journal

Sunlit pine forest with patches of snow among granite rock formations on a mountain slope

Black dog standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a forested valley with mountains in the distance under a blue sky with scattered clouds

(journal while overnight backpacking:) The back noise at our camp today are the breezes sounding in the tall pines; something familiar and peaceful, from all these years of winter camping at mid elevations. We have already been here three hours. the dogs and I are moving slow, just taking in the experience of being out here in the woods alone. There are several rock formations nearby, that we will explore as soon as I finish setting up the tent.

Backpacking gear suspended by a rope between tall pine trees above a rocky forest ground in a peaceful mid-elevation wilderness setting

Black and white dog standing on a large rock looking up at a tree surrounded by pine trees, rocks, and patches of snow in a forested area

View looking up at the tall trunks and branches of two pine trees against a pale sky

First off, I am an old man. 72. In ten years I will be 82. I am not entirely sure what life will be like then, assuming I am fortunate enough to reach that age, but I can say right now I am grateful that I have the health & strength to still be backpacking. It brings me great joy to climb up some ridge offtrail and set up camp near granite domes, and not see another person the entire trip. All my time is spent moving slow, noticing patterns of beauty in the pines and fir, in the rocks and sky, and allowing the rhythm of dusk, night, and dawn settle into my spirit.

Nights like that up high are when the stars are most visible, and then it blows my mind to think we are one planet around one sun in a galaxy of 400 billion+ stars within a universe of 400+ billion galaxies (or infinite ???). It makes you feel small and insignificant, but also part of something greater, a soul appreciating the wonder of the universe. Call it what you will, but up there alone I feel closer to the Creator from being in awe of the Creation. The time is getting nearer when I will step through and experience the mystery of what the passage and next life is all about. My sense is that the feelings I get on those nights of solitude and starlight are just a bit of how wonderful it will be.

(click on photos below for larger image . . . - Esc or clicking outside of image will close it)

Rocky mountainous landscape with scattered patches of snow, pine trees, and two black dogs walking on the rocks under a partly cloudy sky

Snow-covered forest floor with sparse young trees and a mix of bare and evergreen trees under daylight

Black and white dog sitting on a large rock near a small campfire surrounded by tall pine trees and rocky terrain with a mountain peak visible in the background

Black and white dog sitting near a small campfire surrounded by rocks in a pine forest with distant rocky formations under a clear sky

Man wearing a cowboy hat and camo vest kneeling by a small campfire surrounded by rocks, reaching out to a black and white dog in a forested area with pine trees and a mountain peak in the background

Person wearing a white hat tending a campfire surrounded by rocks in a forested area with tall pine trees and rocky hills in the background during early evening

Small tent pitched among tall pine trees and large granite boulders with a soft sunset sky in the background

Sunlit pine trees and scattered boulders on a forested mountain slope with patches of snow

Sunlit pine forest with scattered patches of snow and distant rocky formations under a partly cloudy sky

Black and white dog standing on large rocky terrain with patches of melting snow surrounded by tall pine trees in soft late afternoon light

Pine trees and scattered rocks in a forest clearing with patches of snow under a clear sky, with distant hills in soft sunlight

Black and white dog standing on a large rock surrounded by dry grass and bushes with pine-covered hills and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky

February 2024 backpacking

Expansive view of a forested mountain landscape with tall pine trees, rocky outcrops, and distant mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky

Two black and white dogs standing on large rocks surrounded by scattered boulders and pine trees with patches of snow

A man wearing a cowboy hat and camouflage vest standing on a rocky area in a forest with tall pine trees, accompanied by a black dog jumping up toward him, near a small campfire with visible flames

Man wearing a hat and camouflage vest kneeling near a campfire, reaching out to a black dog with a mountainous forest background and patches of snow

Tall pine trees with rocky mountainous terrain in the background under a partly cloudy sky, with patches of snow on the ground

Black backpack suspended by a rope between two trees in a rocky forest area with tall pine trees and a partly cloudy sky

Small blue tent set up next to large boulders with pine trees in the background and a black dog sniffing near the tent on mossy ground

A small blue and red tent pitched on forest ground with a black and white dog looking out from the tent entrance surrounded by pine trees and large rocks

Person wearing a hat standing near three dogs beside a blue and red tent with large rock and tall pine trees in the background

Person wearing a hat standing near two black dogs at a campsite with a colorful tent next to large rock formations and tall pine trees under a partly cloudy sky

Person wearing a white hat standing near a teal and red tent in a forest clearing with large granite boulders and two dogs nearby

Rocky forest clearing with patches of snow surrounded by tall pine trees under a partly cloudy sky

Rock formations surrounded by pine trees with patches of snow on the ground under a partly cloudy sky

Black and white dog standing on a large rock overlooking a forested mountain landscape under a partly cloudy blue sky

Black dog standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a forested valley with distant mountains under a blue sky

Two dogs standing on rocky terrain near large rock formations with a forested landscape and distant mountains under a blue sky with some clouds

Rocky cliffside with a black and white dog near the rocks, overlooking a forested valley and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky

Rocky terrain surrounded by tall pine trees under a blue sky with wispy clouds, suggesting a peaceful forest setting in late autumn

View of tall pine trees in the foreground with large rock formations and mountain ranges under a partly cloudy sky in the background

Dense forest of green pine trees with rocky outcrops and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky

Forest landscape with a mix of evergreen and leafless trees, snow patches on the ground, a large rock in the foreground, and a mountain peak in the background under a clear blue sky

rock formations surrounded by tall pine trees and grassy forest floor under a blue sky

Illuminated blue and red tent set up near large rock formation under a star-filled night sky with silhouettes of pine trees

Red and blue glowing tent nestled among large rocks and pine trees under a star-filled night sky with a distant mountain partially illuminated

A glowing blue and red tent pitched near large boulders and pine trees under a clear starry night sky

Two black and white dogs standing on rocks near a small campfire surrounded by pine trees with a large rocky mountain illuminated by sunlight in the background

Black and white dog standing on a large rock looking up at a tree surrounded by pine trees and scattered boulders in a forested area

View looking up at tall trees with textured bark and branches against a cloudy sky

Small evergreen tree branches resting on and growing around large lichen-covered granite rocks

Two black and white dogs standing on large rocky boulders overlooking a forested valley with pine trees and patches of snow

Two dogs standing on rocks near a large rock formation with trees in the background

black and white dog standing on rocky ground looking up at a large moss-covered rock face with pine trees in the background

black and white dog standing between large moss-covered rocks with green trees in the background

black and white dog standing alert between large rock formations with pine trees in the background

Large weathered rock formations surrounded by pine trees in a forested area with a carpet of pine needles on the ground

Black and white dog standing on a forest floor covered with pine needles and surrounded by rocks and trees

Large granite boulders among pine trees on a forest floor covered with pine needles and patches of moss

Sunlit forest floor with pine trees, scattered dry branches, and large granite boulders surrounded by smaller rocks and evergreen trees

Large textured granite boulders surrounded by pine trees and forest floor covered with pine needles and patches of green moss

Large textured rock formation with patches of lichen, a small pine tree growing nearby, and snow on the ground

Rock formations surrounded by tall pine trees with patches of snow on the ground in a forested area

Black and white dog standing on large rocky boulders in a forested area with pine trees

Black and white dog sitting attentively on a large rock with pine trees in the background

Close-up of green pine branches with rough-textured granite boulders in the background and patches of snow beneath them

Two black and white dogs near a small campfire surrounded by rocks in a pine forest with sunlit rocky mountain peaks in the background

Campfire glowing on rocky ground surrounded by pine trees with a black and white dog sitting on a large flat rock, with sunlit rocky hills in the background

Black and white dog sitting alert on a large rock formation with tall pine trees in the background

Sunlit forest area with tall pine trees, patches of snow on the ground, and large granite rock formations

Person wearing a cowboy hat and camouflage jacket tending a small campfire surrounded by rocks, with tall pine trees and rocky cliffs in the background

Man wearing a hat and vest stands near a campfire on rocky ground, with a black and white dog sitting on a large rock nearby, surrounded by pine trees and distant rock formations

Person wearing a cowboy hat kneeling by a small campfire in a forest clearing with a black and white dog sitting on a large rock nearby and rocky mountain peaks in the background

Older man in a white cowboy hat and plaid shirt standing in a pine forest with large rock formations, holding a walking stick and looking to the side

An older man in a plaid shirt and cowboy hat walking with a wooden walking stick through a forested area with pine trees and large boulders

Person wearing a white hat and plaid shirt walking with a wooden staff among tall pine trees and large rocks, accompanied by three dogs in a forest clearing

Person wearing a plaid shirt and cowboy hat interacts with one dog while another dog stands alert on a large rock in a pine forest with distant mountains

Person wearing a cowboy hat and plaid shirt petting a black dog in a pine forest with rocky terrain, while another black dog stands alert on a large rock nearby

Small red and green tent pitched near large boulders among tall pine trees with a black and white dog walking on forest floor covered in dry vegetation and pine needles

Tall pine trees and rock formations with patches of snow on the forest floor under a partly cloudy sky

Cluster of tall pine trees growing among large, rounded granite rock formations with patches of grass and shrubs on the forest floor under a clear blue sky

black and white dog standing on a large rock looking up at a tree in a pine forest with scattered boulders

black and white dog standing among large rocky formations with trees in the background

More journal notes:

March 16:Another Saturday night, and I have the health and heart to go out and dance hard and fast in front of a live band. It is such a rush when a good song starts up, and right then, I try to find a partner. Most times it works out, sometimes not. When it does there is no feeling like it.

The proper attitude is that none of us will be here in 100 years, so it is our right and duty to appreciate the life we have (been given). Dancing and music and celebration is a way to do that.

The band tonight (Martin and Kelly) are talented and high energy, one of the very best that has played at the Rose.

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart"