Nature – Page 2 – WildernessPunk

Fall… into WildernessPunk

It is 9/21/2016… and Fall has begun. With it comes uncertainty and with this comes the need for me to either figure out a way to seriously step up my game or make different choices.

fall

First Day of Fall in Flagstaff

I never intended WIldernessPunk to be merely a journal of my exploits and issues. My goal, as stated, was to really mix living within nature as much as possible (True Environment) with the juxtaposed concept of not only communicating my thoughts, findings, and adventures to the world online, but also making the money to survive through my writing and my online promotion business ShareStorm.

However, with Summer now over and me living at 7,200 feet in elevation, certain luxuries I’ve enjoyed will be quickly disappearing. Chief of these will be my ability to live with great levels of comfort in a minimalistic camp without a fire. I also have financial responsibilities which will be requiring me, should have been requiring me, to earn more of that elusive green.

paradise

If I wasn’t grounded into this reality, you would most likely see these posts fade into the mists of the web as I packed up a few belongings and set off on some questionable quest, such as walking from Flagstaff to Tucson heading through Payson, Roosevelt Lake, hitting Globe and then trudging down route 87 through the old mining towns. Damn, wouldn’t that be an epic journey. But it is one that won’t be happening. (Or most likely won’t be.)

Back to the seasons. This year has seen my life changed and defined by the seasons more than any year I have encountered. Winter = hardship within my long standing employment of over 13 years, but no serious changes in my long standing status quo. Shortly after spring began, 97% of what most people consider their ‘Life’ was removed from me with a single lie. The rest of the Spring proved difficult as I was monitored by the state until, quite literally the day Summer began. Summer found me more released from their erroneous bondage and I became in many respects freer than I’ve been since my freshman year in College. Yet this summer was divided between having housing, which once lost, begin this experience we call WildernessPunk.

electric-forest4

The Summer also became divided into what some might call bad luck vs. good luck or rough sailing vs. calm waters. I found it somewhat strange that my ill luck occurred before I moved out of my place and once I started WildernessPunk so many things fell into place, so close to perfectly, it made me nervous from time to time. Now, with abrupt timing, just as Autumn begins, some annoying complications have hit me. Again, I guess it’s back to the Real World.

Still, I have little to truly belly-ache about. Over the past seven weeks I have lived more and experienced more road trips and moments of bliss than some people get in a lifetime. Not matter what one might say, I’ve been a damn lucky guy.

I would like to point out that Wildernesspunk is certainly not over. If for no other reason than I’ll be staying in the wilderness for more than a while yet. Things could change, but they haven’t changed yet.

electric-tree-nicole-jean

One thing that has changed however, will be my touring around. After my last climax, which I just returned from, I’ll be buckling down in Arizona and as the weather increases so will my determination to ride this through.

Oh, you want to know about my last Climax, the finale of my blasts across the west? I’m not sure how much is proper to disclose. My E-Book training turned out to be informative, inspirational, and over all beyond enjoyable. A perfect way to end my longer trips. A butterfly in my stomach turned into a butterfly in my soul.

Now is perhaps a bit of a calm before the storm. I sit in Wheeler Park just west of downtown Flagstaff as the clouds roll in. A bluegrass band is practicing on the green. I have 5 hours until my class starts.

What do you think I should do first?

blue-grass

Thanks for your attention. I’ll be back at this soon. Tune back in to see what direction the Chaos tips.

chaos-strand

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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?

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Arizona Clouds

Wilderness Punk… 8/19/16

Funny to me how this solo living, after being part of a family unit for so long, has become addictive. Even when I was being blessed with luxury, the best type of friends a man could ask for, and vistas of beauty, part of me longed for some of that alone time I’ve grown accustomed too. That’s just the way things are with us humans. Two Fridays ago I was feeling a little lonely between my visitors at the ponds, now, although I certainly don’t have to, I’m seeking out the seclusion of Camp 1.

Camp 1

Of course this is after a quick Jacked in spree at the Monte V. Had some of the social there and a few times after, but here I sit ShareStormed up and watching the darkness claim the forest.

I met a woman from the Sioux Nation while walking across town in a light rain. Funny how some people are unaffected and good natured in the middle of situations where others might freak the hell out or curse themselves for being losers.

Camp 1 turned out to be mostly fine, although damp. Hopefully the camo tarp given to me by Geff will lower the chance of this happening again and also help conceal the camp.

Can you see me

Ale, on ice this time, along with charged up tech leaves me fit, although darkness will descend soon. More of the social tomorrow as I emerge from to forest to attend a BD party. It’s the sort of thing I do. Missing some people. I need to contact, my family and a certain someone.

Can you see me know

I’m going to shut down for tonight. Like my devices, my batteries are recharged, yet as always, being away from your home leads to gaining perspective and a renewed motivation to take up the struggle to build on your goals so they will come to fruition.

Guilt and joy battle in my mind. Like freedom versus currency, I am torn. Stepping outside of the mainstream is like climbing up a muddy back that threatens to send you sliding back into the raging river that most of us are swept away with our whole lives without really knowing it.

What is life for? Is it for love, experiences, getting more things? Who am I to say which is more reasonable? Am I living true to myself or avoiding life and the responsibilities hanging around our necks like barbells of thorns?

Whatever the case, I tend to feel if you are striving for something and improving yourself, your life, and maybe a being decent to a few people around you, you are not only a success, but perhaps, just a little bit of a hero.

Drying

Thanks for listening

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True Environment and WildernessPunk

What you gonna do?

Call the Lilly Ponds Camp 2.

Lilly Long

Yeah is there really anyplace better to call Camp 2? Sure I could be in Arivipa or Coyote Buttes, but if I was, I’d probably just be doing the Wilderness and have to minus the punk pretty quick as I set off on a quest to insure I survive. I may have sacrificed a few things to get here, but I’m still riding on the wave of reciprocity I received for E-Jacking Kurt into the world of ShareStorm by making all his platforms for him. It took all day, but it was well worth it for both of us. He got and will be getting, about 1000$ worth of services for tossing me some grub, a few beers, and driving me up to the Lillies.

Yep, not a bad requirement to have to drive yourself into paradise.

I write while he gets his nature photography on. Not a bad deal. I will join him down by the ponds when I am done with this. I don’t feel behind in my game for I already took a dip last night before sunset.

Kurt Camera

With just a few supplies in hand life becomes easy on this end. Water and Sun. Good times and fun. Like a Disney world for adults, or at least adults who like to experience things closer to the real, closer to a state where one strips away as much of the clingings of civilization as possible. Moving through the woods with just a spear, dagger, and the clothes on my back

The land has an eerie calm today. Not a leaf moves. After all the rain, Northern Arizona has received a green carpet of life, which sweeps through the brown spikes of the forest. Even the bugs and birds go quite as the sun holds its breath, like the world is waiting for something to happen.

Camp View

Perhaps the real me is what’s about to happen.

What does it mean to attempt to get closer to the true environment? How can you do it? What would it look like if you succeeded and how would you even know if you had?

Big questions, perhaps too big to answer, but maybe taking small bites would help. So let me back up a little and create a new term. True Environment (TE). True Environment is a concept I would like to throw out into the world. I’m not saying I’m inventing as much as defining something. True Environment is the idea you are in a place existing the way it would whether humans lived on our planet or not. So in a sense one could call it an area where humans have not altered the environment away from its natural state.

Hair Washing

In many cases this would not be an all or nothing situation. Most of existence is measured on the bell curve as would TE. Think of Antarctica on the TE side and Manhattan on the other side which we can term HE, or the Human Environment.

Sure with a little effort most of us can get to some places with a high TE score which would be close to how a place would be with or without human involvement, but we must also be careful not to oversell a space in the TE scale.

Of instance, I LOVE the Lilly Ponds, but… We have sheep being herded in this area, houses are really not too far down the dirt road, a mile away lumber is being harvested, and Boy Scout camp lurks to the southeast. Also people have been collecting firewood here for decades. A wonderful gift for all who encounter this place, true, but are these woods and waters the same way they would be if humans didn’t exist, close, but there would be differences surly. Bears and Mountain Lions might be more common in the area just for starters. More animals might be migrating through as well. And I won’t even bring up the Crawdads again.

So obviously a place even as close to Nirvana in so many ways, as the Lilly Ponds, would not receive a perfect TE score. Sometimes when it comes to human survival, having a lower TE score can even help, remember when I found the huge tile during the rainstorm and used it to cover my tent? Then I used an old tin can to help dig post holes to make the poles holding my ramada more secure.

Human things help humans. It’s that simple. Face it, toilet paper is a good thing to have. However, an area’s TE rating does not revolve around how well it helps humans survive, it’s based, again, on how untouched a region is by the hands of man and womankind. It is that simple.

Cat tails

Now you understand the concept and I think the next step is to develop a system of measurement, because that is what OCD math-mind oriented people like me do. But that will wait until next time.

Improve, test, and reward your body and mind. Yeah, I just gave you some homework.

Trail II

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my Trip back to the Lillies goes. Will I have to fight off dogs? Will there be enough beer for me to share with the frogs?

Grab some of my SkinJumper-Punk fiction here

Lilly Cliffy

WildernessPunk: Blazing

I grabbed Chaos by the tail. I’d say it grabbed mine, but I don’t have one.

Meetings went fine that night. Looks like I might become a young comedian’s manager and I got a few free ales from the Aussie Skateboarder skating Route 66.

Sunest Storm

Despite my lack of, well almost everything, I have chosen to head form Phoenix and then make Tucson my goal. I must make in to the Castle in the Desert.

castle

One might throw out the idea that passing through 300 miles of Arizona desert during the summer without a vehicle might be a rather questionable thing to do. However with at least some money, you can lever a way and in the end, good friends usually prove more important.

Shuttle

Van -> Downtown Flagstaff -> Shuttle to Phoenix Sky Harbor ànd I get picked up by Kurt. He decided to hire Sharestorm to get his platforms ready for his Nature Photography business and after some day beers and mixing my Rising Hy with his fresh garden goodies, we had quite the feast. ->Wooks takes me to the north side of America’s fourth largest city. After a two mile, 100 degrees even with the sun down, hike we hit a Brewery and then call it a night.

Kurt

Wooks and I hit the highway after I Jack-In and ShareStorm it there. We rip it to Tucson, where as it should be, our first stop is the Nugget where we greet Nick Nicholson who has moved back to the USA after living in Brazil for a quarter of a century.

After some 4^th Ave brewery love, I finally make it to the Castle. Jacked in and loving life. After so many years of torment and distress, to be truly relaxed, at peace, and happy feels strange, like finding a yacht after swimming through a thousand miles of open ocean. As I lounge in the pool with the BBQs going, well, this is a slice of Nirvana. Later a storm seeps in providing us an A+ lightning show. It blasts the city of Tucson while the night lays claim to the land.

ThunderStorm

Poker, IPAs, great food, and pool hopping. What more can a Boneman ask for? Well, I guess I might have liked winning the poker game. At the end of the night, one of those Facebook miracles happens and I’m set up for a ride to Phoenix from my old school punk rock buddy, Andy Horsehead. Sometimes the world rewards us once we get on the right path.

The heat cleanses me like nothing else can. It sweats my toxins away, frying off the spiders worrying at the edges of my mind. I am a man seeking a rebirth, needing a new path. The desert dries me. I become a husk, purged of my past, my items. I become just a hollow shell. A void seeking to be refilled with new direction and purpose. I take a step

Desert

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my Trip back to the Lillies goes. Will I have to fight off dogs? Will there be enough beer for me to share with the frogs?

Grab some of my Skin-Punk fiction here

Three Guys

The Real World? Wilderness Punk vs Tarmac

I go from getting up in the woods and riding through five miles of forest, to having my Avatars powering through the web to support some of my Sharestorm people. But free food and Dr. Ps at AK Café makes it all so easy. One of my fav places to Jack-in for sure.

AK Rain

After hitting the storage unit and Jeremy’s, I set off for a huge ride to see if I can get a job at the Arboretum, which would include free housing, utilities, and wifi. Odds might be against me, but I would be perfect for the job. However it does have me riding form 3 miles far east to 4 miles past town to the far west. I’ll be putting in about 30 miles on the mountain bike today.

After spending 7 out of the last 9 nights in the forest, riding alongside the never-ending stream of loud vehicles harshes my senses. The constant hum of fossil fuels chokes a man after so much pure perfection. The overwhelming percentage of motorists in ratio to bikers or pedestrians is appalling to me. My heavy backpack is like the weight of human necessity and I feel it pulling me into the steaming tarmac. The miles rip by as I weave through the garbage trucks and pumped pickups.

Light head

Four miles into the western forest, I meet with the man who could be my new boss, but I doubt it will be that easy. He speaks of the frailties of the former employees and the ‘tough’ requirements for living so far out into the woods. I want to laugh, and may have put him off in my disregard for such minor non-issues. Living within such beauty even in such a small place would be a luxury beyond what I feel I could deserve. If only such physical and emotion issues of his former employees were my worst obstacles.

Later, I make it to Down Town Flag. I see some down and out guys and stop because I know one of them. They are homeless and panhandling. Part of me wonders how far off I’m really removed from them. After a shared minute, I feel a certain unease, like the universe is watching and I’m at some cosmic tipping point. I excuse myself and move on.

What does it say about which side I’m tipping over?

One cup of tea later and I’ve set up no less than 4 meetings for tomorrow afternoon. A piece of Migo pie, right. I must be back in e-land. The most exciting of which is an Australian I will be meeting with who’s skateboarding across the old Route 66. I’ll be trading PR for beer, yep, that’s how I roll it. I might even be trading PR for some Re… I do important things.

Next Morning:

In town, showered and I’m told a client I’ve been chasing for about four months wants to see me. I meet with her and her husband.

Her: “Getting this super inflated bid for internet service triggered me to want to contact you again.”

Me: “Let’s just make this happen. I can start today.”

Him: “Okay here’s a check and one of each of the products we sell.”

I had left my backpack back at Jeremy’s and I’ll just say that was a tricky bike ride home.

Four more meetings before sunset. Punk > Wilderness, but ale is also > Sunburns.

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how my manic meetings of doom go. Will I meet with these folks before I have too many beers or will having too many beers help me take it home?

Grab some of my Skin-Punk fiction here

Wilderness Punk: Back to Camp I and some Fun

I found myself out of the cyber loop for a while out there in the Lilly Ponds. Friday night I spend alone. I wrote, hiked, looked at frogs, you know, the normal things. I did take a long mountain ride down the Sycamore trail. First time for that one and in the drizzling rain, it was well…awesome.

Biking It

Later circumstances forced me to defend my camp while alone. My habit of talking out loud alerted the sheep herding dogs to my presence. These half feral monster sized beasts barked and growled as they attempted to surround me like a pack of wolves. Some shouting of my own and moving at them with my war club clenched in hand sent them packing, but only after a minute standoff, which I guess this Boneman won.

Lilly Fields Forever

Wooks did make it and lucky for me (even if he did beat me 3 games to 2 in horseshoes) he did, for that would have been a long ride of twenty miles into town after I would have been forced to stash some gear. Instead, I put my cooler etc, into the storage unit and plunged back into normal, well at least as normal as my life gets, humanity. An attempt at jacking up my gear and getting work done, became a fun bit of the social at east side Historic. I learn some useful factoids, and even double gear up while I eat three bags of croutons.

Next day, no tour, no money, some low spirits. I set myself to hitting the Cyberpunk world and then do a few tasks to take advantage of this thing we call civilization, while also prepping for a quick turnaround to camp I. Along the way I find a giant unopened bag of trail mix. Accorded to some paths of mysticism such an event would mean the Gods favor my current quest. So since it was a double mystic Day of Yig, I’ll send the All-Father serpent my thanks.

More power-cyber slamming for the touring company and I’m ready to bum a ride out to Camp I. Jeremy hikes up to see it with our touring mutt mascot. I forgot the ice, but what would life be like if everything went smoothly.

I finished my fifth Chronicles of Jack Primus book out in the woods. See, I’m doing some writing out here. New Primus E-Book here I come.

Camp I Day II

An unused road leads down to some powerlines. I discovered that if I’m willing to walk down these powerlines about half a mile, my cell reception rocks. Not all-important to me, but good to scout out resources. No water, no random supplies other than a giant spike and two nails.

Managing to slam some writing and prepping for some of my cyber-business, which actually does pay a few bucks and you know what, I think it’s about beer:30. Which is good since my water is running low, due to the lack of my frozen bottles of ice.

3PM

Jeremy arrives with two bottles of chilled water and tells me a hurricane has been tearing up through Mexico and is ranging through Arizona. We both looked at the dark arrowhead of clouds moving east to cover the land in shadow.

Clouds

“I’m here with the van if you want to pull out.”

“No, I’ll ride it out. I’m ready.”

“How about any gear?”

“Nope, I think I’m ready for whatever might be thrown at me. Bring it on. I’m going to ride it out.”

And…Yeah…It was a big no show. Not so much as a drop. So I went mountain bike riding until the trail disappeared.

Where did the roadd go

Great day though, Clouds came in and gave me some shade.

Smile

When I woke up today, I really, really wished I didn’t have to leave. Maybe this whole WildernessPunk thing is dangerous for me. I may never want to come back.

Morning

Thanks for listening and return to see how the Punk side goes this week.

Grab some of my Skin-Punk fiction here

Bike Camp I

Wilderness Punk Camp II, Pictures of Lillies

After my blast into town to take care of the human and cyber side of my current existence, a little luck finds me and I have a lovely mother and her two children take me out to one of my three favorite spots in Arizona, the Lilly Ponds. They are a secret place that even people living in the region for decades have never heard of and I’m going to stop talking about it because I want it to stay that way.

Lilly Pond Love

Due the turmoil I suffered this spring and the fallout from my tribulations, I have not met many of my usual warm weather goals, such as making it out to the Lilies once a month from May to September. Being here is as close to paradise as most people get.

Experiencing this heaven on earth with kids and an adult who has never been here, increases the pleasure. I even went swimming with the frogs.

Lilly Silly

I take a great level is satisfaction when I see so many frogs floating and swimming around me, for their emergence from near extinction is owed to me spearheading the effort, with the aid of my friends, to attempt to hunt out the crawdads which is an invasive species this side of The Rockies.

Kenny the Crawdad

I remember standing at the cliff that overlooks the ponds with Geff in 2007 and we could barely hold a conversation due to the frogs being so loud. A year later they had nearly perished due to the three ponds becoming overrun with crawdads. We worried over whether even a breeding population of frogs remained.

Save the frogs

So my allies and I took it upon ourselves to save this one place. We researched both written word and tried our own techniques to remove every crawdad we could from the three ponds. Between 12-20 days a year with focused on fishing them out. We used traps, nets, and my personal favorite, meat on a string, to eradicate this invasive species.

Frog

Crawdads first eat all the animals and their eggs. Then they devour all the plants so nothing can recycle the CO2. Eventually a once clear pond full of life becomes a murky mess where only crawdads remain eating each other in the cannibalistic darkness.

For the first four years, we would come and see dozens sunning themselves on the rocks. If we were lucky we might see one frog all summer. It really did seem close to hopeless. Instead of giving up, we tried harder. I would even pull the old Tom Sawyer trick and convince wandering families how fun it was and sometimes we’d get up to fifteen people working a pond at once.

Frog too

Around 2013 is seems like we were making more headway. There were frogs, not all of them had been killed. In 2015 we broke them and the frogs returned. Today they fill the ponds and you can see ten in one area.

It really is a beautiful thing.

Frogs

After helping the kids learn how to catch a few crawdads while we were down there, we headed back to base with our haul. Right after reaching the fire pit, a bald eagle flew through our camp. Later one of the kids found a rare tree frog. Seems like we might be doing something right and perhaps nature provides us with its own rewards.

Thanks for listening and turn back in to see how things go with campsite 2.

Grab some of my Skin-Punk fiction here

Those Damn Crawdads