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 yukon hankerin' intrepid dog lovin' fleet footed adventure racing pie packing poet who is ever keen to cave hunt, route find, night hike, and has finally introduced Bishop to Mt. Bishop
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada
934 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2005 : 12:12 AM
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What is the impetus for this bizarre behaviour that has me
Walking my feet to wet, wrinkled, cavernous blisters
My hips growing rubbing, weeping, ruby welts
My nose running rampant with the strength of the wind
My pretty face burnt to red by the sun
And dried to tender thinness by the wind
Hands cracking and the cracks spreading
The space between my toes separating, causing bodily concern
My sleep interrupted by night rustlings and stirrings
My sleeping bag almost too wet to sleep in
And my hiking clothes almost too wet to touch, stick my leg in, pull over my hesitant skin
My body is tired
Tired of walking
Tired of watching, listening for half hidden dangers
Almost... too tired to continue
Hmm… I think I have my answer
Almost.
In the space between
Almost
and
Unable
There is a strength that is seldom tapped
It demands work conditions that are
Almost
Too cold and wet
It works in conditions that are far too hot
It toils during dark, unhappy, dismal, scary jobs
It slithers along paths that are sickeningly steep
It sticks and binds to rocks that are too slippery
It flings open the door and trudges wholeheartedly out into the dark
It is the bravest, smartest, wiliest, nimblest entity I have ever met
I was surprised beyond all awe the first time we met
I sometimes want to meet again.
Maybe that is why.
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 canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6788 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2005 : 10:42 PM
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| Because you can.. and will.And when given the chance you will enjoy the freedom and rewards,and then step up the challenge. |
Edited by - Aqua Terra on 10/01/2005 10:45 PM |
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ass wigglin, cheese lovin, 4x4 drivin, apostrophe hatin, hiking chick who loves camping on snow
spaceship..
Canada
7209 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2005 : 11:28 PM
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Because somewhere amid those torturous demands you speak of there is perhaps something that soothes the soul...
Although I have to admit that my feet have never turned all wrinkly, but the space between my toes... hhhrrrmmm 
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I am a backpacker, and I wear hiking boots - don't diss my boots ;) |
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North Vancouver
262 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2006 : 4:04 PM
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Janna: You have real talent as a writer - please continue sharing with us. I would also hazard to say that it's very much to your credit that you arrived at your insight by means other than climbing (given what you say 'bout your FOH) which is the means by which most outdoors people have a similar...um... epiphany?
You may enjoy reading about a similar insight offered in an article called "The Third Party", written by the late John Lauchlan. It's found in the Canadian Mountaineering Anthology, edited by Bruce Fairley.
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Bowen Island, BC
Canada
614 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2006 : 5:21 PM
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A kid's lament is, "It's not fair!"
I want my daughters to love life, love the Earth, and love themselves. So I want them to experience everything of interest, and have lots of good surprises too. When they were younger, I figured my job was to open doors. Hopefully they will now recognize that there are doors even when you cannot see them.
But when they would cry, "It's not fair," all I could offer was, "No one promised you 'fair'." And that is true for human society.
Well, to experience nature and to test yourself is to experience what fairness is all about. It is revealing, it is truth, and sometimes it is noble.
It is great to see you posting, Bishop. I enjoyed this exploration.  |
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Why Hiking?
