--- In [email protected], "marekreavis" <reavismarek@...> wrote: > > The first Time I went solo backpacking was in Death Valley. > The first night out I set up my tidy little camp, prepared > a nice dinner and enjoyed it as the sun went down. Afterwards > I went into my tent (I used to backpack with a tent in the > old days but for many years now I only use a tarp and bivy > sack) and read a little bit before finally turning off my > headlamp and going to sleep. > > Only I didn't go to sleep, at least not at first. Almost as > soon as I lay down in the absolute darkness, miles away from > anyone or anything I knew (this was my first trip to Death > Valley) I was overwhelmed with fear -- pure terror that had > me shaking in my sleeping bag like a terrified chihuahua. > Real paroxysms that lasted maybe 15-20 minutes and all I > could do was experience it. There wasn't any relief to be > had because I was all alone and in the desert. > > It was the first time I'd really dealt with all my fears of > the dark and loneliness and weakness. But when it passed, > there was some big knot I had been carrying my whole life > that passed away with it. It was a real inspiration for > other, similar backpacking trips that I came to understand > as personal vision quests. > > Great stuff. Good luck.
Cool experience, Marek, I can't think of any desert terrors kinda experiences, but I can think of Road Trips (or Vision Quests) that have totally trans- formed me. One was at a place that I have a sort of affinity with, Chateau de Quéribus in France. Years ago, on my first visit there, I had a serious "past life flashback" experience. I wrote about it here: http://www.ramalila.net/RoadTripMind/rtm46.html Years later, while living in Sauve, France, I noticed that it was about to be the night of a full moon, and on a complete whim, I decided to jump in my car, drive a few hours, and spend the night up there. It was one of the more amazing nights of my life. Past-life flashbacks, forward-life flashforwards, and Unity experiences out the wazoo. A real E-ticket ride. But above all there was the Silence. From the top of this chateau one can see on a clear night (and it was a *very* clear night) hundreds of kilometers. But after a certain point in the evening, I could discern no sign of human movement in any direction. No cars, no sounds (except for the wind, which was exceptional), nothing. There was only me, on the top of a medieval castle. And yet there was not a twinge of aloneness or fear or existential angst. There was only the Silence, and the profound awareness that I had probably enjoyed it there before. Similarly to your story, when I walked down the mountain the next morning, I felt as if I were twenty pounds lighter. Something I'd been carrying around for years -- possibly for hundreds of years -- was gone, and I was free of it. Thanks for reminding me of that experience. > --- In [email protected], Emily Reyn <emilymae.reyn@> wrote: > > > > I did 5 days at Beach 2, on the beach, a few years ago. Â The ocean is > > calling again :) > > > > Throughout the years, I've been to Neah Bay, Rialto/La Push and south to > > Kalaloch area and also took my kids - it is magnificent to say the least. > > Â I was thinking further south at Grayland or Cape Disappointment State > > Park, but the walk-in I wanted is booked as are both entire parks for my > > "last minute" timeframe here. Â I think I'm going to car camp with a tent > > at Ocean City and make that a base. Â More people than I'm used to and the > > beach is more urbanized and the terrain not as spectacular, but I haven't > > done anything solo for a long time, or for this long, so it might be good > > to have a few amenities. Â I'm in a huge amount of fear...might as well go > > confront it. Â > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: marekreavis <reavismarek@> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 4:12 AM > > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Short video > > > > > > Â > > Where do you plan to go, Emily? Somewhere on the Olympic Peninsula? When my > > children were small we'd go camping around La Push or along Third Beach. It > > is so magnificent all along that coastline. > > > > *** > > > > --- In [email protected], Emily Reyn <emilymae.reyn@> wrote: > > > > > > Ya see, I thought so. ÃÂ It's important to get to the beach. ÃÂ I > > > decided on my drive up today that I am going to go spend 2 weeks at the > > > beach in June. ÃÂ Backpack in a bit and just be near the ocean. ÃÂ It > > > is the best place I've found to be with the Universe, after all. > > > ÃÂ After all, life is short. ÃÂ I can look for a job when I get back. > > > ÃÂ > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: marekreavis <reavismarek@> > > > To: [email protected] > > > Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 7:22 PM > > > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Short video > > > > > > > > > ÃÂ > > > Matt Whitehead, a surfer and a traveler first, and a plumber when funds > > > are required to continue to travel and surf, gives some "travel advice" > > > he's gleaned along his journey. > > > > > > Worthwhile to watch (for the waves alone) and value in listening to what > > > he believes he's learned. > > > > > > http://www.surfline.com/video/featured-clips/travel-guide-matt-whitehead_70264 > > > > > > 4 mins. 11 secs. > > > > > >
