Following a deer trail winding through the brush,
finding the still-warm spot in the cool, tall grass,
where they choose to wait out the mid-day heat.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, 1997
Standing on the edge of the world,
watching the afternoon sun set ablaze the red rock of the canyon below,
while birds fly beneath my feet.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 1997
Wading a deep, narrow riverbed,
borrowing a crooked stick as a staff,
the towering cliffs above on either side.
Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah, 1997
Wandering waist-deep on the prairie,
discovering strands of hair where bison lost it,
feeding here, yesterday.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, 2000
Sharing the narrow, climbing mountain trail with a hermit thrush,
being the only human ears to hear this song he sings,
in the deepest woods.
Acadia National Park, Maine, 2001
Straddling cool, black depths,
experiencing the purest darkness imaginable,
in the world that has no sunlight.
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, 2002
Bracing against the harsh wind,
seeking warmth nestled against a rock,
where the tiniest flowers live in just a crack.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 2005
Scrambling over boulder fields,
feeling small against the rocky face,
to be in the peregrine’s world.
Acadia National Park, Maine, 2007
My new hiking boots have arrived, and it’s a good thing…
because I’m not content to believe the “scenic overlook” is as good as it gets.
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
~John Muir, "The Father of our National Parks"
7 comments:
Happy hiking! What boots did you end up with? (You probably already said in another post, didn't you?...)
I got Merrell's Moab Mid Gore-Tex XCR--they're lightweight, chunky-soled, good ankle support, and waterproof/breathable.
I'm so excited, but for now just wear them around the kitchen--and to write blogs--which I find they're very inspiring for!
Beautiful word pictures. Good for my imagination as I sit at home for half a day waiting to have my gas water heater replaced!
Imagine ---- without good boots ,your viivid word pictures would not have been born -- and we would not have them to savor.
No better way to break-in , out-of-the-box boots than to kitchen -test them.
Those boots were made for walking . . . and for kicking off at the end of the trail for some toe-wiggling reverie. And you've engaged in and recorded some lovely reverie.
Hi Nina,
Sounds like you've had some wonderful "hikes" over the years. I'm glad you found a good pair of boots.
because I’m not content to believe the “scenic overlook” is as good as it gets.
Nice.
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