auld