How to Climb a Mountain: Walk with me a moment. Winter. Pre-dawn. Climbing a mountain, looming grey silhouette on pinpricked black. A bootpack. Left foot. Right foot. Check breath. Check technique. Check posture. Repeat. Each step, a choice. Each breath, a lesson.
Category: dogs
Not Enough Whiskey. Pyre for Dog.
Not Enough Whiskey. Funeral Pyre. July 4th, 2016. 4 AM two days ago, Winter, my dog, died. After coming home and passing out for a few hours, Jennifer and I sat in the living room. Simultaneously, we look at each other and say, “I can’t be here.” I call our favorite cabins on the Oregon coast, cabins we have…
Trail Report-Being Prey I
Being Prey. Mile Twenty-Four. Lightening jukes and strikes far down the canyon, moving away, out over the valley. I hike through a light rain, blowback from the hot day. My legs and feet are numb and heavy. I am one mile from the Spanish Peaks trailhead—one mile from the truck, flip-flops, and beer—and fifteen minutes from absolute darkness. I am…
Old Dog Shaky Legs
(I wrote the following last December, 2015. The photo was taken during Winter’s last camping trip, the weekend before she died. Last Sunday, Jen and I picked up Winter’s ashes, a paw print, and a lock of her fur.) Winter Dog, sweet Winter Dog. Her hind end has been shaking more and more. Lately, when we go for walks in…