Thank you! The plane under the leaves was actually at North/South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. There's a very remote trail that goes to a place called Stoppel point. Crash is in that area.
Have you read Rebecca Solnit's essay on the "blue of longing"? It's from her book 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost', and it's been bouncing round my head for a decade now...
Her point about mountains and particularly summits: when they're seen from afar, with that amazing blue tint to them that's so evocative, they stir up all sorts of emotions within us, and we're usually too quick to boil all of them down into a single feeling - "I want to climb/crush/conquer that thing (because obviously that will feel AMAZING)". But we don't stop and enjoy the feeling of wanting to go there. We don't appreciate that delicious frustration of wanting to climb a mountain, as a feeling to enjoy in itself.
(And in my experience, getting to the top of a climb *never* feels as powerful and inspiring as *wanting* to get to the top, or the excitement of attempting to do it. It feels good! But it's never that massive dopamine-rush payoff that I feel like my brain is promising me when I look at a peak from afar.)
Solnit argues that learning to enjoy that desire to climb without immediately turning it into action has a profound effect on us, because that distant blue "is the color of longing for the distances you never arrive in". It helps you deal with the immensity of life experiences we can never achieve. It helps us deal with regret, except in advance, because the feeling of wanting to do a thing is something to enjoy in itself, and if we *can't* do that thing, we can at least appreciate its call in a way that's meaningful and satisfying...
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I completely agree with the sentiment that the longing and the journey will always be at the heart of the climb. The summit itself is just gravy. I haven't read the essay, but now I absolutely will. Thanks so much!
l'm always hesitant to stray too far from my stories, so I'm glad you liked it! And yes, the woman's story was really fascinating. My group found her, lost in a bit of a precarious spot, and we asked if she wanted to join us. I've never seen someone so relieved to see other people
Your descriptions always draw me in, so this was an unexpected treat! I’m wondering about the plane covered by orange leaves now...
Thank you! The plane under the leaves was actually at North/South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. There's a very remote trail that goes to a place called Stoppel point. Crash is in that area.
Have you read Rebecca Solnit's essay on the "blue of longing"? It's from her book 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost', and it's been bouncing round my head for a decade now...
Her point about mountains and particularly summits: when they're seen from afar, with that amazing blue tint to them that's so evocative, they stir up all sorts of emotions within us, and we're usually too quick to boil all of them down into a single feeling - "I want to climb/crush/conquer that thing (because obviously that will feel AMAZING)". But we don't stop and enjoy the feeling of wanting to go there. We don't appreciate that delicious frustration of wanting to climb a mountain, as a feeling to enjoy in itself.
(And in my experience, getting to the top of a climb *never* feels as powerful and inspiring as *wanting* to get to the top, or the excitement of attempting to do it. It feels good! But it's never that massive dopamine-rush payoff that I feel like my brain is promising me when I look at a peak from afar.)
Solnit argues that learning to enjoy that desire to climb without immediately turning it into action has a profound effect on us, because that distant blue "is the color of longing for the distances you never arrive in". It helps you deal with the immensity of life experiences we can never achieve. It helps us deal with regret, except in advance, because the feeling of wanting to do a thing is something to enjoy in itself, and if we *can't* do that thing, we can at least appreciate its call in a way that's meaningful and satisfying...
Okay. This is very metaphysical and woffly of me. I can recommend the essay - I just found it here: https://assets.website-files.com/5e9f1c5f2f493e99116fb917/5fa1fda56ee73d962e96afd2_solnit.pdf - and this is an overview of Solnit's argument, by Maria Popova at The Marginalian, formerly Brain Pickings: https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/08/20/rebecca-solnit-blue/
Also, I am indeed always this long-winded. *Always*. It's a huge problem. Sorry.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I completely agree with the sentiment that the longing and the journey will always be at the heart of the climb. The summit itself is just gravy. I haven't read the essay, but now I absolutely will. Thanks so much!
Very much enjoyed this! The mention of the woman carrying ashes to honor her friend...
l'm always hesitant to stray too far from my stories, so I'm glad you liked it! And yes, the woman's story was really fascinating. My group found her, lost in a bit of a precarious spot, and we asked if she wanted to join us. I've never seen someone so relieved to see other people
Wow! An even more powerful story. I love talking with people I don’t know!
It's honestly one of my favorite parts of exploring the outdoors and growing the community!
Well done!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
Just read this again... loved it even more.