The Sacred Path

Journeys through the mist

Page 29 of 35

Some of you may ask…

Aug 13, 2007 /

What’s up with all my coverage on Little Goose fire? As I told you in my post Little Goose Canyon, I had a wonderful experience up there, and have had a couple more this summer as well. For me there is a magic to Little Goose Canyon. It has a feel about it that’s hard to describe – one that I very much enjoy. Since it’s difficult to get to without a four wheel drive, you don’t have to worry about it being crowded either. For me it was a local place of solitude and beauty.

After the fires are extinguished, and I am allowed to go back up there, I will. Sure it will have changed, but everything changes; change is the only true constant. I look forward to next spring when the snow has gone and the rebirth begins in bursts of green and Little Goose Creek is flowing strong and singing its song.

Little Goose Canyon Fire

Aug 13, 2007 /

That’s what they seem to be calling the August 2007 fire in the Big Horn Mountains near Sheridan. This photo was taken about 8pm on Sunday evening just west and south of the town of Big Horn, WY. I didn’t have my tripod and the shutter speed was 1 second at ISO 720 so it’s a little fuzzy. This morning I took a quick drive up past the town of Big Horn and with the overcast, lower temperatures and virtually no wind, the northward advance along the eastern face appears to have slowed considerably, however there is still considerable smoke at Little Goose Canyon, and especially toward the top of the canyon.

On a whim, I took a drive out Sunday night around midnight, and could see the fire clearly at that time. There was something eerily beautiful with the orange flames against the black of night. While I was thinking of how beautiful it was, I was also thinking of the destruction, but then again, it’s all part of life on this blue ball, and fire is not only a sign of destruction, it is also a sign of rebirth. The only official report I could quickly find on the fire was at the Kota Territory News website.

Changes in my back yard

Aug 12, 2007 /

A few days ago, I believe, there was at least two fires started by lightning in the Big Horn Mountains – my back yard so to speak. As I understand it, the Forest Service was watching them, but allowing them to burn since they were burning slowly and not threatening any dwellings. Mid morning, Sunday, the wind picked up and the fires began to spread quickly. The wind has subsided, but the fires are now large enough, and burning hot enough to create their own wind.

It’s been decades since there was a fire of any consequence on the eastern slope of the Big Horns so there is a lot of fuel. Add to that the rugged, steep terrain, and it’s very difficult to fight. There are a lot of homes in the foothills, and I don’t suppose we will know for a while how many of them were destroyed.

One of the areas involved was the Little Goose Canyon, which I had blogged about earlier in the year, and it’s one of my favorite spots to just hang with nature. The thing is though, fire is a natural part of things and renews the forests and grasslands.

Nature’s symphony

Aug 12, 2007 /

Recently I went back to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks with a very good friend and her son, and it was quite probably the best week of my life – I certainly can’t remember one that was better. Spending time in Yellowstone and the Tetons – even with the crowds – is magic, and when you can share that time with people you love, it’s all the more special.

This year I’ve been fortunate to spend a good deal of time out in nature – more than I have in years – and I have cherished every minute of it. When I’m out in nature, my mind quiets, and as I’m hiking around and enjoying the beauty, it becomes a walking meditation. All of my physical and non-physical senses sharpen and expand; all remnants of the “noise” of civilization fades away, and in flows this incredible, natural harmonic symphony, and I become an active participant. The answers to questions that begin to form in my mind are answered almost before they can completely form.

Continue reading

Hot and Salty

Jul 19, 2007 /

I would like to point you toward a very good article by Stephen Schwartz on global climate change titled Hot and Salty (dated July 20, 2007), where he discusses what has, and is, happening to the oceans and our water supplies.

[Edit: Stephen has continued his discussion on our water future in today’s post (July 21, 2007), and again, I think it is well worth reading.]

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