Sunday, August 28, 2011

HIKING MAKES ME HAPPY

(Copyright ©2011 TheBigCandMe)
"The trail has taught me much. I know now of the varied voices of the coyote — the wizard of the mesas. I know the solemn call of herons and the mocking cry of the loon. I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees. The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets. It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day. It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.  Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me — I am happy." 
–Hamlin Garland (1860-1940), from "Hitting the Trail," McClure's Magazine, February 1899

(Copyright ©2011 TheBigCandMe)
Hiking makes me happy too. The trails are where I go to find and make my peace with "The Big C." Coyotes and saffron sunsets? You bet. Deer and dogs and bunnies too. I love 'um all.





Posted by at 9:46 AM
Labels: breast cancer, , , , , , ,

10 comments:

  1. AnonymousSunday, August 28, 2011 12:56:00 PM

    beautiful...see ya tamarra!

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  2. Beth L. GainerTuesday, August 30, 2011 10:10:00 AM

    Renn,

    Wow! The pictures are so uplifting and beautiful, that they make me happy. I'm so glad you enjoy hiking. It is relaxing and soothes the soul. I love this posting.

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  3. DebbiTuesday, August 30, 2011 10:30:00 AM

    Beautiful pics Renn
    Love all the animals you seen too :)
    Not a hiker here...would be to hard on me with my COPD...
    but love to go on small walks

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  4. Ronni GordonTuesday, August 30, 2011 8:20:00 PM

    Beautiful photos. It's definitely important to have places that soothe you. Glad you have hiking.

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  5. RennWednesday, August 31, 2011 12:40:00 AM

    Thanks, Ladies! I don't know what I'd do without these mountains and the sense of peace I derive from hiking them. And the things I see on the trail are too good not to share!

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  6. MaryThursday, September 01, 2011 9:38:00 AM

    I love that you were out hiking and taking these gorgeous pictures. What a beautiful place to find peace.

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  7. MarieThursday, September 01, 2011 2:53:00 PM

    Oh what a beautiful post Renn - I just drank in those stunning photos and that wonderful prose piece at the start from Hamlin Garland, whom I had never heard of before and makes me want to read more - thanks for sharing such an uplifting post - loved it!

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  8. AnonymousFriday, September 02, 2011 8:46:00 AM

    Found your blog via Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer and your stunning images and that prose piece really lifted my spirits today.

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  9. Pink KitchenFriday, September 02, 2011 1:45:00 PM

    Learned about your blog via JBBC. What inspiring pictures - thanks so much!

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  10. RennFriday, September 02, 2011 2:50:00 PM

    Marie, thank you so much for your comments! I feel honored (and humbled) that you shared my post on your JBBC site. ;-)

    Barefeet, Anonymous and Pink Kitchen: Thank you!

    This morning on the trail we saw a big, beautiful rattlesnake. I'll be posting about him (or her!) soon.

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