The next day was un-eventful. Just the average stroll up a ridiculously beautiful mountain embroidered with millions of bear grass flowers, Indian paintbrush, and several shades of columbine. Camping in Boulder Pass is like visiting a forbidden palace. It seems that no human was intended to see the intricate streams of melting glaciers that water the ever present wild flowers. Yet there I was. I climbed a little further in solitude to sit atop Boulder Mountain. Being able to view the immensity of the entire park from that nature made temple, I was in awe of many things. I know that over the course of time, erosion formed these mountains, but is that it? Not at all! Science cannot explain the spiritual reaction that takes place upon viewing the work of rock and ice. The mystery of beauty! The next three days passed about the same. Hard hiking to goat haunt campground, eating freeze dried food, and soaking in all the massive vistas, tiny flowers, and countless waterfalls. On the last night in the wilderness, we camped at the aptly named Fifty Mountain campground. I had been waiting for this night to photograph the stars, because the moon would be at its weakest. I love star trail pictures because it records a dazzling show of light that makes a Pink Floyd concert look like a burning out flash light. The stars supply life giving energy to the universe and yet put on the most intimately inspiring show every night, only to be forgotten with the coming of the dawn.
The next morning we got up, packed up the tent for the last time, and headed for the trail head. 6 days, almost 60 miles, and not one single phone call. All of this beauty without the distraction of a smart phone does something to your mind. It makes your mind smarter, and your phone seems dumber!
“We started noticing-your clothes fit like cages-your houses looked like cages-everything was a cage. You turned the land into cages-little squares. After that, you made a government to protect the cages-all your laws were about what you could NOT do. The only freedom you had was inside your own cage. Then, you wondered why you didn’t feel free. We Indians never thought that way. Everyone was free. We didn’t make cages of laws or land.”- Lakota Elder