Ira Spring Trail Trip Report

The trail towards Mason Lake was a decent, gentle one.  The first mile was wide, which allowed traffic traveling on both directions to pass through easily.  Not much issue there until the trail was truncated by a waterfall, strenuous in its demand to be noticed.  The traverse was a bit harrowing, and its presence was a caveat; it had suggested that the path would become narrow and steep - which it did.  "Narrow and steep" here was actually quite manageable, and it shouldn't discourage would-be pilgrims to forgo their trek.  It was raining when I went and there was a ton of water cavorting on and off the trail.  In spite of this, the path was very clearly groomed and well loved.  After about 2 miles, I happened upon a fork that sliced the trail between Bandera and Mason Lake, to the right and left respectively.   I turned left.  The path here began a fairly short rocky switch-back and I detected there might have been spectacular views within my midst as I glanced across a blanket of moisture, like an IMAX that ensconced a breathtaking mise-en-scene that somehow had failed to project.  The hike began to descend shortly after this section and Mason Lake would be less than fifteen minutes away.  One should note, though, there was a single blowdown just before the lake, but getting through/over it was totally a non-issue.  I felt it served a gateway-like presence due to its proximity to the destination.

Armchair Musings of 2014, I Adagio

Often, advances in the American consumerists culture come at the expense of natural destruction.  Because of that, I've spent a disproportionate amount of effort in minimizing my contribution to the zeitgeist. It seems that the harder I try, the less I achieve.

Dear Earth, We Tried

Keeping in mind the scale from the emergence of life up to now, roughly 3.8 billion years ago, in less than one million years we have created complex societies which became the fodder for discovery that allowed technology to flourish heralding our presence to the outer limits of the atmosphere.  I looked at the stars through the silhouette of my fingers and saw that it might not be important how I arrived here, right now, but perhaps to ensure that the world before I leave it would continue in its existence as a home for countless beings who have nowhere to go.

Unfortunately, I travel within social circles that include folks who believe that their own self-interests have greater importance before the rest of society.  Climate change to them is something which is fashioned by hype and held afloat by fear mongers and ill-informed experts motivated by greed.  Because of this, they are not receptive to conservation, or reduction in oil dependency, or preservation of resources by following sustainable practices.  Tragedy of the commons is so literally within reach. Within reach by the same hands I peered through into the night sky, and it is desperately sad.

It's Hard

Staying alive is a lot of hard work. But like every difficult task, it's bound to get easy. Right? I hope so. 

I hiked Mailbox Peak this past Sunday.

Trails

We set out into the trails containing fear, and we leave the trails without them.

Art Problem

Tried to fix what I hate about this painting but my hatred isn't gone. It is simply lessened. 

Tallest Man On Earth

I have lived for ages I'm a thousand turns of tides / I'm a thousand wakes of springtime and a thousand infant cries / I got sixteen hundred tigers now tied to silver strings / When they plowed in the pastures, oh their mighty hearts will sing / I bend my arrows now in circles and I shoot around the hill / If I don't get you in the morning by the evening I sure will / Because I'm the fire on the mountain you have lit up in your dream / But also water on the fountain you could send myself on me / And no I never meant to say these words but yes you ought to know / That the dark in what I've always been it will not ever go / And for so I lived a thousand years a thousand turns of tides / Just a thousand leaves in autumn and a thousand ways to try / Oh, a thousand ways to try.