Wilson Valley Lean-to Breakfast
M=13.7; C=2051
J: In at Wilson Valley L-2 with Seuss and Mariner. Well past dark here, after dinner. Cold and clear tonight - no rain for the first time in a LONG while. Just up past the railroad we crossed before reaching the shelter. One train's already gone by.
Came out up here after leaving late this morning. More fords today - Mariner almost went in. Took a while to get here - body is really getting beat up - knees and feet as usual, but calf and quads now, too. No refractory period for them - another couple of days, and past White Top - then motor on to Baxter. Having doubts as to whether I can make 10/5. Would have needed over 18 today. We'll see. As I admonish myself about the slacker mileage and yet another arbitrary deadline I've assigned, I pulled out what Knees wrote 9/16 at Horseshoe Canyon:
'As I was cruising along on the level path, my speed was increasing - and I said to myself, 'this is great I could go like this forever'. Then the thoughts got crazier, 'Hell, if I get to the next shelter by 5 or so... I may push on to Monson at this pace.' So I was zooming along at a hyper hiker pace and the world was whizzing by. And then I came to the river.
And along the river I saw the trees. The Maples and Birch in stark vibrating glorious contrast to the firs, junipers and cedars. And they seemed to ask me, 'Could you tell us again why you are there?' And I stopped... and I thought... and I said, 'Yes, I'm here for you.'
'Then let's share a moment,' they said, 'for we shall not reveal ourselves thus for long and you may not cross this path again.'
And we did.
Tonight I will fall to sleep with a smile and dream dreams of many colors.'
Yes to this - his feeling - and how the trees can speak.