Fox Walking

The Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque New Mexico have been closed to human activity for the past month.  It is early June, temperatures are soaring close to 100f, 36c.  It has not rained in nearly 4 months, not a drop.  There are those who either are clueless to the closure of the wilderness, although that is nearly impossible since there are huge signs at every entry location of the mountain saying, high fire risk, closed until further notice. Or there are people who simply ignore the signage and go in anyway.

I just can not resist the temptation to find them and practice a little tracking as well.  Besides, I am a noted volunteer who is allowed into the mountain area, legally.  Did I mention that it was my day off so I do not have to be in full polyester uniform and badge?  I just so happen to have on my moccasins (dear skin, brain tanned) for silent movement and a bit of natural camouflage that I applied at a small natural spring to blend with the mountain landscape.

In the Elena Gallegos city park I noticed a set of prints, human tracks moving off trail and crossing the wire fence which just so happens to come very close to the wilderness boundary   at this particular point.  From the size of the prints, stride of the steps and the synchronicity of their steps, it is definitely a couple.  Most likely holding hands, looking for a little quiet and most likely romantic location.  So being the sport that I am, I decided to allow them time to enjoy aw....  the scenery.

I will check on them a bit later, just to make sure they  make it to their cars and out of the wilderness.

So instead, I will take advantage of a mountain that has had very little human activity for over a month.  You take the humans away and the mountain activity comes alive!

I spotted a group of deer track, quite fresh and decided to follow these track for a bit to see what I could find. I often start with a track, or some other interesting subject that catches my eye.  A rare flower in bloom or a call of a hawk and see where that leads. Wandering and allowing my surrounding to dictate my day is such a great freedom.  One I wish I could bottle and hand out to everyone.

 Back to the track.  These deer were on a easterly trek, moving at a very leisurely pace, why?  Their stride of step was very short, often stopping to browse and zig zagging back and forth like if drunk.   I was starting to lose interest in the track just as I sat down, as a Coopers hawk landed on a wire from an old boundry fence built by sheep ranchers early in the last century.  It was only three feet over my head!  By the looks of it, this hawk was very young.  It was covered in mostly white down and features.  So as I normally do I greeted my new friend.  "Hello young one", I called out.  The hawk merely tilted its head, looked down at me and turned its head away.  So I decided to ask its name, then where it lives, where is its mom, what has it eaten today... This went on for at least twenty minutes.

I came to the conclusion that I was the first human he got a look at and was learning about me, as much as I was learning about it. I guess he got enough of my babbling and flew off down the canyon out of sight.

If nothing else happened today I had a great day!  I made a new friend.

 But was there more to come?    

I was now getting a bit warm and wanted to move closer to the Domingo Baca arroyo that was still running with nice cool mountain water from a good snow pack this past winter.  The animal track and sign was just incredible.  Coyote tracks everywhere, cottontail and jackrabbit tracks were the reason.  Pack rats have built a new home in between two watermelon colored granite rocks.  Roadrunner track, look at the claws on that one!  Gambel's quail, looks like 5, no 6 of them.  The mountain is so alive, if man could just decrease his impact.  Lessen his indicators, maybe more could see all of what is happening here.  But most humans can not, or will not take the time to see, feel, hear what is going on around them.

 I was moving now into the more densely  vegetated area closer to the water, which I can now hear.  The water is running well, the mountain and its life is well nourished.  I decided to take off my moccasins and step into the ankle deep waters.  Cold, but so refreshing.  I hid my mocs and decided to walk up the waters for a bit, or until my feet go numb.  Over a boulder, under some fallen maple branches, move the horsetail and step through the drinking hummingbirds.  Just then.

As I rounded a huge granite boulder, right in front of me, is a silver backed black bears butt!  Right in my face!  I did not hear it or smell it because of the waters. He did not see me, smell me or hear me because of blind luck?  The wind was moving off the mountain towards me! Could not smell me.  I was walking up stream, no indicators in the water. I am 3 feet from the dominant male bear in this section of mountain.  I have seen him and his track and sign for years, now I get a personal upclose encounter.

The first thing I need to do is get my heart beat under control.  Next, I do not look at him straight on.  Wide angle vision to watch this magnificent animal, I do not want to seem a threat.  I now slowly back away to a safe distance.  I can smell him good now, musty sweaty smell.  I will never forget.    I am now on the opposite side of the stream standing behind a ponderosa pine tree that masks my scent a bit, at least I was hoping.   This silver back I now called gramps, because of the gray hair on his back, still shows no fear or indcator of knowing I am here.  I get to watch him overturn a rotting Pinon pine log and eat the harvest of ants and termites from the fallen tree.

What seems like an hour was really only 10 minutes or so.  I have seen many bear in my life, but this is the first time I felt a part of the surroundings.  Granted the privilege of this great treat, or was I fooling myself?  Was it that he was content and groggie with a full stomach?  No.  I really believe it was because for the past hours I was fox walking, walking softly on the earth, kicking up little in the way of indicators.  Not disturbing the natural flow of the area that did this.  My body was quiet, my mind was quiet and my spirit connected to my surroundings.

As I watched gramps move over the ridge and out of sight, I thought back to what a day it was.  The blessings I was given, the lessons in life shared.  I have seen gramps a few times since that day and who knows, I have seen so many coopers hawk, but none that has landed so close again.  It is this day that helps  me when I am feeling a disconnect from things.  Or a disappointment in an outcome.

Clear the mind, quite the body, fox walk in flesh and spirit makes the difference.  And who knows, great gifts you may receive.

And for that couple who went through the fence and into the mountain wilderness?  That is for another day...

Stream Float

I have canoed, swam, sailed and even rafted down a river, but now I will float for over a mile with the current.  Giving myself to the stream as if part of the water itself.  A meditation of sorts, being time rich, that is not being in a hurry and allowing my mind to go blank, trying to feel in the moment.


Why?  


To understand?  I know there is a lesson.  At least, a test.    


The greatest challenge I already know will be the cold.  These waters are chilly and I will be spending about two hrs. in the water if I make it the whole mile.  Hypothermia is a real possibility but I so look forward to this adventure.  


Its a late summer day, mostly sunny and little wind.  Just about as good as it will get when it comes to spending a long day in cold water.  Now its time to go.  I will always remember that very second because up above my head a vulture was circling, soaring in ever larger circles.  Just then a chill ran up my back and goose bumps rose over my arms and legs.  Could that large bird overhead know something more about the day to follow?


I have to say, the first part of getting into the water was a challenge, it was refreshing, but in two hrs., it will be dang cold!  


The stream is close to the sea shore and the flow is very slow due to a minimal grade of slope, at least if I need to get out, it should be pretty easy.  The river bottom is a bit slick and slimy but really feels good squishing up between my toes.  The waters are a deep reddish brown color, that is due to the cedar swamps these waters run through.  So beautiful and quite unique.  


I am now up to my nose in water.  Lift my feet and away I go.....


Reeds, grasses, cedars are all around.  I find it is not easy to float in these fresh waters because I am fairly thin and not too buoyant.  So I kick slightly and find the river current and I move nice and slow.  Then a tangle of grasses.  I stop, go again, tangled again, stop... walk then tangled again as I find I am not floating.  I know of others who have floated down this very stream, did they have this much trouble?  It was a struggle that went on for a while.  I was getting tired and getting no where.  I have to do this in about two hrs., any longer and I will be too cold!   So instead of getting angry or frustrated I decided to turn over and float on my back.


Now, the sky was a pale blue with cotton ball white clouds smattering the sky in an even coating.  Just above me rose a swarm of flies,  dozens... no hundreds but none bothered me.  Just then a swallow came zipping by me at lightening speed and you know what?   I forgot, and became so engrossed in what was going on around me that I lost track of time and my earlier problems, I was moving down stream, I was so enjoying my time and most important, I wasn't cold.


Until I thought about it.  Then, wham!   I was freezing cold.  Shivering uncontrollably.  I pulled myself to shore and laid there on a partially muddy stream edge in between a bunch of reeds. 


Ok, after a 20 minute break I was warm again.   I slid slowly back  into the waters.  Then started to float down stream on my stomach once again.  A second later, I was stuck.  Lots of cedar logs, which rot slowly and have multiple branches still attached, reeds and grass.  I tried to pull myself through the down logs and scratched my stomach all up.  Then got stuck in the thick bog mud around the swamp area I found myself in.   Wow, this is not easy and I still have so long to go!  Just at this point, a place of being tired, dirty and getting cold, that I remembered back to when this was all working.  


I flipped to my back and started to float, not working against the grasses and reeds, but not caring and trusting the waters to take me where ever it wanted.  The current ever so gently picked me up and guided my body around one, then two, then three huge down cedars.  I watched the squirrels quarreling above my head, the clouds drifting past my head, and the grasses bending and moving along my head.  My mind left my troubles behind and I slowly slid along not a care in the world.  This is what it feels like to be one with your surrounding.   It was beyond description.  I felt so happy I began to shed a tear.  I did not want this time to ever end.  I drifted not disturbing a single living thing.  The birds never fled in alarm, the insects parted way as I came by.  Life was good!   Just at that point I found myself approaching a brown colored bridge, my journey had ended.  I pulled myself from the waters and just then, not for the last 30 minutes, just now, I was getting cold again.  Having to crawl out of that natural church of sorts.  A place so spiritually holly, only to  have to walk up to the waiting car, along a loud highway scattered with garbage and debris. 


 I had just gotten one of the greatest gifts of life though fleeting, it still resonates with me today.  To live life as one with your surroundings.  It is almost effortless.  Live life swimming outside the natural flow, it is hard and sometimes painful.   The answer I came to...


Always go with your heart.  And that is what I do, my heart leads me and I am happy.   

Seven Generations Outdoor School

www.7generationsoutdoor.omei.net

Reconnecting adults and children with 

Mother Earth...

Finding that personal connection with the Earth deepens one’s love of nature and enriches life.

Children are the future, and without children rooted in the earth and nature, there can be no future.  An old Native American saying tells that when a decision is made, it must be made on behalf of seven generations to come.  Having such a  deep personal connection to the Earth gave the Native American the sensitivity to know if the actions they were taking made for positive change for their people and  all life.   If it did not, no action would be taken.  And that is why we call our school Seven Generations.

By replanting our feet back in the earth, we bring hope and promise of a brighter future. 

Seven Generations Outdoor School offers the making of tools and skills that will fully connect you to nature, like primitive shelters, friction fire, baskets, cordage, bowls and utensils, animal tracking, throwing sticks, tanning hides, camouflage, flint knapping, awareness, fishing spears, bows, arrows, and vision quest.  It is these ancient skills and tools that will create the personal connection to life and Earth, enriching at the same time as they teach.

It is our responsibility to hand down these great gifts, and here they are, in the form of  classes.  These skills and tools are the true teachers, and we just the facilitators.

Reconnection on this primitive level, brings out an understanding, a personal relationship with the Earth that can only be felt by this type of full emersion in nature.  Planting one's feet back in the earth in this way will make the future a brighter place for our children and grandchildren to come.

Seven Generations Outdoor School invites you to come join us, see you soon!

Mikes Field Guide: Buried Alive

Mikes Field Guide: Buried Alive: We are digging a hole, Stan, Josh, Maria, and I.  A hole to spend the next 4 hours living a slow death.  Death of the old Mike and birth i...

Love of Life

It was a cool spring day.  A stiff northwest breeze was blowing up in the foothills.  I had just finished all my early day duties and decided to sit outside the entry booth of the Elena Gallegos Park.  It is a wonderful view that contains a vista that runs some 150 miles across, on an average clear New Mexico day.  You can see mountains, volcanoes, mesas and buttes across the entire horizon.  The Rio Grande river snakes from north to south, and the entire city of Albuquerque is laid out before you like an aerial road map.   

The Elena Gallegos Park is run by the city of Albuquerque, it is a multi use facility, with about 700 acres of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.  There are also picnic and barbeque areas and in all sees about 150,000 visitors a year.  At the time, I was a park attendant at the park, taking care of cleaning, and maintenance of the park and facilities.

I had sat down right next to a juniper that sits just north of the parks entry booth.  No sign of any one around until a man in full biking outfit came cruising along trail 365.  This trail runs in full view of where I sat and crosses the road to the park just some 70 feet in front of me.  This cyclist crossed the road and kept riding until the trail takes a slope down into the south pino arroyo.  He got off his bike and stopped, looking back for someone.  About 10 seconds went by when a second biker rode into view.  This cyclist was much smaller, and wearing a pink and blue outfit and pink helmet. The cyclist slowly crossed the road, and just before she got to the other side stopped to walk her bike over a large bump where the trail continued.  Or at least that is the reason I thought she had stopped for.  She stood there straddling her bike, looking straight down on the ground just in front of her bike.  She would not move.  She would not take her eyes off the ground.

The first cyclist now yelled out loudly, “What are you waiting for?!”  No answer came from the small pink biker.  Now noticeably upset the first cyclist yelled again, “Get on your #%&! Bike and get going!”  The pink cyclist then said rather softly and with a frightened tone,” but there are ants.  I do not want to hurt the ants.”

I will always remember this next statement, because it so puts into reference what motivates, and controls so much of what most people think in today’s, 21^st century, American society.  And that motivational control is fear.  Fear of the unknown, Nature, and the fear of oneself. 

The pink clad cyclist’s father then yells, “Get on your bike right now, the hell with the ants…. Do you want the coyotes to get you and kill you?   I sat there in complete shock.  Here is a 6 to 7 year old girl, I am guessing, one with such sensitivity to life around her, life itself and she is yelled at, her feelings ignored, and fear instilled in her to boot.  She got on her bike, rode off and disappeared into the arroyo.

I sat there, having witnessed an answer to a question I have beaten myself up with time and time again.  Why or how does this society, feel so removed, so uncaring for our mother earth? 

We are born caring.  Love is part of us from the start.  Just like that pink colored cyclist.   It is nurturing, or lack of it, it is society, or lack of it, that strips this love from us. We also view nature as wilderness.  Not natural, but wild.  Wild is to be tamed, that is the stance this society preaches.  Ants on the ground are natural.  That little girl had enough love in her heart to feel for those ants.  

Nature is pure love. Nature is part of us.  Deep in our genes nature lies.

Buried Alive

We are digging a hole, Stan, Josh, Maria, and I.  A hole to spend the next 4 hours living a slow death.  Death of the old Mike and birth into a new. 

This will be new to all of us.  Never in my wildest dreams would I think being put into a hole, alive, and being completely buried up till  my mouth and nostrils were the only thing exposed, .change my life forever. 

Generations of indigenous experienced this right of passage, now it was my turn.  As I lower myself willingly into this ‘ hole of life”, I call it, a pulse of adrenalin pumped into my head, like I was about to bungee jump from the highest bridge, but with no cord for my safety net. Now laying flat on the cool, sandy soil my fellow Questers began to slowly cover me.  Starting at my toes, then slowly moving up my naked body, except for a bathing suit to protect my privates, every cell of my flesh began to tingle.  Breathing slow and relaxed, the way my elders advised me to do.  With each breathe the dirt and sand around me readjusted and tightened its embrace upon my entire body.  The last thing I saw was the tree limbs and canopy of the near by pitch pines above my head and the sun to my immediate right peaking in and out of the cotton ball looking clouds.  Maria laid a bandana across my mouth and nose to stop any dirt from getting in my way of breathing.

My mind has to be free of distraction not worrying about my next breathe.  The last hand full of dirt were placed around my head and now my friends slowly left me there to die my little death. 

My mind needs to be clear, but it is a tough struggle.  Relax, breathe, stop thinking about 80 pounds of dirt piled on my chest!  Relax, relax…. stop it Mike.  As I started to relax, I started to feel a tickling on my stomach.  What is that?  It is driving me nuts.  I know it’s a small bug, but it had power over me.  I can not remove it.  Just let the feeling pass out of you Mike, and it did not bother me anymore.  Well, actually, I think the bug just moved on. 

All of a sudden I heard a low, muffled, deep sound rumble.  It started at my left ear, went across my whole body to finish at my right ear.   Then it happened again, only I felt it first in my feet and it past to my head.  Just then I got really worried.  It is a huge truck coming through the forest and I am going to be squished!  Then I remembered my friends were out there in the vicinity and they would stop any truck. 

What seemed like a long time went by.  But I really can not be sure.  You lose track of time, and it could have been two minutes for all I know.  I also could not be sure of was this new, unexplainable but exciting sensation I was experiencing.  I just could not figure out where my feet and hands were.  Now, I know they were still attached, but for the life of me they could have been two feet away from my body or twenty!  I felt that I was almost melting, losing the physical sense of my body itself. 

And then, the most incredible 5 minutes ( or not) of my experience began to happen.  I felt one rain drop hit my nose threw the thin bandana.  It then began to sound like pork was sizzling in a Wok.  ALL AROUND ME!  In front, behind, left and right, then a drop of water hit my mouth.  It was raining.

But as the ground began soaking up this moisture, the most incredible feeling came over me.  I actually felt in my body the roots from all those pines around me begin to draw up that precious moisture.  I felt it in my body and I felt it in my soul this water being drawn through me as if I was becoming part of the soil, part of the rain and then my felling of becoming part of the pine tree drawing up the life force into it.  I had no sense of the physical boundary that was my body.  We are energy, we are the life force.  I feel part of things around me!  This notion came crashing into my head like a tsunami.  For one second I became one with everything around me.  It only takes one second to change a life. 

Just then my friends began to unearth me from my grave.  And back in my body I was, looking up at the canopy of pines in which I was one second earlier, a whole new Mike.