Sheila's Crossing ( the Poem)

Sheila’s Crossing

Pass behind us, descent beginning, river’s started, creek moves with us swelling downward, trail companions.
Other hikers walked before us, felt the current and the shiver, told the tale with all the trimmings.
Months ago we knew that Crossing, what to do and how to think.
Up above we practiced crossings, in our minds and with wet feet.
We’ve done the dance steps with the river in our dreams. Sheila’s crossing, down ahead.
Finally at river’s turning, current deepens, river’s speaking, we are listening, river’s song and river’s warning.
Rocky bottom is our pathway, wet and slippery, unsure footing, murky surface on the water.
Shiela’s dread is there before us, other passage not an option.


There, in River, flat and close, are boulders for us, dry and welcome.
Someone’s put them in our path and for our crossing, poles for balance, we can cross here!
Michael leads, the first one stepping, 10 more rocks and he is over, other side with camera out.
Sheila steps on flat ones first, only one is wet or sloping. My turn next, we’re off, above the river.
Then, she’s made it, screaming, yelling, arms are flying, safe across and glancing back.
Ahead, her smile means crossing’s over, far bank’s welcome, trial is done.
Feet on land, with meadow’s flowers, now we’re here and safely, too.
Boulders help has made it happen, now we’re dry and we continue.
We’ve embraced the river’s challenge, we are changed forever, each and all.
Trail companions, dread has shaped us, made us partners, somehow different, River tempered metal there.

Sheila's Crossing

Crossing this River was a major accomplishment. Michael had been across it before and described it as cold, swift, knee-deep water, and about 250 feet across. Sheila and I were anxious the whole trip, untill we looked at the River. We will be forever greatful to the Forest Service for placing these wonderful large flat boulders for our crossing. It was a breeze. Imagine having to walk across the river from rock to rock in high cold water.

A Poem for Sheila

This poem was born near the Creek-side Creature on a bridge over Piute Creek. We were on the most strenuous hike of my and of Sheila's life last summer. When we arrived at this creature's home, we were exhausted of body and spirit. The only thing that got us going the nex tmorning was knowing that there was only one more day of back-packing till Florence Lake. Even Michael suffered from the heat that day as we were below 8000 feet much of the way to the Lake. We were all happy to see the ferry boat which would take us to the car we had left at the far end a week before.



The bridges we crossed one day will fall, for they are but of steel

The Bonds we forged are stronger stuff, to me of more appeal.

For they will last us all our lives, with strength and love and caring

They will never weaken, never falter, cross life's torrents raging

And help us through and up the path, beyond the farthest passes.

Creek-side Creature

This creature lives near Piute Creek. one day's hike out of Florence Lake in the High Sierra. Once again, he came into this world courtesy of a Plug-in to Print Shop Pro.

Sedona Canyon Creature

This creature was born in a remote canyon above Sedona, AZ, and modified with a plug-in to Print Shop Pro.

Sedona Native

I found this seed pod on a hike in Oak Creek, just south of Sedona

Balancing Rock

It's a good thing Sedona, Arizona does not have many earthquakes. These are not someone's hands, this is a balancing rock you can see only from a helicopter. 

Haiku # 1

polar bear sniffing
Arctic ice offeres promise
seal comes up for air

Waiting for My Soul

Here is my childhood, in grandfather’s village
here is my history and all of my growing.
Here in our mountains, I’ve lived all my life.
My family lives here, and my soul, here, will rest.
But I can’t make a living, and now I’m the father
I am provider, and so I must travel.

This is my journey, far in an airplane
Long I have traveled, late in the night.
Back on the ground now, with morning around me,
what is this place and where are my things?
They’re at the carousel, the people are saying.
What is this carousel and why are my things there?
What is this place, and with everyone strangers?

Finally I’ve found it, I have my belongings.
I take them and start out, to try for a place…
But, somehow, I stay here, for something is missing.
I’ve left it behind me, and now, I am the stranger.
The guard keeps on looking. Why does he stare so?
Here in his airport, what do I say? Now he is asking.
“ Why do you wait here, it has been days, now.”

My soul is behind me,
back in our mountains,
And if I wait here, I know I can find it
You see, if I stay here, soon, it will come.

Transcendant Rider

Rolling, rising, fog is climbing, over hilltops, forest blanket, blowing upward for the sky.
Flowing clouds are driven upslope, peaking, cresting, then they’re falling, clouds are gravity’s prisoner, too.
Slipping downward, ever faster, water’s sliding, creek or fog bank.
Streaming, crashing down through forest, here is Rider on the current.
Clouds are rushing, capes and tresses, bouncing, flowing, stallion’s steps.
Up once more to distant hilltops, pounding, climbing, flowing further, cresting peak and slide again.
Horseman’s diving, leathers follow, reins are ribbons in the eddies.
Fabric flowing, saddle’s blankets, wind blown prisoners, following, chasing, changing cloud shapes.
Image fading, coming, going, mist is rider, hooves for gusts and visions fading.
Rising, falling, down the hillside, misty stallion, rider’s fading, rippling cape in flowing eddies.
Over hilltop, down the gullies, transcendent rider, down the canyon, home to sea.
Gravity’s prisoner, mist or current, Mother beckons, sea is anchor.

High Sierra Fantasy

Bishop Lake 2005 

ANT arctic sunset

Sheila's masterpiece 

Bear contemplates toe

My friend Jill's trip to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Mist to clouds

This is a celebration of life. Having retired a few years ago from forty years as a High School Physics teacher, I can finally enjoy each and every day. I have chosen to share the joy in my life by presenting as frequently as I have the time for, descriptions and photographs of what I have been doing. Events such as my recent helicopter tour of Sedona, Arizona, my six day East to West back-packing trip over the High Sierras here in California and my long anticipated 17 day expedition ( OK Nicki?) to Antarctica next January. I would hope that others of my age group would be inspired.