Long Walk in the Big Mountains

Last week we took a long walk through the Weminuche Wilderness. 54 miles through and over and around the Grenadier and Needles Ranges in the San Juan Mountains. Todd, Ty and I had been planning the trip for quite some time. Like most hikers who do this loop we were planning on using the Durango/Silverton Train to get to the trailheads, but a week before leaving we decided to make the whole trip via human power the way God intended. This added 15 miles to the hike, but in the end we were glad we did it and we still beat the train out.

The Weminuche is an amazing and big place on the scale of the Central Idaho Wilderness areas. The hike included some of the the most rugged alpine terrain I have ever seen. The wild berries (raspberries, strawberries, thimbleberries and grouse whorttleberries) were at their peak so we stopped and ate a lot of them and scared a bear off of one berry patch. Saw more kinds of mushrooms than I have seen anywhere. Caught brookies, cutthroats and rainbows in Vallecito Creek and chased herds of overly friendly mountain goats out of camp in Chicago Basin.

It was so nice to be away from the news and politics of our world for more than a few days. I am realizing that I often times allow myself to get to wrapped up in the trivial and frivolous political squabbling (are we really still arguing over whether Muslims can build a place of worship near Ground Zero?). I have tried to refocus my energies into understanding the world, my motivations, my beliefs and what makes people think and believe the things they do.

I have been reading/studying more Buddhist/Eastern philosophical traditions lately and really drawn to the goal/process of becoming more mindful. One of the processes for becoming more mindful that really appeals to me is that of "walking meditation", learning to be aware of each and every step and breath and of the world around you. I used the long walk to practice walking meditation, not sure I became any more enlightened but I did learn many things like it is much easier to meditate when walking on flat ground, and that going up long uphill climbs with a heavy pack is not conducive to quiet introspection due to the sweating and cursing.

River also came along and did great, I was pretty proud of him for not complaining.

River walking out of Chicago Basin in the rain

On top of Columbine Pass (elev. 12,800) between Johnson and Needle Creeks

High camp at 12,000 feet looking out to Mount Oso and the Guardian

River before the long off trail descent to the gem colored Vallecito Lake

Me and the boy pondering existence (aka catching our breath) in Chicago Basin. The big peaks of Sunlight and Windom behind

Westwater B-Day Partay

We celebrated Toads 3oth on Westwater yesterday, which he celebrated by successfully taking an open canoe down the canyon, with no swims.

My mom watched the kids, so Alina could come, which was great she had not been down Westwater for a long time.

Rare photo of Alina and I on the river with no kids in the picture

Todd and the Rampage in Big Hummer?

Gneiss shist and Alina and River

3 Generations

Front flip off the bow, which ended in a backslap on sunburnt flesh