Environmentalism – Page 8

WildernessPunk, Anger

Anger, he smiles,
towering in shiny metallic purple armour
Queen Jealousy, envy waits behind him
Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground

(Jimi Hendrix)

jimi

So now I head down to Phoenix, which is harder for a guy without a car. A 150 miles of heartless desert and with a heavy pack on my back I…okay I took the flipping shuttle. Sometimes the simple ways are best. More expensive, yeah, but at least I will be where I need to be, which for today is at my Photographer friend Kurt’s. I’ll be doing a Sharestorm follow up visit with him before I head of to more distant parts.

Kurt

But this brings me to the topic of this post. ANGER. Why am I taking the shuttle when I bought a new Forerunner straight of the showroom floor, back then I had sparkling credit? Why don’t I have sparkling credit for that matter? Why am I without the job I had with ripping benefits, why can’t I stay in the place I paid to upkeep for over ten years, and why am I not allowed to see my kids?

I bet you’re thinking I’m about to say that all this makes me angry. I suppose it does, but the reason I do not have these things is become someone else couldn’t control their anger. I suppose this is the wrong place to discuss this or is it. Let’s steer it away from my egocentric self, I think that will help.

What is anger all about? Step one, do animals feel anger? Have you ever seen a pissed off dog? Still if you kick a dog and it bites you, is this due to anger or is it due to an instinct for self-preservation? I’m not a biologist, but I think anger is felt by animals and might be a reaction to someone challenging an animal’s ability to survive. Humpback whales and dolphins have been discovered saving seals from Orcas. Perhaps one could argue that anger stems from self-preservation, but can become more defined as an emotion separate from the act of pour survival, which grows stronger the more mentally advanced a species becomes.

anger-ii

Humans have evolved into beings with complex emotions. Also, our needs, wants and desires are much further removed from basic survival. What was once a process to help physical preservation has now become a method for mostly social preservation.

The mother elk kicking the wolf away her calf is now the angry office worker badmouthing their co-worker behind their back, because of an ill perceived statement at the last staff meeting. I think an interesting issue to investigate would be if emotional anger has increased in cultures/areas where physical violence has become rarer. One could add the anger is now also much pettier. Getting mad at Ned for getting the promotion instead of you is a far cry from hating the invaders who killed your whole tribe while you were off hunting.

Leopold wolf pack hunting bull elk; Doug Smith; May 2007

However, the chance to defend your honor in any manner other than pissy words is dissipating. As the ability to smack an offensive knucklehead becomes increasing more difficult due to the state using any excuse it can think of to not only rob our wallet, but also steal any dignity we have left, we’re all required to be a bunch of belly aching angry wimps mulling over the minutia of other’s ill behaviors. Or maybe we don’t.

What’s my point? Anger has, over the past few decades, gone from a basic instinct of self-preservation to self-centeredness. Since we have five times as many cops as we could possibly need and cameras at every intersection, we have to bury our pride and listen to whatever bullshit any loser feels like spewing on us. My Viking ancestors are rolling in their grave.

anger

So what’s the answer? Just don’t play their game. Don’t get sucked into some petty, two faced, back stabbing, cry baby war of words. Most people live in a fantasy land of imagined wrongs based on man-made BS which didn’t even exist a few decades ago. Other things remain more constant like jealousy, gender based struggles for power and recognition, and competition for, well… everything.

Remember humans aren’t as important as we make ourselves out to be. We’re the animal that destroys the planet the best, whippidoo. Sure we have tech, art, and rise above the base, but can we breathe under water, spit venom, or fly? No, so relax a little.

Sometimes anger is right and justified. If someone tries to damage you and yours, they deserve a world of hurt. Otherwise, ignore the hater, these days they are most likely focused on human constructs which are half real at best, fade in an out of existence, and are based on ill-conceived ideals. So, rise above, screw the angry person and go take a walk in the woods, breath in a little True Environment, ground yourself, and realign your priorities.

We are in charge of our own emotions and life. Take responsibility for yourself and don’t let the words of anyone you don’t respect cause you to disrespect yourself. You’ll thank me later.

Did this post make you Angry? Don’t worry I’ll make it away from the cities and calm down soon.

Shadowbone

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Amy Face

Wind

Getting all my data, passwords, and such from Nicole’s laptop took longer than I had expected. I guess I got pretty busy with the laptop she loaned me for a 5.5 months. But now she’s gone, the farmer’s daughter has returned to the Indiana farm and I have one less pal in Flagtown. I probably won’t be making a bunch of new ones either hanging out here at Camp 1, but I did see some old friends at her little departure party.

clouds

I had intended to ninja into town to drop off her laptop, but ended up spending the night in Flag. Took care of some things I’ll either keep secret or not bore you with. I sit here within the wind. It has a slight chill, almost like a warning, ‘Summer is almost spent and Fall will lead to a brutal Winter. How do you expect to survive?’ It jokes at me like a playful siren, humor before hardship or is it humor in the hardship.

But things aren’t so drastic yet and I spit back at the winds and demand they keep their dances of gloom and doom to themselves.

sunset-writers-camp

Then a limping coyote walks by. It might be about the largest coyote I’ve ever seen. Tan, yellow, and light brown reflect off its fur. Yellow is the color of The Selectors in my novels, which are the viscous spirits who protect nature at all costs. I also found it odd the animal limped.

skinwalker_animation_by_celticmagician

This became even stranger, when I grabbed the camera to try to get a shot and the animal had already vanished.

I hesitate to write this, since I am within their territory, but the Dine have witches called Skinwalkers which assume the shape of coyotes, favor yellow, and tend to disappear at will. I haven’t had any trouble since it passed, but I’ll need to be vigilant tonight.

***

The day took an ominous turn as dark clouds moved in from the west while thunder vibrated the hills. I was in a bit of a funk before, but now I have a strange feeling of anticipation.

storm-clouds

I hadn’t expected rain, but it came anyway. Sort of an annoying, just wet enough to have to stash my things, but then it would stop. I’d take some wet things out to dry just to have it start raining again. Then the sun would come out and I’d try to work on my newest novel only to have to shut this laptop when the rain begun again.

storm-coming

But I have more exciting news. I have a pet of sorts. A huge desert rat is living in the roof of my shelter. Now I know why my sleeping bag was chewed open and where so many feathers went, the little turd. This isn’t some pet store rat. I’ll tell you that. She’s brown and mangy. We stared at each other for a long time when I lifted my camo-tarp to look for something. Then she ran off. I gave her some pizza. Maybe we can be friends and maybe she’ll be quieter at night and not bug me as much since I know where she lives, so if she messes with me, I could mess with her too.

lucy

***

Just a final note. There were no more Heebies Jeebies. A few elk walked through my camp in the morning and since I gave the rat two tortillas, she let me sleep through the night. Yes, I’m sure the little gal is a she and I’m going to name her Lucy after the dog I had as a kid growing up.

elk

Tune back in as I Do the Unexpected and Head out of Arizona Again. Or maybe you were expecting that.

apex-moon-clud

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breakfast-burrito-work-station-%ef%bb%bf

Fear Based Folly Meets WildernessPunk

I ended up really liking Camp 4 and could see myself going back there. As anyone who has read even one of these WP can grok, I’m not a big fan of crowds, yet, when I am isolated, I’m not immune to the Heebie Jeebies and I’m not talking about my favorite Flagstaff band.

camp-4

I know this goes a little contrary to the ‘Leave All the People Behind,’ idea, but when I get into the burly regions where nature still rules, like I mentioned before, places close to their True Environment, I tend to feel a certain unease.

Thoreau didn’t have such concerns on Walden Pond. A trip and slip or a dash of frost bite might have been his chief concerns. The west is a different creature. I’m not saying animals rush you left and right, but in the wilds and alone, a person does take some risks.

waldon-pond

Yet, I’m thinking this improved vigilance is a good thing. I’m certainly not trying to suggest the hyper vigilance many children, urban dwellers, and some abused people worldwide are forced to deal with is a good thing. Never being able to relax leads to lives of woe. Yet vigilance in nature is another issue. Perhaps closer to being a solider than battered child.

You can train and be more prepared, similar to a warrior. You can have the right gear, like a soldier tries to insure, but when you are on your own, you can only look so many ways at once.

Sometimes your mind can play strange tricks on you. Movement, then nothing. I might need a haircut. Why does my swinging hair have to be the same color as a grizzly’s coat? Okay, a really dirty grizzly, but those are the worst kind.

camp-4-view

And there is that one in a hundred times an animal is there and suddenly you go from flipping a playing card to protecting your family.

But is this really what I’m talking about? It is not so much that you could have something happen as much as being ready for it. You feel a little more real checking your own trail for venomous vipers in order to take a leak than shuffling barefoot down a hallway for the 70,000th time.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

That is the difference between this type of survival and walking by a gang to get something for your mother. Perhaps the latter is far more intense, but something about removing other humans from the equation changes things.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but humans are mostly assholes. Many evolve above this state, but it’s our base selves and truly our animal self.

dumbies

We are smart enough to think past it, but it’s not a given. Animal State: Includes, sex drive, violence, selfishness, but also some of the better things in life like nurturing your offspring, mating, enjoying a good meal.

We take this Animal State, but pervert it with a concoction of mangled Law swirling like a self-important crust attempting to form around a vortex of chaos. All the while we’re proclaiming this is normal and correct, when nothing is static or accepted for more than a decade or two. Yes, yes some concepts like take care of your children and hmm… maybe there is a god or something, but those are archetypal, which is the part of human existence which changes the slowest if at all. I’ll be discussing those at a later date.

witches-wizards-4611 Let’s focus on Trump’s Make America great again. So that proposes we go back in time. 160 years ago it was legal to kill a slave. Is that when we were great and the laws were right? When Native Americans were cheated out of their land or killed. Did America rock then?

No of course not, but my point is those times were not too long ago and we had Laws some majority managed to get onto the books which we would think are insane now. I have a point, really I promise. So to assume. given our history, we are somehow 100% doing things right now is a belief only a fool could possess. Again, grasping at a point. Humans are a shit show. We need to get better, not go back, but what does this have to do with the boy walking by the gang versus the solo campers in some lonely canyon?

chaos-humans

Humans are a strange mix of Law and Chaos, we expect problems, but random chance, luck, and reason can solve an issue. You can’t talk your way out of a snakebite. The can’t verbally spare with a mountain lion. Bears can’t be bribed with money or favors. In doesn’t matter what your GPA is or if your brother runs the biggest gang in the area, if you fall off a cliff or get hypothermia. The challenges in nature are raw. It is the great equalizer. The real you faces them. Gone are awards, degrees, longevity at the workplace, your ability to wow people. The challenges big and small are met by you. The self you speak to at night and in the morning. No excuses, no mercy, you do it or it doesn’t get done. You stay safe or a Jesse Ventura said, “You lose it out here and you’re in a world of hurt.”

jesse-ventura-as-blain-in-predator-1987

So who wants to go camping with me next weekend?

Tune back in as I return to the southern desert and finish what I never started.

water-and-sand

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little-camp

WildernessPunk Camp 4

My Coyote Buttes morning is cut short when I discover a hidden motion detector near the majestic pools of water. I had just learned how the rangers use these to e-patrol back country areas where someone has decided people shouldn’t be allowed to enter. Funny I spotted it, not so funny that it makes me paranoid within one of my favorite places in the world to be and I blast out of there earlier than I would have. I guess when you wake up at 4:30am it’s easy beating even the rangers out the door.

coyote-buttes

It becomes comic how many things I rush through doing on my return to Flagstaff. Gas, grub, quick visit to camp 1, Jeremy’s place for ice, storage unit, camp out shopping, and then finally Downtown to jack into the web, but more importantly charge my limited tech. I’ll have two laptops at once for the rest of the week, won’t be a big deal save when I’m camping and I’ll be able to double up on my writing this one time.

cyberhead

It is still well shy of three before I take my, for a short time only, wheels out to the Lilly Ponds (Camp 2). As the dregs of Labor Day Weekend’s campers linger and head out, I eventually grab the Kurt Camp and settle in. However, just as I sit and start writing for the much neglected Daily Discord, I am assaulted by micro-mosquitoes. People complain and brag over how large their mosquitoes are, but at least you can see them. These Arizona buggers are the size of a nail head and remain difficult to spot.

I am forced to retreat to my tent and just as I enter I hear heavy machinery drowning out the male Elk’s bugling. I finish the article and wind down and it stops at sunset.

I wake up early again, but the darkness and cold has been trying to force my road weary bones to grab another hour, which I do. As I stir, I hear more machinery. At the Lilly Ponds, what a fucking crime.

So these lackeys are thinning the forest or as I call it, uglification. So now even the forest has to be controlled and orderly. What will they do next, tear up all the trees so they can be re-planted in neat rows? I understand we have to protect the rich people that are lucky enough to live out in nature from nature (I speak of forest fires here)

I might be going out on a soggy half broken limb, but in most cases the people that make the most money do it on the backs of others and at the price of natural resources. They rape the land for a few decades and what is their reward, they get to live on a huge pristine piece of land. Still, this isn’t enough for them. They may enjoy the natural and beautiful trees in their own yard, but the forest around them is chopped to pieces so a forest fire won’t reach their second summer homes.

fuckers

Excuse me for a moment, I need to go toss my throwing knife about six hundred times.

Okay, I feel better. So yeah, I am obviously forced to move. I take down my camp, which thankfully only takes a few minutes and before the sun graces this part of the earth, I’m already on my way.

I take a road at random heading deeper into the forested canyon. This becomes a good thing as I explore forests free of any signs of humanity, save for the road that grows rougher at each smaller branch I take.

After seeing a herd of deer, I spy a saddle dipping between two hills to my right. Beside it there appears to be a long abandoned mining camp. Welcome to WildernessPunk Camp 4. And as I write this I look up to see a lone male antelope, which is the fastest mammal in the US. We make eye contact, which doesn’t break for a full minute. Then he flies off, racing down the forested hills like a white ghost in the wind.

antelope

Antelope in there uh I can’t see it either

I really like it here. Besides being new for me. I feel more remote than just about anywhere I’ve camping around Flagstaff. I guess we’ll see what the night may bring.

***

It is interesting what a huge deal having a vehicle makes even when one doesn’t have a preponderance of gear. It’s something we campers could fail to appreciate and often don’t absorb the importance of. Backpackers get closer to the heart of this, but even they have a ride that gets them to the very edge of where they wish to go. If a person left their house to go backpacking and walked twenty miles to the trail head before they started the real hike, I would consider them in a different league.

I’m not saying that car camping can’t be burly for I’ve run into some intense and serious situations while car camping such as, having to chase a giant cougar off, camping in grizzly country, having my ride axle out in the mud and almost getting hypothermia when a snow storm hit, and being attacked by a rabid bobcat to name just a few. But humor me for a moment as we review the differences between car camping and um… mountain bike camping.

first-new-fire-pit-in-a-while

First New Fire Pit in a while

First off, you can obviously go further car camping and arrive clean as you step out of your air-conditioned vehicle. Also consider how much you can bring. You don’t even have to be choosy. “Oh, maybe I’ll use the grill, but I might want to use the camp stove, better bring both.” (Funny I’m writing this since I have neither) With bike camping or on foot, you’re lucky if you can bring a tent and a sleeping bag. Hell, I leave both of those at camp 1 and have a monstrously heavy backpack on the way in and out.

Another big obvious is a cooler, along with ice and yep, beer. With car camping you can bring two coolers if you like and most of us do. With bike camping maybe a sixer, a tab of ice, but a shitty fabric cooler at best. “Oh, crap did I need to save room for the food?” Also let’s not forget about the wonders of having a camp chair.

So yes, having these wheels for a few extra days has been a luxury and an unexpected blessing. Like always, having a vehicle makes everything about six times easier. However, it does distract a little from the truer wilderness experience and living closer to the edge. Don’t worry I’ll try to not let it go to my head before I have to return it this weekend, but boy this cooler full of ice cold beer and fried chicken is damn nice.

azsunset

Turn back in as I return to the southern desert and finish what I never started.

cybersexy

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castle

A Real World

Yellowstone goes beyond great, but we strangely see our only moose while eating dinner a block from our cabin. The kids are a real joy as is seeing such wonder with most of my family. Over all, I’m a pretty damn lucky guy.

I find myself being the most persnickety of our lot as we balance majesty versus the swarming crowds. I realize these masses of roving folks are nature lovers too, with perhaps a few braggarts and people fueled by accomplishment obligations. However such things are usually not my way of rolling.

Personally, I love the A+ nature places of the world, such as, Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon, Yosemite etc. Yet, given the choice, I’d prefer to head into a B or B+ region and be mostly private or even better completely alone with my group. But I’m sure this isn’t a surprise for anyone who has read any of my previous posts.

Despite the hurt of seeing so many fathers with their young boys, these blows are softened but being able to be with my family. However, all things in life are finite, and I know that soon I’ll need to juggle my way back into some semblance of the Real World or at least my version of it.

So the question becomes what’s my Real World, but I suppose this is a question which plagues all thoughtful people.

***

Pssst… I’ll let you in on a secret. I know I’m trying to sound all tough with my minimalistic camping, 30 mile bike rides, and giant breakfasts, but to be honest, sometimes my favorite days are the down days. Spending time with my family just cooking nice meals and playing silly games was just damn great. Yet, like the creak of a forgotten door, as mentioned above, the Real World approaches… little lasts forever, oh wait, does anything last forever… perhaps these mountains do or at least they will be outlasting all of us silly two legs.

Parting is so sad, it’s almost not worth getting together, but we all need to step up at such times. I have always thought there are two types of goodbyes, the dog way and the cat way. Dogs take forever and can’t let go, they make the moment linger until the last second. Bye inside, bye on the porch, a walk to the car, a conversation while in the car…

I always preferred to be more like a cat, short , to the point, and then pull the band aid off. We had something in the middle, but after we say our final goodbyes, we stop to fill up the jeep, and so does our other half. The nieces run out and hug me and my dad while crying hysterically. The little twins are hugging each of my legs and I kind of loose it too. As Mick Jagger said, “Don’t make a grown man cry.” Oh well, too late. I guess some Idaho cowboys got a show.

After almost getting killed when a slow trucker pulls in front of us, when we had no place to move, and we were doing 75, I take my dad and one of my 3 moms to SLC. Things improve. I get a hotel room and we use it for a base to snag myself a new laptop. Oh yes, WildernessPunk will live!!

One drawback in this great fortune is I will not be putting any more miles behind me, but at the time I certainly don’t mind. I get to Sharestorm, but this delays me some and the ride is long. I put in a good 7 hours before…

***

It seems good to me

To call Coyote Buttes Camp Three

Do Dah Do Dah Dee

I have now hit the second of my three favorite places in Arizona. Coyote Buttes. I have never camped out here alone before, but I’ve never camped a lot of places alone.

Coyote Buttes wasn’t discovered until the 90s, which is weird in itself, since I discovered it quite on accident less than 8 years after this high desert landscape of pure beauty became documented.

The rolling orange sandstone hills take on the shapes of gentle giant breasts and thrusting cocks as you pass from shadow to light and from juniper to cactus. Each place proves so magnificent, a person is forced to stop moving every fifty feet just to soak it in.

Despite how my former mate has done everything in her power to destroy my current life, I can’t help but feel I’m doing a tour of things I’ve discovered with her. We were always at our best together while exploring nature. Still, where I used it for inspiration, I always felt she used it as an excuse to push the Real World away. She would have embraced the wilderness side of WildernessPunk easily, but life needs goals and not just escape.

And that thought brings me back to another set of dichotomies.

Escape versus Real World

Inspiration versus Accomplishment

Brainstorming versus Completion

Will I be able to continue to balance the former with the latter? Or will the responsibly of Real World crush WildernessPunk? Things could go in the other direction where Inspiration and Escape leave me hard pressed to survive when the elements turn against me.

However tonight as the sun sets, I move to embrace the wonder of Coyote Buttes. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for listening and swing back by as the path of the WildernessPunk returns to Arizona, at least for a little while…

You can grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here.

August’s End

Down days are sometimes as good as the adventures. Relaxing. Soaking it in. Pool and Jacuzzi. Seeing a movie in a place that serves up giant mugs of nut brown ale and lets you take it into the theater. Now that’s living.

The rest of the Griffiths clan shows up, except my children. Seeing my nieces makes me want my sons here all the more, but if everything went like it should, we’d have no Punk Rock.

It’s time to leave the desert behind us, at least for now. Jagged cliffs and rolling sandstone will be replaced by dark mountains and sprawling forests.

Steam cliff

A long drive takes us away from the city, the people, and the endless convenience. Although I’m not saying that having a two floor, four bedroom cabin in the forest on the edge of Yellowstone isn’t pretty damn convenient. Having time with my nieces is a blessing, but is also a reminder of the constant knife in my guts. Why I was not allowed to bring my children so they could see their cousins is a mystery and a real crime in my eyes.

Still life without hardship gives us no challenges to overcome. No conflict = no heroes. If writers need to suffer, I’ve managed to pull that off. Still, no need to complain, I’m experiencing some truly spectacular things and in many ways I’m riding on a serious wave of luck, good fortune, and adventure.

I’ll have to see how this continues as we prepare to drive two vehicles into America’s first national park.

I end up being the driving road warrior for the family. Also since I’ve been to Yellowstone more than anyone else (more than half the people have never seen Yellowstone before) so I’m able to AZA it up a bit and be a tour guide for everyone, which I enjoy.

However, when being a guide, one also has to know when to step back and shut up. Part of the enjoyment of going to a new place is the pleasure of exploring it for yourself. Telling everyone your interpretations of past experiences. deludes their own ability to feel like they’re going to a new place, which they can learn and enjoy.

Family

Funny moment when we go to the Yellowstone Ranger Museum and while looking at the replica of a ranger’s back-40 cabin, the ranger working there said, “How’d you like to live in someplace like this?”

My response is, “Damn, that would be so great! Hell, I’d pay money to live in a place this wonderful.”

I haven’t worried too much about sleep for the last week or so, but I ended up getting some problematic news. I shouldn’t complain since I’ve been using Nicole’s laptop for the last five months, ever since my last one broke while fleeing from the Flagstaff PD. But now she’s moving to Indiana and needs it back.

This could put a serious crimp in ShareStorm, which is how I’m making my money right now, continuing my writing, and maintaining my social contacts with the rest of the world as well, the Punk part of my WildernessPunk.

Waterfall

With me being financially challenged and also seeking to travel to Texas for my one-on-one E-Book training workshop, I’m not sure how I’m going to make everything work and somehow get a new laptop so my whole life doesn’t collapse.

I guess I’m back into the conflict and challenge part of life, even if I’m currently living in a notch or two below Nirvana state here in the Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming vortex.

So as I balance pleasure and problems on this perfect forest-filed morning, I sit in on a ‘writing party’ with my nieces. Plotting and planning versus enjoyment and sharing. It will be interesting to see how this works out.

Shadowbone

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my the rest of the month goes as I continue to explore the wilds of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, myself, and the path of the WildernessPunk?

You can grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here.

Buffo

WildernessPunk Utah

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Part of the theme of WildernessPunk is a certain level of conflict, perhaps the more the better, as even the title suggests, the dual characteristics are bipolar aspects on the opposite spectrums of our current human existence. Technology versus nature, but in this case complementing each other. Yet to pull that off takes a strange effort and can be an interesting struggle.

Balancing Bone

Net vs. Nature

Freedom vs. Stability

Individualism vs. Communication

I could go on, but you understand. So just as conflict is an inherent aspect of human life, it’s also reflected in the pages of this e-quest to…okay, I’m go to stop and just throw the issue onto the fire and see if it burns or puts it out.

Yeah folks, you see the thing is… not too many conflicts afoot. Sure I have problems and things to figure out, but I’m hundreds of miles from my normal life both literally and figuratively.

Desert Ride

This could be what people call living in the moment and this moment is running pretty smooth. Perhaps some people are used to this…. If so, I’m not one of them.

Even my agenda remained smoother than desert sand after a rainstorm. After Mexican Hat we headed into Valley of the Gods.

Valley of the gods Utah

AW in oh so exciting Blanding fuels up us to check in of the secret camp site I made in the mountains outside of CanyonLands.

Canyonlands I

CanyonsLands takes us to Moab.

CanyonLands II

Today we spiked Arches and then I took us along the last of the once named Route 666, which we have taken from Kenyenta to a few miles south of Salt Lake City.

Path to the arch

One more night and then much of the rest of my family arrives. Then a new an adventure begins.

Conflict might drive much of our life, but what if we removed a good portion of it? The concept of always needing more, competition with others, and constantly proving ourselves through consumption are ruining us and our world. We have set up an artificial world, we think it’s real, correct, and makes sense, but it’s stabbing a slow dagger through our planet.

Maybe if the conflict between ourselves and others could be removed somehow. We compete with the environment, but mostly we compete with ourselves. When we compete with ourselves can we ever really win?

A warrior without conflict might just have to fight for something else. Peace, the planet, their friends, joy… what would you fight for?

Boneatah

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my the rest of the month goes as I continue to explore the wilds of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, myself, and the path of the WildernessPink?

You can grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here.

Tom

WildernessPunk: Road Ripping

So yeah, after having my Driver’s License suspended for two years, being denied the Forerunner I bought, and I’m still paying the insurance for, I end up behind the wheel of a brand new Jeep Patriot with only 3000 miles on it. Cherry red and fuking road-ripping. My father rented it, but I’m driving and tearing through monument valley during the combination of thunder/dust storm is pretty close to as good as life gets.

Dust and loki jeep love

As an added bonus, I’m getting to stay in Mexican Hat, which is something I’ve wanted to do for about 10 years now, since the first time I ever drove through the place. Relaxing rooms next to the rain soaked San Juan. My father and I walk to the restaurant the place sports in the rain and I have a sirloin as I watch the river roar by.

San Juan River

Sometimes there are moments in life where you feel you’re getting more than you deserve and I guess this is one of those for me. Are things so perfect I almost feel they’re bordering on the supernatural or is some sort of bounce-back mystic karma in effect and is rewarding me for sucking up the nasty so long for the sake of my children?

Whether man-made or a cosmic gift from Yig and friends, I tend to believe in the later. But enough of the self-absorbed whirlwind for a moment.

Dust and Thunder

We’re about to enter the land which inspired Edward Abbey. I’m not equating myself to him or staying I wish to try, but despite the bad rap and blood soggy baggage the descendants of Europeans get, or subtly feel they should be getting after the history of our mostly foul behavior on this continent, I still believe we have the right to be one with the land.

Sometimes I feel it might be more difficult for us trickle down Euros. We want to connect with nature, but are still new to this hemisphere, while the lands holding our ancestor’s spirits are thousands of miles away. Especially in the west and in Arizona, we’re surrounded by folks with a stronger right and claim to the land than us, at least in theory.

I think some of the ill effects individuals and corporations bestow onto the environment is due to this fear to connect and/or the feeling we’re not part of these lands or even allowed to be part. Perhaps this idea should be rethought, for if we aren’t allowed to feel we’re part of the earth, this will lesson our desire to preserve and protect it.

Horse and donkey

How about the idea we all have an equal right to embrace our environment. Race, gender, age, only an idiot would give a shit. I don’t care if your people have lived here 500 years or 5, to deny someone the right to become spiritually grounded in the land is what leads to its destruction. One could argue it leads to war, torture, and rape, but I won’t bother to go there yet.

Like I said before, we’re still animals of the Earth. We may wear clothes, silly hats, and consult the magic rectangles, but all animals deserve to have their place on this planet. Your place can be a box somewhere too, with more magic rectangles in it, but you may have a harder time finding your true self in the world of ticking clocks and controlled routine.

Do you think I’m waxing on about some nebulous big ideals? Do you think I’m full of shit? Really, how many people do you know who have self-actualized and embraced their happiness? How many people do you know who are backed into a black space, or having trouble with friends, family, work, divorced… How are things going internationally or with the world economy, everything’s just peachy, right…no.

Junky

Reaching an internal peace is the exception not the rule. To quote The Talking Heads, “Some people can touch it, but they can’t hold on.” Like the passion of a new love affair, the best of things can dwindle into mundania and drab angst if we let it.

I’m not saying nature can solve this problem, but it isn’t a bad place to start. For one, nature doesn’t let you take yourself too seriously. I don’t care who you are, a 10 mile hike in the Canyonlands will kick your ass. Even if you’re in rock hard shape, the environment itself is humbling. Twist your ankle the wrong way and you’ll feel real humble alright.

mouse

Millionaire, man, and mouse… we’re all the same creature. Strip away your gear and drop us naked in the Canyonland’s Maze and who has the best chance to survive? I’ll put my money on the mouse.

postapocalyptic artwork lakes 1920x1080 wallpaper_wallpaperswa.com_95

The mouse lives with respect for his environment. His is a world of danger and reward, fear and cozy comfort. Motivation when needed and times when the harvest is reaped. Give him a little water, some food, a soft bed, and guess what, it was a damn good day.

So who wants to learn how to be a mouse?

Brussels-mouse-645473

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my the rest of the month goes as I continue to explore the wilds of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, myself, and the path of the WildernessPunk?

Dust and monument valley

You can grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here.

Boneman

WildernessPunk, Camp 1 and Having Fun

I find it strange to discover, after my back issues yesterday, that a night of sleeping on the earth has cured the pain. My legs are still torn up a bit from the sprinting, but I’m sure the 13 mile ride into town will take care of that. Also odd is… I woke up at 4:30 and felt no need to go back to sleep. I guess two nights of good sleep and going to bed at 8:30 will do this to a guy.

Storm Clouds

Yet, despite how lovely the woods were in the morning, I need a strong dose of the Cyberpunk side of the fence and about seventeen other things.

Pizza and Caffeine slams has me hitting the web and making a few things work. After taking care of some much less pleasant issues, I start back toward the eastern forest.

A pit stop at AZ Adventure headquarters brings me into the loop. Despite our setbacks we have purchased a mobile device that would allow me to jack into cyberspace from almost anywhere. I won’t be rolling out here with it on my bike, but it does bring up interesting options for some seriously burly possibilities.

Cyber World

Taking the Punk up a notch while we’re in the center of Wilderness.

One way or another we’re going to roll this.

I felt surprisingly relaxed when I made it back to camp one. I need to be careful. I might be letting my guard down and getting too comfortable here. Dangers from man and animal are a distinct possibility. Humans during the day and the animals at night. Something prowled around my tent last night. You’d think they’d be over it.

Random predators wonder through this area. My brother and I found mountain lion prints only a mile from where I’m camping. I know black bears and pumas go after people. I had to fight off a cougar in Colorado once, but I was awake then and had a sword in one hand and a shovel in the other. Out here, alone, and with no fire, the situation could favor the predators.

The coyotes kept up their howls until after dawn this morning. Of them I have little fear, but they are the gateway-predators to the real deals. Luckily the huge amount of tiny prickly pear has me constantly scanning the ground which helps with snakes and other smaller perils. So far Yig has protected me from such things and I haven’t gotten so much as a spider bite. Well time for some Pizza. I had to ride 18 miles and bum a lift for the last few, but hey, this is damn good pizza. Say are those Hatch chilies… nice.

8/23/16

Since this is the last night I’ll probably spend here for two weeks, in typical reverse, Alex Bone fashion, I bust-out the camp. Early in the morning I stroll under a cloud laden sky. A fine midst had proved enough to keep me from writing or reading, but I had already finished a book, so I set to explore.

Pre-stumps

I managed to get some contacts with the outside world, despite the cloud cover, which appears to dampen my iffy text status. I was just walking toward a lightning blasted tree, when I spotted something I’ve been searching for this entire time, cut out sections of trees. It proved quite the arduous walk through the forest caring these three sixty pounds tree tables, but well worth it for me.

I fixed up and repaired the camp chair and now have a little table for both my morning and evening writer’s nooks.

wildernesspunk work station

Again I suppose this brings up the concept of True Environment, I mentioned before. Do I really need an end table, or a chair for that matter? I’ve survived out here without both before. Is my presence ever so slowly eroding Camp 1’s True Environment?

Obviously, the answer is yes. Like most humans, I can’t help but alter my environment to favor my needs. I seek nature, but then change it with my hand upon entering. Still one could argue I have less of an impact on the overall True Environment by not using much gasoline, utilities, and other natural resources.

This will be my tenth night here and during all that time, I’ve only had one grocery bag full of trash which needed to be removed.

Flipping the dagger, it is important to consider the Punk(Cyber) side of my current equation. I’m writing and ShareStorming to in theory be improving my state. Since I recently lost about 95% of possessions, there’s the idea of starting from scratch and advancing forward. I’d like to get solar panels to recharge my tech, my own laptop instead of this borrowed one, and perhaps one day, gasp, a vehicle.

Camp 1 snag

Right now efficiently is important. I need to max my time and resources so I can rip through as many projects as possible, for overall, their payoff is poor. If I need to alter the True Environment to aid me in my goal, I have to allow myself to remember I’m an animal too. I have the right to live on this earth as much as the elk, bee, or horny toad. They alter their environment to survive and now I must too.

Camp 1 Never leave

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my the rest of the month goes before I really head north and explore the wilds of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming?

Grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here

Arizona Clouds

WildernessPunk, Lost in a Sea of Woe…Shit

Wowy Owy Zowy.

So maybe making the birthday kickball game double play might not be worth how sore I am for diving onto the hard dirt, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I’m just kidding. It was great to be part of such fun. Yet, part of me feels like an outsider, perhaps doubly. Everyone there has been allowed to live the lives they choose. Firstly, this was mostly denied me for years, so it just foreign to me to have a relaxed time. Secondly, it’s just plan strange to wake up in the forest and then ride into town and hang out with people with homes and jobs.

Wupapki

Oh well, wah, more of an observation or perhaps me feeling the oddness internally.

Knowing a former Park Ranger from Sunset Crater is guiding us to both there and Wupatki Ruins on the 21^st has me bumming rides with my bike to Jeremy’s where we rise early to pick her up.

Sunset Crater

I’ve always loved both Sunset Crater and the Wupatki Ruins. I usually prefer to take visitors there as opposed to the Grand Canyon. Still having a former ranger review and give us a tour of the area is a rare treat. I felt blessed to be out there and learning so much. And, I should point out that teaching this guy about Arizona is no mean feat.

However, the shit side of the hammer begins to fall. Jeremy turns ill in the desert 60 miles out of town. Both he and I, but mostly him, have put a lot of money, time, and energy into the AZ Adventure Tours, but no money is coming back at us. I’m in a place where even a little extra money would improve my state, quite a bit. He’s stressing hard and the pressure is wailing on him.

Desert North

I’m asked to drive the van back to town. I do get some one-on-one time with the former ranger and after a few dozen miles, I share the WildernessPunk idea with her. She says, “No one else can determine the value of the path you take. It’s up to you to judge it yourself.”

Feeling honored and lucky I drop her off. I feel the draw of the forest, I mean hell, I’ve been gone from nature a whole hour. I mount up with a truly heavy pack and head out to run a few tasks.

Lava

The road is long, about 10 miles. I had managed to Power Up and walk a few miles, while making calls, plotting, and planning. But after a grocery store run, the weight of my backpack becomes epic. I feel the aches and battering I inflicted on myself the day before.

I have to first encourage myself aloud. You know, pep talk time. Then on the second leg after I hit dirt, the final resort, signing out loud, but I think the horses and a mule liked it.

More contacts, both good and bad from Camp 1, which is weird in itself, but hey, it’s part of this process. Now I sit, sore and weary. August in Northern Arizona and its already growing chilly. My torn up muscles give me some concern. I’d hate to be in too much pain to move and be trapped out here because tomorrow is a town day. I guess you’ll know I wasn’t if I post this tomorrow.

CyberPunker

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my the rest of the month goes before I really head north and explore the wilds of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming?

Grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here

Cyber_Seven_by_lieggio