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Have you seen yourself retreating?
July 8, 2010 | 25 Comments
Glacier National Park, Montana
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
If you see one mountain, you’ve seen them all. What’s the point in seeing more than one? Or climbing it and coming back to where you started? Besides, it’s easier to turn on the ignition and drive to places.
“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down…so why bother in the first place? Just this: what is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.”
~ Rene Daumal, “Mont Analogue”
Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I already was the Knower of Everything. I didn’t need to drive hundreds of miles to a place, then walk through random forests and up random peaks with a backpack to see what I had already seen in the brochures at the visitor’s center.
“That’s the problem with nature. Something’s always stinging you or oozing mucus on you. Let’s go watch TV.” ~ Calvin
And then I turned 21. Niggling doubts about my omniscience began to creep in.
That intensified after I met a guy whose idea of “fun” was hiking uphill for miles and miles with a huge backpack and a tripod, then setting up a tent, sleeping in it and hiking back downhill. I like to run, swim, bike, but I HATE to hike, especially with stuff on my back. But I got suckered into walking with big ugly boots in random places. Time and again. For no ostensible purpose. We started to bargain.
Me: “I’m not doing it.”
He: “How about ten miles total on flat terrain?”
Me: “Five.”
He: “Okay, but that trail is not flat.”
Me: “Is it shaded or sunny?”
He: “Partly shaded.”
Me: “Whatever. Let’s get it over with.”
I’d rather be sitting in the parking lot with a book or running on a flat road, but I’ve learnt to ooh and ahh and pretend to enjoy the hiking ordeal. Last week we rushed through a three-mile hike in 50 minutes ‘cos we had a boat to catch to go somewhere else. I was thankful for that ‘cos Jai would be compelled to turn back at the 1.5 mile mark.
I dug up a few hurriedly taken pics and tried to recall what I was thinking on this hike. Since today’s my birthday, I’ll present myself with the opportunity to get it out of my system.
Nice mountains. No, they’re not all the fu%$ing same. Of all the hundreds of trails and mountains in the Park amidst 1.5 million acres, Jai thinks this one is worth going on. So it’s special, I guess.
I’d rather run for 30 minutes than trudge along for 50. Damn, I left my running shorts and shoes in the car.
Focus. Half mile down, 2.5 to go. Nice craggy peak.
Ooh, there’s a lake under it. That little waterfall makes me want to pee real bad.
Holy crap. A big one. Now I’ve really got to pee.
Oh, look J’s got biodegradable wipes in the front of his backpack. Time to find a big rock.
A fortnight ago that trouser was slipping off my waist. Now it’s locked in a passionate embrace with my butt, which has expanded enough to prop up my camera bag. Wonder how many camera bags it would have held if I sat by a beach with a book eating potato chips while Jai went on his hikes.
Sure, deck your lower limbs in pants;
Yours are the limbs, my sweeting.
You look divine as you advance.
Have you seen yourself retreating?
~ Ogden Nash.
Birthday Resolution #1: Be grateful that J puts up with me.
Birthday Resolution #2: It’s time to go on a diet.
I’m embarking on a two-week Eat to Live vegan diet plan – with a strong exercise regimen. I’ll keep you posted on the results. Wish me luck.
Trail: Redrock Falls on the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail near Many Glacier.
Glacier National Park, Montana.
- Bee
Filed Under: fitness, Glacier National Park, Montana, MUSINGS, national-parks, Photo Essays, PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVEL
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25 Comments
Happy birthday Bee! Have a great year ahead.
Oh, and good luck with the 2 week diet and exercise regimen.
Happy Birthday dear Bee!! Good luck for everything.
Happy Birthday Bee..hope you have a wonderful year ahead!
Happy Birthday Bee! love your blog!
Happy Birthday, dear Bee!
Happy birthday Bee.
Happy Birthday dear Bee! You wouldn’t comply if you were not enjoying it
we know it 
Happy birthday dear B.
Happy birthday B!:)
Happy birthday
A very happy birthday to you Bee! Hope you’ve had your share of the cake and more
Happy Birthday! And all the very best. Nope, haven’t seen myself retreating…and, um, thank goodness for that. I AM sitting here eating potato chips as I read this!
I had to comment on this one. This is exactly the same relationship I have with my husband
. He loves rock climbing, mountaineering, back country camping & I like exercise but in the gym or only for a set amt of time in the civilized world. Like you I have learnt to enjoy the hikes & I know the mountains are beautiful but I am not passionate abt seeing them again & again. Till now I thought I was NOT normal & was so happy to read another person with the same thoughts.
Happy Birthday ! Nice to know a fellow cancerian.
Resolution #3: Write crabby posts more often. They’re more fun to read.
Happy birthday dear.:)
Happiest of birth days sweet Bee. Jai is LUCKY to have you in his life – more than an even trade for your differing ideas of what is fun (or reasonable even) to do on vacation.
Good luck with your diet – with your resolute good natured approach I have no doubts you’ll get the desired results.
And thank you once again for sharing your photos. With a severely strained ankle keeping me close to my desk/chair, the view out the window is getting b o r i n g! At least I’m safe from suggested hikes for the duration….
many more happy returns of the day(Belated) bee..wishing u good luck for your diet plan. I did mine inspired by your previous one and lost 10 odd pounds and gained much more strength. Thanks a lot..:)
Happy birthday Bee..:-)
Happy Birthday dear Bee
Happy Birthday, Bee…a day into your next year!
Almost came by last night to check in on you two. One of these days I will learn to ALWAYS heed my intuition!!
Hubby feels like you do, about mountains (ssen one, seen them all) and hiking. Though I’m a slow hiker and have only backpacked occasionally, I do LOVE it. Am eager to go camping, this summer but once we get there hubby will want to hang out, nap, and not explore…(sigh)
Happy Birthday, Bee!
Belated wishes Dear Bee – hope you had a great one and wishing you many more!
Love the pics – especially the one with the waterfall – made me almost hear the gushing sounds ….
Happy Birthday and many many more to come, Bee. Its wonderful having you share your thoughts (and skills aka experiments) with all of us
I am also going to start the Eat to Live diet, but I find it difficult to sustain beyond a 2 week period. Hopefully will be able to make this stick this time.. if you are able to stay on this for a month, I’ll doff my hat to you..
Happy Birthday dear Bee. Very beautiful post…enjoyed reading and seeing the pics..
Rather belated birthday wishes to you, Bee. My daughter just celebrated hers 2 days before you.
And good luck with those resolutions.
I think its better that many of us don’t see ourselves retreating, me included! LOL