visiting my namesake

[Absaroka]

In a few weeks I will be visiting my namesake. That is to say I will be going to the Absaroka Mountains. It's something I wasn't sure I would ever do again. What's changed is a willingness to take little old man walks in the foothills rather than multiday excursions into the wilds. Hopefully the decrepit body parts will cooperate. The knees are doing much better for some reason that seems to surprise everyone including the doctors, and I am now regularly walking 4 to 6 miles a day.


Much more importantly, my eldest daughter will be going with me. When she was little we used to talk about doing this when she was older, and then middle school years came and we were at odds. By time that phase was over I'd hurt my knee and couldn't really contemplate such a thing. So now she's older and more mature and I'm somewhat healthier. This is a success on more levels than I can really count.

When I initially planned this trip I had thought of doing it alone, in which case I might have a picture to post of me in my hiking dress. But that won't be happening, I will be strictly "daddy" and in male mode. Which is absolutely fine.

Also planning to visit the Bighorns and then on to Yellowstone/Teton before returning to Denver via the Salt River Mountains. A lot of driving for 2 weeks, but it will be something to do while I am taking shorter walks of only a couple of hours at a time.

My daughter has never been out there, and I expect is not emotionally prepared for this at all in spite of all the New England backpacking trips when she was little. I can't wait to see her face the first time she sees Shell Canyon leaving the BIghorns.......

I'll keep you all posted. I realize this isn't really about CDing so much, except that it has to do with the source of my name, and that the nature of the Absarokas reflects some of my feelings about not only CDing but the mystery of life generally. Virginia used to say 'first star to the right and straight ahead till morning" In that spirit we will perhaps visit Sunlight Peak......

Zari

[DonnaT]

I am now regularly walking 4 to 6 miles a day.

My knees are mostly fine, and I still I can't walk that far.

Hope the trip goes well and no fires have reached the areas you intend to go.

[Anita]

Much more importantly, my eldest daughter will be going with me. When she was little we used to talk about doing this when she was older, and then middle school years came and we were at odds. By time that phase was over I'd hurt my knee and couldn't really contemplate such a thing. So now she's older and more mature and I'm somewhat healthier. This is a success on more levels than I can really count.

That's just great to hear about. I'm looking forward to your writings about the journey.

I'll keep you all posted. I realize this isn't really about CDing so much, except that it has to do with the source of my name, and that the nature of the Absarokas reflects some of my feelings about not only CDing but the mystery of life generally. Virginia used to say 'first star to the right and straight ahead till morning" In that spirit we will perhaps visit Sunlight Peak......

I recognize that I have similar feelings about several locations. It would be nice to be seeing them again, but for now, you'll be doing it, and I'll be along for the ride.

[Anthony Simon]

Hope this goes well. If it comes off, it sounds like the sort of experience that is going to stay in both your and your daughter's heads.

[Anita]

Hi All--
Has anyone heard from Zari? I'm a little concerned that there's no contact with the forum at all since the last post announcing that they were going to the Absarokas. Over the years, it's become apparent that our members can disappear without any further notice, since this forum is a secret to everyone else in their lives.

I just sent an email to Zari--I thought I might have the address in my old files, and I did. So maybe I'll hear back.

[Kyra]

I sent her a PM when I heard of her trip, but have heard nothing.

I hope all is well with her.

[SilverLady(SO)]

I haven't heard from her in a while, either . . . but I do remember her posting that her time here would be at a minimum (or even non-existent) as the wife recently retired (school teacher?) and would now be home during the day.

Hope all is well for her!!


- SL

[Absaroka]

Hi guys,

Sorry to have worried you Anita. I visit the forums rarely during the summer as my family is at home and I have less private time on the computer, and thus the backlog of posts builds up to where I get overwhelmed, don't know where to start reading, and so don't go there at all.

And yes a lot of things will change now that my wife is retired. A long subject for another post, but suffice to say that vastly reduced opportunities to dress have been a minor issue.

The trip was absolutely wonderful. I'd go so far as to say I had a week long spiritual experience in the mountains and that the whole thing was a gift from God. Of course some of that is 12 step speak, so don't be alarmed, I did not have some sort of religious conversion. I did come away from it with a lot to think about however.

I'll start with the biggest thing first. 10 days with my daughter who is in her early 20's. We were together almost all the time except at night where we had separate tents. Some of you may remember that years ago when she was a teenager we had issues, to put it mildly. Well in the whole 10 days we had about 4 spats, each lasting about 5 minutes and then they were talked out and over. She was a wonderful traveling companion. To be sure, she has matured greatly. However one of the things I came away with was seeing how I have changed as well, and thinking that I need to consider this in terms of what seems to be working.

Some of you also will remember my concerns about my health, specifically about my knees and back but also a lot of other skeletal-muscular things. Well, first thing, sleeping on the ground in 40 degree weather seemed to do absolute wonders for all my aches and pains. Although I'm not about to move out of the house into the back yard now.......Most days we'd go on " little old man hikes" of about 5 miles and maybe 500 feet elevation gain and another 500 feet back down, then play tourist, and then go on a smaller 2 or 3 mile hike on level ground. The last day ( I purposely waited) we climbed Mt Washburn, which has a lot of signifigance for me. 7 miles round trip, 2000 feet up and 2000 feet down, and a summit at over 10,000 feet. I FELT FINE AND NOTHING HURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prudently, we went slow and took an easy trail, but that's all fine. Had we had another day, I'd have wanted to do something similar the next day. Coincidentally this was on the day of my 30th anniversary of sobriety.

A climb isn't successful unless the descent is successful, so when we were done I hugged my daughter, told her it was the best anniversary I could imagine, and that was it. But this was something I had thought I'd never do again, let alone with her. And it's something I've wanted to do since she was halfway out of the womb.

I remember when I chose my name here. It was to provide inspiration for myself. It all took longer than expected, but it happened.

Now I'm home, both kids are off at school/internship, and the structure of my wife working is gone. Feels sort of like vacation but with nothing to do, certainly nothing of the magnitude of the past two weeks. I cleverly got all my work done before going away and probably won't get much till after labor day. So there is a void, magnified by the feeling of fullness a few days ago. But that's okay, this too is passing now.

I feel that no matter what I say, I can not do the experience of the last 2 weeks justice. Absolutely wonderful does not go far enough......... So I'll just repeat, I think there was a lot to be learned on this trip, much of it positive about how we've both changed and grown, and the rest merely in the category of mistakes to avoid. I am tremendously grateful for the entire trip and feel as if I have re established myself in some way.

SL posted something years ago about me putting up a picture of myself with my favorite black slip flying from my walking staff at the summit of one of the Absarokas. Oh well, maybe next time.......Most of the time I wore my boots, hiking pants, hat, and t shirt. with the hat and shirt dipped in a stream several times a day- it was unusually hot and dry there.

Zari

[Anthony Simon]

Sounds great!

... So there is a void, magnified by the feeling of fullness a few days ago. But that's okay, this too is passing now.

Yeah, it does pass...kind of sort of (anyway that's how I experience it, when I experience it).

[DonnaT]

Happy to hear the experience/adventure went well, Zari.

[Anita]

Hi Zari!
I've been Mother-henning back here at the forum, and gee...it's good to see you back! I get very emotional reading your description; I can sense the kind of depth that's behind that writing. I am so glad you got to do that! And having gotten a little tiny bit closer to one of LeeAnne's daughters, I can dimly begin to appreciate your time spent with your daughter.

[Kyra]

Glad to see you back safely, Zari.
As you might have guessed, you've been missed. I'm glad you had a wonderful experience. It's nice to hear your relationship with your daughter has gained stronger footing. I feel the same way when my daughter and I share great experiences too. She's close to her 21st birthday and I don't expect her to stay at home much longer.

Gotta go.
Hugs for now,
Kyra