Into the Wilderness
Last night I did something that I was suddenly struck with an inspiration to do about a week ago. The impulse was incredibly strong, so I followed through with it last night. I had this weekend off, making it possible. Classes start up for me again tomorrow, Monday, so my available free days are becoming less available.
I took myself out camping (nothing different there, for I've been doing that quite a bit of late), but this time I hiked out to a spot in the true wilderness. I won't say where I went on this open forum. Let's just say I was not supposed to be there. It was a location I am familiar with, and that I felt comfortable being in, and is not too terribly far away. I did walk to the spot for about a mile carrying for the first time my backpack loaded with what I would need. No idea how much extra weight was in it, but I did just fine. I did not stay in a campground (obviously), but I also did not light a fire, as that would have been an absolute 'no no'. Besides, it only got down into about the 50s last night, and there was no need for me to cook anything, for along with the journey I was fasting for a day. All I left behind was some crushed grass, and some salts and nitrates in the grass. I harmed no animals, other than killing a few of the abundant mosquitos.
I felt compelled to go on somewhat of a 'vision quest'. I wanted to spend a night in the true wilderness, a fair distance from any people, civilization, and to spend some time meditating. There is an issue in my life that has been weighing rather heavily on my mind, a committment that I feel I'm supposed to be making to myself . . . and I have been resisting. I will not share any of those personal details here . . . . but the evening was somewhat fruitful for me. As I said previously I also tested my resolve, and for this one day, for more than a 24-hour period, I fasted. I've never done that before, and found surprisingly, it was rather easy to do. When I felt hungry, I drank water. Lots of it. It took the sensation away. Also, last night, once I got to where I was going, and set my tent up, and got into it (as it was the only safe place to be with all the bugs, to include ticks) I spend a couple hours until darkness meditating. The lack of food in my system, distracting some of my body's energy, allowed me to attain a meditative state far easier. My mind was clear. My focus more acute.
I listened to the night creatures take the stage. A whip-poor-will sang most of the night. In the earlier hours I heard a duet, with the new singer being wound up a bit tighter than the first, for it whip-poor-willed a lot faster. I did not hear any owls. Nor coyotes. Or, sadly, no wolves, which I was kindof hoping for, as I was in an area where they are known to be. I did hear someone hustle by my tent this morning in the dark pre-dawn hours. I could not see who, but most likely it was a racoon, wondering what the tent was, and did I have any food. I listened to the first bugling calls of a crane this morning, answered off in the distance by others. The misty morning bounced their calls about, making locating them difficult. I resisted the urge to see if I could find them. I'm sure long before my clumsy steps would bring me into their view, they would take wing and be gone.
I found insight! There are some things we can go without, for a period of time, and it's OK. Also, during my journey in, I found the half of an upper mandible to a beaver. I wish I had picked it up on the trip in, instead of looking for it on the way out. It brings to mind the idea that even though we grind away at certain concepts, all things come to an end eventually, must come to an end.
Give up the grinding. Accept the lesson! Accept the committment.
It was a good experience!
I know of another official campground up at the tip of Door County that has a remote site you hike into. I proved to myself yesterday that I could do this. Sometime this summer or into fall if I find myself with a few days off, I should go do that. It would be nice to hear the surf of the lake right outside my tent.
I took myself out camping (nothing different there, for I've been doing that quite a bit of late), but this time I hiked out to a spot in the true wilderness. I won't say where I went on this open forum. Let's just say I was not supposed to be there. It was a location I am familiar with, and that I felt comfortable being in, and is not too terribly far away. I did walk to the spot for about a mile carrying for the first time my backpack loaded with what I would need. No idea how much extra weight was in it, but I did just fine. I did not stay in a campground (obviously), but I also did not light a fire, as that would have been an absolute 'no no'. Besides, it only got down into about the 50s last night, and there was no need for me to cook anything, for along with the journey I was fasting for a day. All I left behind was some crushed grass, and some salts and nitrates in the grass. I harmed no animals, other than killing a few of the abundant mosquitos.
I felt compelled to go on somewhat of a 'vision quest'. I wanted to spend a night in the true wilderness, a fair distance from any people, civilization, and to spend some time meditating. There is an issue in my life that has been weighing rather heavily on my mind, a committment that I feel I'm supposed to be making to myself . . . and I have been resisting. I will not share any of those personal details here . . . . but the evening was somewhat fruitful for me. As I said previously I also tested my resolve, and for this one day, for more than a 24-hour period, I fasted. I've never done that before, and found surprisingly, it was rather easy to do. When I felt hungry, I drank water. Lots of it. It took the sensation away. Also, last night, once I got to where I was going, and set my tent up, and got into it (as it was the only safe place to be with all the bugs, to include ticks) I spend a couple hours until darkness meditating. The lack of food in my system, distracting some of my body's energy, allowed me to attain a meditative state far easier. My mind was clear. My focus more acute.
I listened to the night creatures take the stage. A whip-poor-will sang most of the night. In the earlier hours I heard a duet, with the new singer being wound up a bit tighter than the first, for it whip-poor-willed a lot faster. I did not hear any owls. Nor coyotes. Or, sadly, no wolves, which I was kindof hoping for, as I was in an area where they are known to be. I did hear someone hustle by my tent this morning in the dark pre-dawn hours. I could not see who, but most likely it was a racoon, wondering what the tent was, and did I have any food. I listened to the first bugling calls of a crane this morning, answered off in the distance by others. The misty morning bounced their calls about, making locating them difficult. I resisted the urge to see if I could find them. I'm sure long before my clumsy steps would bring me into their view, they would take wing and be gone.
I found insight! There are some things we can go without, for a period of time, and it's OK. Also, during my journey in, I found the half of an upper mandible to a beaver. I wish I had picked it up on the trip in, instead of looking for it on the way out. It brings to mind the idea that even though we grind away at certain concepts, all things come to an end eventually, must come to an end.
Give up the grinding. Accept the lesson! Accept the committment.
It was a good experience!
I know of another official campground up at the tip of Door County that has a remote site you hike into. I proved to myself yesterday that I could do this. Sometime this summer or into fall if I find myself with a few days off, I should go do that. It would be nice to hear the surf of the lake right outside my tent.
1 Comments:
At 4:34 PM,
Anonymous said…
Wow, CS those pictures are great, looks like you had a wonderful trip to OR. My gosh and the trip with Darla too. You are getting to be quite the camper/traveler, good for you too. I loved the orchids and wild flower pictures. Call sometime and we can meet up for lunch. The Bird & Garden Fair was a success again this year. Wish you would have been there. Happy late birthday. Marlene
Post a Comment
<< Home