(no subject)
For the past two weeks, I've been keeping a couple of rocks in my right shoe. No, not just to be cool. It raises my awareness levels, so I can constantly keep a check on my thought patterns and their roots. It's a fruitful experience, as long as you're willing to walk on the rocks.
Sunday morning I awoke at 9, and began cleaning out my room for the move in a week or two. I've ended up throwing away most of the stuff on my walls and tables, as I noticed that I hadn't bothered removing anything since about the 4rth grade. What mattered to me then is no concern of mine now it seems.
Around noon, Trey popped in the door to let me know that there was a camping trip planned for the night at Catoosa. Jeremy, Choi, and Steve0 were also on their way. I looked outside and noticed that it was a beautiful day, so I dropped what I was doing and headed off for the mountains.
After a 30 minute drive to Catoosa, we arrived at the campsite and set up our tent. I was surprised to find that the camping site was well developed, with shelters and tables made from the surrounding forest. On one side was the firepit with a large lean-to behind it. In the middle was a wooden food preparation area, complete with a spice rack. To the left of that was a large wigwam structure with a wooden bar in the middle. We were set for an amazing evening.
With our camp set up, we travelled down to the boulders to do a bit of climbing. We smoked a few bowls, taking turns attempting climbs and traverses on various small boulders until the sun began to set. At that point we made our way over to the overlook to watch the sun sink below the trees on the mountaintops.
On our arrival back at the campsite, Creation smiled upon us as we were treated to the red luminescence of the Northern Lights. They had just started, so the red was the only color visible at that time. We went over to the fire pit with our cooking supplies ready to cook up some chili. There we met a group of climbers from North Carolina that decided that we were a group of yuppies for some reason. I guess being new to climbing and going to college makes you a yuppie *shrug*. Anyways, as I cooked the hamburger, Trey worked on opening the can with his knife. With the meat cooked, we added all the ingredients together in a pot and added some garlic and red pepper, creating the best damn pot of chili ever made over a campfire, or anywhere else for that matter. After supper we went into the wigwam to play some drinking games with an oversized deck of cards. Soon after that Choi and Steve left, and the real camping began.
We loaded up in the back of Trey's truck and trekked back to the boulders for some night climbing. We tromped down the path carrying the tiki torches we grabbed from the campsite, and eventually found the rock faces we planned on climbing. We gathered up some kindling and tender and started up a fire nearby for some light and warmth, and smoked a bowl before we began. We didn't climb much because we were still weak from climbing earlier in the day, but it was definitely worth it. We put out the fire and made sure to stomp the embers, then began our walk back up the trail to the truck. About halfway up the path, our torch began to flicker out, as it was out of fuel. Our only option then was to stuff the torch with leaves, light it on fire, and make our way back as quickly as possible. I carried the torch and Jeremy and Trey followed behind, stomping out the embers as they fell on the path. We made it back just as the flames took their last breath. On the way back, I lied down in the truckbed and watched the trees pass around me, as the stars stayed in place, only rotating as the truck made the turns down the winding road. At that moment, I felt like I was attached to the side of a sphere more than ever in my life. The coldness around me was unable to phase me, as it was just such a special moment.
The Carolina campers had bedded down for the night as we arrived back at the campsite, and we took some time to clean up our mess from earlier in the night. Then we cooked some potato soup to warm us up a bit. Jeremy turned in after that, and Trey and I stayed to heat up some hot chocolate. Trey made his way to the tent next, and I decided to spend some time with the sky and my surroundings. The Aurora Borealis had developed into a glowing blue on the horizon, with peaks of red. Every once in a while, a pillar of light would reach straight up out of the blue, and gradually disappear at the same pace it came. The stars were just as phenomenal as the lights. There wasn't a single one missing from the sky, everything from the Milky Way to Ursa Minor was in sight. I sat there and began to meditate, and continued for a long while. It was one of my better sessions, and on its completion, I gathered up my shoes and climbed into the tent, where I slept soundly throughout the night.
We were all packed and ready to go by 7:30, and we headed out, back to the town which we were all familiar with. We stopped by the Cracker Barrel for our breakfast, and I had myself some pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The rest of the day just sort of flowed by, highlighted with me falling asleep as I soaked my sore limbs in the tub, and falling asleep again after that.
Sunday morning I awoke at 9, and began cleaning out my room for the move in a week or two. I've ended up throwing away most of the stuff on my walls and tables, as I noticed that I hadn't bothered removing anything since about the 4rth grade. What mattered to me then is no concern of mine now it seems.
Around noon, Trey popped in the door to let me know that there was a camping trip planned for the night at Catoosa. Jeremy, Choi, and Steve0 were also on their way. I looked outside and noticed that it was a beautiful day, so I dropped what I was doing and headed off for the mountains.
After a 30 minute drive to Catoosa, we arrived at the campsite and set up our tent. I was surprised to find that the camping site was well developed, with shelters and tables made from the surrounding forest. On one side was the firepit with a large lean-to behind it. In the middle was a wooden food preparation area, complete with a spice rack. To the left of that was a large wigwam structure with a wooden bar in the middle. We were set for an amazing evening.
With our camp set up, we travelled down to the boulders to do a bit of climbing. We smoked a few bowls, taking turns attempting climbs and traverses on various small boulders until the sun began to set. At that point we made our way over to the overlook to watch the sun sink below the trees on the mountaintops.
On our arrival back at the campsite, Creation smiled upon us as we were treated to the red luminescence of the Northern Lights. They had just started, so the red was the only color visible at that time. We went over to the fire pit with our cooking supplies ready to cook up some chili. There we met a group of climbers from North Carolina that decided that we were a group of yuppies for some reason. I guess being new to climbing and going to college makes you a yuppie *shrug*. Anyways, as I cooked the hamburger, Trey worked on opening the can with his knife. With the meat cooked, we added all the ingredients together in a pot and added some garlic and red pepper, creating the best damn pot of chili ever made over a campfire, or anywhere else for that matter. After supper we went into the wigwam to play some drinking games with an oversized deck of cards. Soon after that Choi and Steve left, and the real camping began.
We loaded up in the back of Trey's truck and trekked back to the boulders for some night climbing. We tromped down the path carrying the tiki torches we grabbed from the campsite, and eventually found the rock faces we planned on climbing. We gathered up some kindling and tender and started up a fire nearby for some light and warmth, and smoked a bowl before we began. We didn't climb much because we were still weak from climbing earlier in the day, but it was definitely worth it. We put out the fire and made sure to stomp the embers, then began our walk back up the trail to the truck. About halfway up the path, our torch began to flicker out, as it was out of fuel. Our only option then was to stuff the torch with leaves, light it on fire, and make our way back as quickly as possible. I carried the torch and Jeremy and Trey followed behind, stomping out the embers as they fell on the path. We made it back just as the flames took their last breath. On the way back, I lied down in the truckbed and watched the trees pass around me, as the stars stayed in place, only rotating as the truck made the turns down the winding road. At that moment, I felt like I was attached to the side of a sphere more than ever in my life. The coldness around me was unable to phase me, as it was just such a special moment.
The Carolina campers had bedded down for the night as we arrived back at the campsite, and we took some time to clean up our mess from earlier in the night. Then we cooked some potato soup to warm us up a bit. Jeremy turned in after that, and Trey and I stayed to heat up some hot chocolate. Trey made his way to the tent next, and I decided to spend some time with the sky and my surroundings. The Aurora Borealis had developed into a glowing blue on the horizon, with peaks of red. Every once in a while, a pillar of light would reach straight up out of the blue, and gradually disappear at the same pace it came. The stars were just as phenomenal as the lights. There wasn't a single one missing from the sky, everything from the Milky Way to Ursa Minor was in sight. I sat there and began to meditate, and continued for a long while. It was one of my better sessions, and on its completion, I gathered up my shoes and climbed into the tent, where I slept soundly throughout the night.
We were all packed and ready to go by 7:30, and we headed out, back to the town which we were all familiar with. We stopped by the Cracker Barrel for our breakfast, and I had myself some pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The rest of the day just sort of flowed by, highlighted with me falling asleep as I soaked my sore limbs in the tub, and falling asleep again after that.