Searching for solitude

Bathed in the late evening sun. Lost Creek Wilderness.

This area was almost deserted on a Sunday evening but 20+ people on Monday before 9am. Mostly nice but where are they coming from and why aren't they working?

Time to search for more solitude.

Out for some Sunday evening solitude on the solstice in the Lost Creek Wilderness. Check out the bottom left corner of the photo.

After the cranes

This was taken after flying in 30 mph winds trying to look at whooping cranes. Yes, despite what I had just been through I couldn't help but be blissfully happy. The lesson, don't ever try to look through binoculars from a plane that is bouncing all over the sky. It will make you sick! Yes, if you are going to "live" you might as well experience as many senses as possible. All I can say is you haven't truly "lived" until you've been in an antique, 2-seater plane in 30mph winds, watching whooping cranes with your dog (and a very cute pilot), puking your guts out into a bag...It gets wierder!!! There was no tissue to be had through the whole plane so I had to use bread to wipe up any excess and blow my nose...yes, bread.

...Fall right into place

After making a few phone calls and getting nowhere, I finally got ahold of this gentleman, Dan. I explained that I wanted to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere so I could simply "be" in a pristine part of the world where nature is still in tact AND I wanted to see the whooping cranes AND the dog had to come. Without even a hestitation, he came up with plan for making all this happen. And just to add a lovely adornment to my bliss, I got to fly around in this very-cool plane from 1954.

GET READY!

Rain and I flying into Wood Buffalo tomorrow and being dropped off on a lake at a cabin in the middle of nowhere for 4 days and 3 nights!!! I would have been terrified to do this by myself a year ago. Now I am just sucking up the bliss of not choosing to let fear be in charge of my life.

I also have a plane coming to pick me up on day 2 to go see the Whooping Cranes....Oh my gosh, I am so excited I hope I can sleep...I have to leave at 5am.

Here's a great pic of Jasper...yes the water really is that color.

Into bliss and light (lots of light)!

Love, Karen

Signing off and backpacking comment

I got a GSI backcountry coffee press. It works great other than the fact that the pour spout results in dribbling all over itself and it's spongy material...very dissapointing.

Talk in a few days. Will give Terry my whereabouts. Love Love

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

The only person I've heard from on the blog is Ann who I have actually never met but feel like I've know my entire life. HI ANN! It's so nice to know you're out there. Thank you for your kind comments. :)

You guys don't have to give me that much solitude. Feel free to make comments!

I think I'll backpack in Jasper for two or three nights then have a nice counterpoint by ending it at either the Fairmont or the Four Seasons...good culture shock.

Mom, don't worry. I have to get a permit to camp in the backcountry here, so they will know where I am. I also have a satellite phone which I can use as long as a bear doesn't eat BOTH of my hands...sorry for the sick joke. Besides, there are lots of Europeans here (these people actually go more than 500 feet from the road) I am very likely to see other people where I am going. Love you!

This picture was taken about 45 seconds after Rain and I had a war over who was sleeping on the thermarest. She was very dissatified with her choice of bedding, but hey, I'm the one carrying everything.