December 27, 2012

This morning began as a cool one. The temperature has been dropping going forward on into the winter season. Snow is on the ground and the days are at last becoming longer in relation to the sunlight at this latitude. It may well be awhile before the warming begins. Should see a change in

things on the ground as we near the 1^st ten days of February.

Going inside is simply the rest of the story after the clamor and calamity of the material world and by extension the American Culture— has had its course with us.

Unaware are those that simply have not experienced the constant and consistent wearing away of the Spiritual-side or bombardment of the military- industrial amenities economy via the media moguls, the resource kings and princesses and the general psychological degradation involved in the American shopping experience itself.

These unaware folks may have the key to the reasonable, sensible and a saner style of living. I think Rolf and Miller above have the key too.

December 25, 2012

There comes a time as was today-- This morning the only tracks in the sand-snow were those of Ellie- Mae's and mine...  nice cold day overall... At times it seemed like the Spirit shone on us all... nice cold day!

December 3, 2012

“He who learns must suffer…”  —Aeschylus

Ever since humans shed their fur and felt the warmth of a lightning-caused fire and realized that if they could keep the flame alive, they could avoid the brutal cold forever, we’ve spent a good portion of our time in pursuit of that goal. For those of us who reside in the “modern world,” the effort to stay warm is as challenging as turning the dial on the thermostat. But before gas furnaces and heat pumps and electric radiant heat and solar collectors, staying warm could be a full-time job. If any of you has ever tried, at least for a while, to stay warm with a wood fire and a good cast iron stove, you know the challenge. The work never ends. There’s never enough fuel and the fire always dies at three in the morning. But for most Americans, at least, even that chore is only something to be read about—“Honey, turn up the heat,” is all we need to do to stay warm.

But there are a few of us, driven by forces that can’t quite be explained, who possess a willingness to suffer and display an utter lack of common sense that causes us to abandon these comforts and deliberately seek the misery of sub-freezing temperatures. I’ve been doing this for years and still dabble in self-inflicted misery from time to time. It’s called ‘winter camping.’ It started like this…

— Jim Stiles—

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2012/12/01/take-it-or-leave-it-winter-camping-by-jim-stiles/

The dog— big black lab— is aging and goes a lot slower these days. Will bring her over to G-town on turkey day for a walk up Guanella— to the G-town Water Supply for a swim. She loves swimming and hopefully the Water Supply will still have an unfrozen lead in which she may. Ellie- Mae has grown accustomed [I think…] to the various nick-names I give her as each day unfolds.

• Elwood
• Mae
• Bubbsters
• Bubbers
• big dog

These she responds to most of the time. And then of course there is—>  big black dog.

                                                   

The politicicking is still going on, as is the unfolding propaganda of the marketers. Now, Hostess Bakeries is going by the wayside after a huge profiteering run. Sometimes businesses become just too large and greed ridden.

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I pay attention to my INSIDES at different times more than the externals. Not to say the externals are any less important of a focus. Helps to keep me engaged in the REAL. 

 

Seems a hiker must!

Be well,

me

November 10, 2012

When this type of weather disturbance occurs in late fall [as it is happening today in the Denver Basin]… it serves to remind me about sleeping in the tent. Oh sleeping in the tent!

Do you resonate inside with the following quote from a hiker’s blog? —> 

Lessons Learned
“…While I feel my planning was very solid, I learned a lot from having a friend along that was struggling. The human element is probably the most unpredictable of all factors when planning trips and traveling with capable people is paramount to having and enjoyable trip. I have to take on a big part of the responsibility for our near miss because I allowed someone who was not adequately prepared to come on a very difficult hike. Outside of that issue, the trip was a stellar success. I got the chance to introduce four great friends to a backcountry experience that ranks right up there with the most rewarding backpacking trips I have done.”

http://www.summitpost.org/thunder-river-deer-creek-loop-grand-canyon-national-park/460019

It is the solace that sleeping in the tent with winter weather provides the soul.

October 26, 2012

From a friend— concerning the weather this morning:

“… first its numbing, then clears your thoughts…”—

Today is the second pulse of this Western Storm to push in w/ snow. It is dramatically cooler and the skiff left in the metro area has the leaves on the remaining trees embraced in a blanket. The trees appear from here to be 80%+ gone. Remember photosynthesis here at this elev. and latitude stops during the week of August 8^th through the 14^th. It has been a rather nice interlude in between the end of the growing season then; and the on- coming middle- autumn weather conditions we are benefiting from today. Indian Summer is gone now and the animals that are left in the urbanized corridor as the media moguls call it now— are left to manage without assistance: for them selves as they always are left to fend.

Today in my opinion is exactly weather to wake up from in the backpacker tent and move about in efforts to keep warm and go/ or continue hiking –backpacking. Those of you who know the Abajo’s and have been in this area when a Colorado Plateau storm has pushed/ pulsed through can empathize with my sentiment this morning.  I am reminded again and again about the calling of the weather and at times lament my suburbanized schedule these days that prohibit me from doing what we all know to be the soul- food of the hiker— to be out in it… to immerse the self in the wrappings of the temperatures, humidity conditions and the general ambiance of its play upon the skin.  Right?

I smile as I suppose you are—

 

October 18, 2012, Lakewood, CO

11:12:49, hours MDT

...continued hiker’s meditation…

Well, the frosts and pooled water upon the ground in varying places has been lightly freezing, forming the ever familiar crusts of the on- going seasonal change here.

The big NW front came through and blew hard for what seemed to be over 10 hours total. The windiness was truly an event to be experienced. Steady winds I suppose in the 35 mph category with elongated higher “gusts.” Those of us who relish these wind events were rewarded.

The trees look, appear and give the impression to be more than 50-60% gone. Some trees are continuing to hold onto some leaves of color and some are continuing on w/ the pale watery green of the season. Others, mainly the ornamentals are completely barren at this date. The ground cover has moved from the yellow to now the deeper shades of red, brown and some gray is noticeable. The rabbit brush is nearly gone to, having gone to seed virtually- completely.