Written on 7/12/08 - Saturday
I'm hiking up to the Saddle today. A beautiful clear sky awaits me.
--
I sit atop the mountains in splendor, and I cannot write, for the tears do blur my eyes.
--
The walk down was the hardest part. How could anyone ever want to leave such a place? Even now, sitting on my rock by the lake, it seems so near, yet it took me most of the morning to get there. If only I could have stayed longer, but the clouds were forming overhead and it was past midday.
Now, before I forget, here is a list of all the people I have connected with down here:
1 - Guy who sold me propane at the grocery store had a friend who went to PAPA fest.
2 - Guys who gave me chapstick went to Wheaton.
3 - Couple that gave me chapstick the second time had cousins that went to Wheaton.
4 - Girl I met on the way to the Saddle grew up in Wheaton and has a cottage in Stoughton on the lake. She even knew where my house was! How crazy is that?
So yeah, a lot. I think I'll go swimming now.
--
Just had dinner, and I'm entertaining myself by listening to the old men talk over to my right. God has taught me tonight mot to worry about things I have no control over. I was wasting time worrying over whether it would rain, and I wanted so badly for it NOT to rain, but after a while, God told me it wasn't worth worrying over, because He clothes the animals and flowers everyday, and how much greater is His love for me! So if it rains, I'll be prepared, and it can't last forever.
The middle guy has a laugh like Doug, and the older man, who is 61, snowboards.
So, I've found out that the best way to observe wildlife naturally is while going to the bathroom. I had a deer come right up to me this morning, after the bear two days ago. Very interesting.
What is the first thing a snowboarder says to a skier when they meet on the slopes? "Whoa, dude, sorry!"
What's the second thing? "Dude, hold my snowboard while I kiss your girlfriend."
--Told eloquently by a 61-year-old man.
These two days on Lawn Lake have been amazing. I could come here again and again. Goodnight.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Rockies - Day Three
Written on 7/11/08 - Friday
Well, I made it. It was a long, hard hike, but I made it to Lawn Lake. The one thing I crave most right now is chapstick. I'm kicking myself now for not putting it in my pocket before I left. The air is so dry here, and my lips are suffering for it.
Besides that, it is magnificent here. I am a short walk away from the Lake, which is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It's calm, clear, and a little cooler because of the elevation, but downright splendid. I think I'll stay up tonight and watch the stars come out.
--
Lawn Lake is perfect. It's like Maine...with mountains! I got some chapstick from the guys in the site next to me, and then spent the day think, reading, and hiking around the Lake. I don't need to worry about water, because the Lake's right there, and I don't need to gather wood for a fire. I can go to bed with the sun, and rise with him as well. I have so much time to let this whole trip sink in, instead of having the week fly by. Plus, there are tons of people around, which is actually nice. Even though it's not all Thoreau and solitude at Walden Pond, there is a certain bread of comfort to gain by having people around. We all keep our distance, but if I am in need, as with the chapstick, there is someone close at hand to turn to.
The lake is shining with the slowly setting sun, and there is a steady breeze, cooled by the snowy mountains: mammoth guardians over a sea of diamonds.
Well, I made it. It was a long, hard hike, but I made it to Lawn Lake. The one thing I crave most right now is chapstick. I'm kicking myself now for not putting it in my pocket before I left. The air is so dry here, and my lips are suffering for it.
Besides that, it is magnificent here. I am a short walk away from the Lake, which is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It's calm, clear, and a little cooler because of the elevation, but downright splendid. I think I'll stay up tonight and watch the stars come out.
--
Lawn Lake is perfect. It's like Maine...with mountains! I got some chapstick from the guys in the site next to me, and then spent the day think, reading, and hiking around the Lake. I don't need to worry about water, because the Lake's right there, and I don't need to gather wood for a fire. I can go to bed with the sun, and rise with him as well. I have so much time to let this whole trip sink in, instead of having the week fly by. Plus, there are tons of people around, which is actually nice. Even though it's not all Thoreau and solitude at Walden Pond, there is a certain bread of comfort to gain by having people around. We all keep our distance, but if I am in need, as with the chapstick, there is someone close at hand to turn to.
The lake is shining with the slowly setting sun, and there is a steady breeze, cooled by the snowy mountains: mammoth guardians over a sea of diamonds.
Rockies - Day Two
Written on 7/10/98 - Thursday
I am currently sitting on on the slopes of Dark Mountain, underneath the Bridal Veil Falls, eating, and observing one predatory chipmunk approach my bag with caution. It is as if he knows that I am watching, and is counting on me to slip up so that he can crawl inside and raid my supply of granola bars. I have attempted to scare him off by taking a photo of him, but alas, to no avail! He is my only worry in the world now, excepting my decreasing water supply. I misjudged how thirsty I would become over the hike, and only brought one container. What remains will hopefully be enough for the return journey.
I have concluded thus far that I worry far too much about what tomorrow will bring, things and duties that are required of me back home, the rest of the summer, the school semesters, and so forth from there. I must begin with all earnestness to concentrate my thoughts on the current moment, in order to not worry about tomorrow.
There is far more time to be made out of the day than we give it credit for. I'll stop here for now, for the mist is wetting my pages.
--
I have just had my first full pipe of tobacco, sitting here by the fire. I can see how it could be pleasing if one can get the hang of it. Nonetheless, it was quite entertaining to smoke a pipe on the slope of a mountain.
I am rather frightened of hiking up to Lawn Lake tomorrow. It will be a long 4 1/2 mile hike, uphill most of the way. I do hope I can get out of here on time to get on the trail before the sun starts to get hot.
I saw my first--and hopefully last--bear today. It came upon me while I was going to the bathroom in the woods. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life: defenseless and pants-less! However, the bear, as soon as I moved in surprise, turned tail and ran away. I spent the better part of the hour talking to myself and reading Thoreau out loud to alert any other creatures to my presence.
I am currently sitting on on the slopes of Dark Mountain, underneath the Bridal Veil Falls, eating, and observing one predatory chipmunk approach my bag with caution. It is as if he knows that I am watching, and is counting on me to slip up so that he can crawl inside and raid my supply of granola bars. I have attempted to scare him off by taking a photo of him, but alas, to no avail! He is my only worry in the world now, excepting my decreasing water supply. I misjudged how thirsty I would become over the hike, and only brought one container. What remains will hopefully be enough for the return journey.
I have concluded thus far that I worry far too much about what tomorrow will bring, things and duties that are required of me back home, the rest of the summer, the school semesters, and so forth from there. I must begin with all earnestness to concentrate my thoughts on the current moment, in order to not worry about tomorrow.
There is far more time to be made out of the day than we give it credit for. I'll stop here for now, for the mist is wetting my pages.
--
I have just had my first full pipe of tobacco, sitting here by the fire. I can see how it could be pleasing if one can get the hang of it. Nonetheless, it was quite entertaining to smoke a pipe on the slope of a mountain.
I am rather frightened of hiking up to Lawn Lake tomorrow. It will be a long 4 1/2 mile hike, uphill most of the way. I do hope I can get out of here on time to get on the trail before the sun starts to get hot.
I saw my first--and hopefully last--bear today. It came upon me while I was going to the bathroom in the woods. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life: defenseless and pants-less! However, the bear, as soon as I moved in surprise, turned tail and ran away. I spent the better part of the hour talking to myself and reading Thoreau out loud to alert any other creatures to my presence.
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