Hiking our trail often becomes a kind of Zen exercise. The way is familiar, so the mind wanders freely. We usually hike in and out in company, at least two of us together, if not all three, but on the single file, trail conversation is difficult. We all tend to speak softly, and our voices don’t carry well unless we shout, which never feels right in the forest. Most discussions become a game of telephone, with the person in the middle of the line called on to repeat everything the person in back says to the person in front, and vice versa. Invariably, we lapse into silence.
Recently the winds abated slightly, dropping from around 50 knots to 35. The wind chill rose from -30s to -20s, so we struck out to the car to bring in supplies. As usual, I fell into a reverie of free association in the silence. Here’s some of what passed: Continue reading