White Mountain Reminisce II

Bears Ears, Utah #42

 

One Moment Leads to the Next:

We walk off and away from camp, down the raspy forest service road, attempting to stay off on the side to avoid the dust puffs. They are little clouds at each step of our feet.  Just a few strides and our shoe’s colors blend into the surroundings. DF hangs back as my puffs head her way, traveling in front of her. It’s not sandy here. This is dried soil churned by vehicles. It turns to thick gooey mud when it rains and it then washes away, exposing the local rocks more and more. This is good for us. It makes a terrible trail, fit only for thick tires, 4×4 and destructive ATV’s. The latter churns up the soil deeper, making more dust, but this creates the solitude. Few people come this way and they move slowly, with caution.

When we get to our intersection in the forest, I suggest walking the stream. There is apparently no one around here but us. We’ll need to cross the open field that lies on the other side of a rickety old barbed wire fence, both running parallel to this road. Today, I notice a toppled length of the fence laying on its side. There will be none of the hassle with the primitive gate, a team effort, having to lift the old wire loop off of the funky old gatepost.

We can shortcut, going off road and cross right where we are.

DF acts like she feels exposed at first, as she walks across the large open area. There is nowhere to hide, but soon reality sets in and she gets comfortable with the circumstance. Knee jerk conditioning is replaced with a sense of liberation.

We are free to walk as much as miles without concern for authority, never looking out, or listening for other humans.

We are just we two, walking through our own world. It is good to share the feeling, to hold hands and wander amongst nature. We are flung vulnerable out in the open field, naked and exposed and this is all okay. I feel freely open to everything near and far. The sun warms me, the air fills this spacial void, entertaining my senses.

We stop to imbibe the beauty of the natural spring and creek.

There is a lot of water soaking into the earth, all around. It partly flows evident and partly creates a deeper colored green zone through the grasses.

The trickling little falls around the uneven bed glitter in the sun. Heading downstream we find no paths.

We do find a way, avoiding cool wet and soggy spots that would soak into our light shoes.

Flat stones can be used to step upon.

They are plentiful in the shallow flow.

Ground hogs or goffers have left evidence of their underground trails. They raise the ground, making tubes in the field, as they tunnel along.

In time, there are small meanders. DF’s hand tells us that the waters are still cool, even in the sun. She says that she’ll bravely put her bare feet in… sometime.

As it has for years, the creek heads through a channel into the familiar pines and spruce that I remember from years ago.

More water is spreading wide along a familiar part of the creek, seeping out into a field to where once stood the Rainbow Gathering sacred circle. The water’s escape out of the ranchers channel that feeds Carnero Lake has a leak.

Since 1997, the circle still shows as a deeper darker green oval of grass blades. I like to think that it is caused from the energy that 10,000 people focused onto it, while praying for peace and the love of Mother Earth.

(There are many photos in this post to process. I think that I’d best take a break and resume this story in a couple of days.)

I am on the forum of FreeRangeNaturism.com often, if you would like to converse.

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