Monday, August 26, 2013

Backpacking

I have finally found a quiet moment.

To be perfectly honest I'd rather be sleeping, but alas, it escapes me today. So here I am to tell you about more Wyoming adventures.

We went backpacking.

Or sort of backpacking?

Our intention was to backpack. It did not turn out quite that way, but it was fantastic anyway. If you ask me. If you ask my husband whose only pair of boots got soaking wet within the first hour and whose (new) pants and socks (that were trying to dry) had embers fly up on them and burn holes in them he would  give you a much different response.

It was drizzling when we started out. Crossing a stream (where aforementioned boots were soaked) before getting on the trail that is supposedly 2 miles. However, we have heard conflicting reports that say it may be as many as 3.5. I'm a little confused as to why there is such variation in the numbers, but regardless its an intense(ly) beautiful hike.

I was loaded down with Bubs and gear on my back and gear on my front. One foot in front of the other in the rain. Something magical and romantic about the drizzle in the wilderness while pushing your body.

Enough time had gone by and we had covered a good enough distance when we heard a voice coming from behind us 'I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you guys went the wrong way'. Should have stayed straight at the fork.

So back we go, retracing our steps. It's raining hard now, and hailing a bit. We stop under trees when we can to see if the rain will let up. Sis is soaked. Bubs is under an umbrella, the driest of all. We are worried about Sis's body temperature since she wet and cold, and as the rain falls its getting colder. We decide to go back to the car and warm up. Eventually half of our group decides the same thing. Then we decide we need to just camp by our cars that night.

The wonderful dark beautiful wilderness sky brought with it clear skies with an open view to all the stars. And the conversation between a cow and bull elk (unlike any noise I've ever heard...except maybe a fax machine. Seriously.) And a warm fire. And some red wine from a bag that someone was smart enough to bring. And conversation with people who are becoming good friends.

The cloudy misty early morning brought 41 degrees and hungry kids and a rising sun making everything clear again and a long hard hike holding Sis (we left the other child carrier at home), lots of elk tracks, and a lake with breakfast and fishing and rock throwing.

I'm still a little sore from that work out. But it was so worth it.

I'm still wondering why. Why is that I loved this mess of a trip. Rain, cold, hail, interrupted plans, tired children (who were in fabulous moods loving the woods and the lake and the stream but 'did not want to see a bear!!'), little food...I would not have held up as well as my posse when I was young.

I think it's feeling alive. Things have been stressful for a couple of years and to feel something else is like taking a deep breathe. It feels like LIFE. To feel the rain. To smell the trees. To feel the cold water. To have no lights but the sun and the fire. To hear the elk. To taste dirt on everything. To get out of the cleaned up sterile spaces that we all abide in. To have space and time to think. To push the body.







3 comments:

  1. "...I would not have held up as well as my posse when I was young."

    All I'm going to say is - bike ride, on the MKT trail, in the rain... enough said. ;-)

    But seriously, I think you're right, Meem. There is something about adversity, or actually pushing through adversity until you come out the other side, that has a way of making one feel alive. Or maybe it's being able to see adversity for what it is - a subplot to the real story, a scene thrown in to add suspense. Knowing how "good" stories go - that the good guy is always victorious in the end, the girl (the right girl!) gets the boy, good triumphs over evil - this enables the main characters to more fully engage in each scene. "In the grand scheme of things I am able to suffer a measure of discomfort for a while now, because I know the end of the story is going to be phenomena!"

    Thanks for the reminder to live a good story, a better story!

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  2. Great blog. I love your conclusion as to why you enjoyed your hike so much. It gives us city-dwellers something to think about.

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  3. Ami, I think that was your best stuff. Real, raw, simple. It was up-lifting not in spite of the circumstances, but because of them. I miss camping in all types of weather. I miss hiking in the mountains and by the ocean. I miss the wholesomeness of those scents, sounds and scenes. To be one with nature is such a delight!

    Thank you for bringing those memories back into my consciousness.
    XOXOXO

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