curious

July 21st -- several hours post Kennebec Pass 8 mile hike

     Lately I have been seeing a lot of articles floating around online. You've probably seen them- "27 steps on how to be 20, 15 things to do before you get married, 8 ways to know you have gone completely off of the deep end, etc.." It has all just been burning on my mind recently. I am not above this craze, I have seen the articles, read them, engaged in the social media aspect of it all. I wonder, though, how much people are taking seriously? How often do people judge their own lives based off of what they are finding on the internet? It seems to me that more and more the internet is being used to validate feelings, be them positive or negative.
     I am not intending/trying to bash these articles, social media, or the like of it all. I just really wonder if people have forgotten what it means to live, and how to be content with themselves. I worry that people have the notion that "if I don't check off this list of other people's accomplishments, have I really done anything at all?" I also wonder how dependent we as a society have become on the internet and how damaging it is in personal relationships "in the real world." Instead of meeting with friends to catch up, it is all done in seconds with an update online. And it doesn't stop there, now instead of your friend knowing your innermost feelings, so does the community on the internet. And the online community may not be as accepting or as caring as one would be in person. It seems there is the trend of "if I don't post it on the internet, did it really happen?"
     (I realize this is completely unrelated to travel and probably hypocritical coming from someone updating a blog, but I hope the point is clear, my opinion is clear. That's all it is- my opinion.)
     I wish for people to measure their success in their own way, without comparison or validation from others. I just feel more and more like shaking people and saying "Look up!!! You are not the internet!!! It turns off and you keep on living!" I wish for everyone a vote of confidence from within, from whatever it is that makes you happy first. Not from some list of what describes you, should define you, is it dictating you? I don't know about anyone else/can't speak for anyone but myself but this is my list of what I need to do before the day ends:

How I should be: How I am. 

For me, that is plenty good enough. 

~Brianna

Poems

July 19:

Conjuring up images of Christopher McCandless,
I sit by my stove.
Waiting for water to boil,
No day will ever be like
Today, I am alive with the glory
of the Almighty.
Thinking of footprints,
Of imprints in the sand,
Reflections off the water-
And suddenly we are all home.
Transported by love,
Transported by nostalgia,
We don't want to fight anymore.
The war has been over.
We set ourselves free
And then always come back.
The greatest trick She ever played
Was convincing us
We had self control.
Convincing us we breathed
Freedom.
But as He always said,
There will be redemption.
And with thoughts of another time
Echoing in our heads
Like a kettle slowly,
And then all at once
Coming to a boil, we understand.
There never was a purpose,
And saints spent entire existences
Finding that out.
The one truth we can all hold:
Love ourselves,
Understand ourselves,
Then begin to give it back.
Watch the fear dissipate,
Like fog retreat off the water,
See hate turn into a mutual respect for one another.
This is the path,
Of healing,
Of light,
Of happiness and strength.

Unexpected scenery change//July 17th

     Well friends, as usual, crackheads had to go off and ruin a good thing. Mickey and I spent the better half (all of) last night fighting with a crazy deranged crackhead who just couldn't seem to find it within himself to stop screaming, yelling, and throwing a disorderly tantrum every hour or so. He did this from about 2 or 3 am until about 6 am when the saga finally came to an end.  The sheriff had already been called by a fellow camper earlier in the morning however, when he arrived, the wailing man was "sleeping" so the sheriff could not take him away. He soon awoke angry and ready for a fight trying to entice Mickey to come fight him. After an endless night of useless arguing with the man, Mickey called the sheriff to come back for a second time who happily took the man away for a much needed detox.

some morning cow action

     The craziness nearly ruined what had been an awesome evening of hanging out with, ironically, the girls who live in the house we signed a lease for! That's right! We signed a lease! Monday we secured an awesome three bedroom house by the river (the trailer did not work out) and we actually went and signed the lease the day we looked at the house in a whirlwind of excitement. So now, come August, you folks have no more excuses!! You can get out here and visit us and you won't have to stay in a tent! You can stay in our real live home!

mickey in the canyon

     Man, it has been the most amazing week. We got the house on Monday, on Tuesday we went on the sickest fly fishing trip that Mickey's dad arranged for us. It was just the most amazing trip led by a guide who showed us the ropes out in New Mexico. It was so funny! I love fishing now, we were catching and releasing, and every time I caught a fish I just burst into laughter. I couldn't contain myself, the fish just looked so surprised to see me. Fly fishing was a real trip.

sunset pinks

     On Wednesday, we hung out with the girls who currently live in our new home, had a blast, then got back to the campsite ready for bed and bam! Never slept a wink. Thus enters the crackhead incident. That was the last straw for the Hermosa campsite. We went tubing on the Animas river after a long sleepless night where we decided to pack up camp and move on. We are now set up again in the La Plata Canyon. We would rather deal with the stormy afternoons than with disrespectful crackheads any day. And really, while the Hermosa campsite was beautiful and had it's perks, I am thrilled to be back in the canyon. It is way more primitive, there is no phone service, it is farther back in the woods, it has a river(!), it has a waterfall(!!), and is just all around more peaceful and curious. I feel as if I have come back home. And the best part it, NO MORE CRACKHEADS!

chimney at la plata canyon

 Thanks for sticking with us through the bouts of no wi-fi, and I hope you are all doing splendidly!!
~Brianna

me, bri! on the animas river

Caught Between a Rock and a Crackhead

July 17:

It's been a little while! We've been busy. You try living in the woods while maintaining a blog! Just kidding. Seriously though, this last week has felt like living with one foot in society and the other in the wilderness. I'll explain:

bri hiking hermosa creek trail

We recently (within the past few days) became members of the Fort Lewis College Rec Center, meaning we now have access to fun things like the gym and the locker room (which has showers) and the laundry room. So while we are camping in the woods, we are now able to go to work out and then take showers. This is a very drastic change from our previous sweaty, unkempt and unwashed selves.

Updating the blog is not really that difficult, and therefore my only excuse is that it is not very enticing to sit in front of a computer for an hour or so when instead I could be tubing down the Animas River, hiking on the Colorado Trail, or drinking beer in town during Happy Hour.

That being said, Brianna and I did put our noses to the grind stone and rented ourselves (and our friend Ethan) a house on the outskirts of town beginning August 1st. Rent in Durango, especially anywhere in town, is very expensive. 3 bed/ 1 bath homes 3-5 miles away from downtown consistently rent for $1600 +, so we are all super stoked to secure our new house for $1400. And it's super cool! The backyard is HUGE and is just full of potential- horseshoes, barbecues, fire pits, a garden... the list goes on.

Now fellow readers, I know this blog has been started to chronicle our life in the woods. Have no fear, I simply had to share my enthusiasm on getting my first ever house! But August is 2 weeks away, and Bri and I have a lot of camping and outdoor living to do in that time!

[This story has been edited] Allow me to digress for a moment and share with you all my amazing story of how Bri and I battled crackheads in the woods... and won! Like many stories, mine has simple beginnings. Brianna and I were fast asleep in the tent, when suddenly we were both awaken by loud yelling and laughing (hootin' and hollerin'). We calmly got out of our tent, walked across the road, and Bri politely asked the two ruffians to be quiet because we were trying to sleep. They slurred half-hearted apologies, and we fell back asleep... temporarily.

Maybe an hour later, we were both awaken again to one of the men screaming obscenities. I don't know if he was screaming at himself, everyone around him, or the sky, but I ran out there and yelled at him to please shut the hell up. He slurred some nonsense and I yelled at him again. He was quiet for maybe another half hour, then started screaming again. Another neighbor at this point called the cops, but when a sheriff came around 6 AM, the men had fallen asleep in their tent. There was "nothing" the sheriffs could do, so they left.

the new house!!

Around 7 AM, I got out of my tent and decided to try to start the day, but was infuriated to find the damn crackhead sitting on a picnic table smiling at me. He began trying to get me to come over to him, saying all sorts of weird things, so I just went to my car and called the sheriff. While this was happening, Bri had gone over and began yelling at the man, demanding to know what his problem was. 20 minutes later the sheriff showed up and took the man to detox.

Bri and I went to Fort Lewis and rented tubes and set off on a day of leisure, but after talking to her dad, we realized the situation probably shouldn't be taken lightly, and we knew we had to leave.

Fast forward to the next day, and here I am sitting in front of a morning fire, back in our original Madden Creek campground in La Plata Canyon, glad to be back in the wild away from crackheads.

-Mickey

Trailer Cattle

July 12:

Today I was woken up to a herd of free range cattle moving loudly through my campsite. Cows make me nervous when they are in herds because I'm never sure whether they are docile or aggressive animals (or does it depend on the cow itself, like people?). Once when I was hiking the Lady Moon Trail in Red Feather Lakes, there was a huge herd of cattle that I came across without meaning to; they all began snorting and stomping their hooves as I walked past, as if I were intruding upon their territory. I mean, I know they stampede in the rodeos and all, so do they charge? Are they dangerous? Anyways, this morning I decided to ignore the potential threat and go about brushing my teeth (and photographing them), which worked out fine. I even had a momma cow get up close and sniff me!

Yesterday Bri and I went to Junction Creek on the Colorado Trail to bathe, and as we were headed out on Junction Creek Road, we noticed a sweet, shabby trailer park. We called to see if they had any "units" for rent, but no, they did not. However, the property management company informed us that there was one 3 bed/1 bath unit left that was just north 5 blocks of Junction Creek, for only $925/ month! So I called my friend Ethan who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina to let him know that there is a potential rental that could easily meet all of our budgets (and then some!). Needless to say, he was thrilled, and wanted to know how soon he could move out to beautiful Durango.

It looks like all is coming together flawlessly and effortlessly, as it should. Brianna and I are finally finished with Financial Aid, and are looking forward to starting Fort Lewis College in September. Who says you don't get a 2nd chance?...And a 3rd, and a 4th...

-Mickey

july eleventh~time lapse

     We have moved again! (Days ago, actually, I haven't written in a while.) We have swapped our rainy canyon for higher, dryer ground. (Although I do miss our stream side location and waterfall hangs.) We are now camping in the lower Hermosa area, just barely outside of Durango. Camping is still free, but the grounds are vastly different. There are a lot more people, more trails, and infinitely more cows. Cows are all over the road, trails, and campsite. I would say my shaking in my boots phase has ended, but that would not be true.

     We hiked around yesterday, just at our campsite, as far down toward the Animas River as we could make it. We came across animal bones (a jawline maybe?) and found a huge incisor tooth. I don't want to know what beast lost that prize. We also found an arrowhead which sort of made up for the carnage. I can't say I am not still terrified of a possible wild animal attack. Thankfully, the cows are the only ones I have seen approach our campsite. Well, the cows and the millions of chipmunks that inhabit the woods around us.

     Living in the woods has been a different experience than I made up in my head before we set out. The idea of living next to a society, but not immersed in it, has been like nothing else. We have small responsibilities that fade compared to the responsibility that we have to ourselves to live moment by moment every day.

      Time passes strangely. Quickly, and then not at all. Long stretches of time create days that start with a hike or a swim in the creek/river, then meander into town when the rain rolls in, where we wander among the people, then make our way back to the woods, hide among the wildflowers, eat delicious food, immerse ourselves within the pages of our books, toast ourselves by the fire, and glisten beneath the stars. I am enchanted.

     I have had the most wonderful time exploring Durango, figuring out the town, baking in the sunlight, and even the rain. While I haven't been thrilled about the rain, there is something comforting about the clockwork arrival of the clouds each afternoon. It is as if you wake up not knowing what to expect among the expected. I have felt more inspired lately than ever, if I could only just sit down long enough to squeeze some of it out. It is hard to sit and work when all I want to do is run into the river or climb up a trail.

     I am looking forward to so many things- each rising sun, the prospects of finding a home for the winter, the upcoming school year, finding a job (yes, really), decorating my new place, writing papers (really again), learning, continuous exploration, joining a sports team, joining a gym, all of these wonderful things that life has in store and so many more that I can't even imagine yet. I am also excited about the moment by moment lifestyle I have become accustomed to. I want to do everything all at once, and I am so grateful for the opportunity (try) to do so.
~Brianna

The Rain Dance

July 10:

I'm not sure if I accidentally performed some ancient rain dance in the past week, but either way the Gods have answered and brought monsoon season upon the San Juan Mountains. Like clockwork, I wake up every morning around 6:45, open up the rain fly, and shiver in the 40 something degree morning chill as the sun rises above the mountains. By 11:30am, black clouds begin moving into the canyon quickly from the north west, and by afternoon, the sky is almost completely shrouded in dark clouds. At some point between 1pm and 5pm every day, it pours rain for a very short amount of time, dropping the gorgeous 80 degree July temperature down to the 50s and emitting threatening thunder that echoes through the canyon.

After talking with a few different locals around Durango, we reached the conclusion that the thunderstorms were not unusual for July in the south western region of Colorado, but had begun a little earlier in the season than normal. We also discovered that by going east about 15 miles into Durango, we could usually avoid the afternoon storms altogether. Because Durango lies in a valley, the surrounding mountains mostly protect it from these storms.

One particularly stormy afternoon, we had had enough of the La Plata Canyon's early storms, so we set of to explore campgrounds out at Junction Creek and Lower Hermosa. We were really stoked on the prospect of camping out at Junction Creek because it is so much closer to downtown Durango than our La Plata Canyon site, and the afternoon storms don't roll in  until late afternoon or not at all, but after driving 12 miles up a mountain with poor gravel/dirt roads, we realized the site was unrealistic. The sites available for free camping were very primitive- no toilets, no water, and no closer to town than our previous camp. Not to mention that Brianna found a bunch of animal bones scattered around the area we were looking at setting up camp in!

With Junction Creek as an overall failure, we headed north about 8 miles to the Lower Hermosa Creek campground. An easy, 60-mile per hour drive north on 550 brought us into the town of Hermosa, where we followed a Forest Service Road about 5 miles up to the campground. The road itself was very well maintained and gradual, and the distance from the campground to town was less than at La Plata Canyon.

That night, it rained like hell in the canyon as we packed up our camp, stowed it all away in our cars, and headed out to Lower Hermosa. As promised, while the La Plata Canyon was under a flash flood warning, our new campground proved dry and beautiful. We even made it in time to set up camp, gather fire wood, and watch the sun set. Here's to new campsites!

-Mickey

Bear Scare

4th of July:

So we've been camping at the Madden Creek Campground for a few days now because:
1) It's beautiful
2) It's remote(ish)
3) It's 4th of July weekend and we need to save our campsite or we're screwed
4) It's completely free.

But yeah, life is good. I have really been loving the simplicity of camping and living in the forest- I wake up happy, well rested, and excited for the day. I fall asleep throughly exhausted and content. The days themselves are all brand new and completely unpredictable. Yesterday for example, we found an unmarked hiking trail that shot straight up a mountain, and after a couple of miles, we had incredible views of Madden Peak. However, the coolest part of the hike was that there were all of these tree carvings in the alpine meadow of a pass on the trail that dated back to 1916! The meadow itself was surreal- Brianna said it looked like the forest in Snow White, and I think that's just about right.

OH, and then last night we were interrupted in our s'mores making by loud cracking sounds in the trees immediately adjacent to our tent. I saw large, black shapes moving quickly and noisily towards our camp, so I grabbed Bri and we quickly moved away towards our cars. I was positive it was a mother black bear and her cub, so Bri went over to my car and set off the alarm (truly genius). After freaking out at the car for a few minutes, an Asian woman emerged from the woods, looking confused and slightly irritated. I asked her if she was okay but she gave me a funny look and said, "Why wouldn't I be?" Of course I informed her that 2 black bear had just run towards her camp, but she shook her head no and replied, "You mean the cattle?"

Oh my God, we felt stupid! But we were so thankful that those free range cows weren't bears that we started cracking up with laughter! Of course we remained absolutely terrified and paranoid the rest of the evening, but at least the only real threat was a couple of cows.



-Mickey

skip to july third

Hello friends!! We spent July second traveling all the way to Durango and setting up camp. A lo0o0ongggg day of driving.
Here is my account for July third! :)

     I feel finally settled in. We just finished moving campsites to achieve the setup we wanted. We have a plot of land it seems completely surrounded by trees, our spot is just a clearing in it's thick. We are several yards from a bubbling creek and nestled just beyond our tent hidden in some trees is a second creek with a little miniature waterfall and pool area.

     I feel like a woodland nymph hidden in these trees and as if time passes differently back here. More quietly, slowly, with purpose. Today we hiked up an even steeper trail, which I never imagined could exist. It was so beautiful amidst the pain of hiking at such an incline. The trees glistened in the sun and gave the impression that there were mystical creatures hiding behind rocks and beyond the pines. When we were nearing (what we thought may be - there were no markers or signs) the summit of the trail ominous black clouds began to creep in on us. Much to our dissatisfaction we were forced to turn around and basically run down the trail to avoid any impending danger.

     After our hike we took a trip into Durango for supplies, since it was raining anyway. We ate tacos, enchiladas, and chile verde at a Mexican place (Tequila's) and made use of their wifi. When we made it back to camp we settled in to read 'Franny + Zooey' by J.D. Salinger and to roast some cookie butter (delicious heaven) infused smokes. All was cozy and delightful until in the middle of a sentence there was a FREAKING BEAR APPROACHING!!! Mickey stood and motioned for me to follow him to the parking lot as 2 large black masses stalked beside us in the twilight. With no keys to the cars or weapons beyond the two knives we were yielding I did the only thing I could think to do- set off Mickey's car alarm. The beasts hurled past us as we kneeled beside the car ready to attack what attacked us. Out of the darkness emerged a camper who informed us that the eminent danger we found ourselves in was merely imagined because the beasts in the darkness were free range cattle heading to the stream for a drink.

     I have no words other than I suppose I know how I would act under what would be a believed bear encounter. As usual, I would be the loudest one around.
~Brianna

The Details

July 2nd:

Well friends, things have gotten a bit stressful out here in the San Juan National Forest paradise. On the 2nd, Bri and I drove down from Buena Vista to Durango (a grueling 4 hours through the Great Sand Dunes and the Rocky Mountains). For some reason we both really struggled on this drive (possible altitude sickness from a 1,500 foot elevation gain?), and couldn't have been more thrilled or thoroughly exhausted to get out of the cars.

After walking around historic downtown Durango for a while, we reluctantly got back in the caravan and headed straight west on Highway 160 for exactly 11 1/2 miles, until we reached the town of Hesperus, where we drove north on County Road 124 (look for the Kennebeck Cafe). Once on 124, we went about 5 miles directly into the heart of the San Juan Mountains, until we crossed a cattle guard and a sign notifying us of our entry onto USDA land. Here, the paved road gives way to hard packed dirt (okay for 2WD) as you enter the La Plata Canyon (the La Plata River is on the right/east).

Campgrounds begin popping up immediately once on the dirt section of 124; there's Snowslide, Kroeger, Miner's Cabin, and the very last campground with vaulted toilets is Madden (on the right). A few of the campgrounds are fee areas (Snowslide and Kroeger, about $15-$17 per night), while a few others are free (Miner's Cabin and Madden). Drinking water can be found via a ground pump in Kroeger Campground.

We set up our camp along the pristine trickle that is Madden Creek. Although the campground has seen a rotation of visitors (4th of July weekend), our camp site is the most secluded, set back in the forest, and very spacious. Exhausted as hell, dinner that night was a bucket of fried chicken from Albertson's and a 6 pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

-Mickey

July first//day two

     I don't even know where to begin! The nice thing about being a heavy sleeper is that I missed the thunderstorm scare this morning. I awoke instead to a pleasant overcast fog, cool temperatures, and no anxiety. Breakfast was a feast made of one pound of bacon and five eggs cooked every way we could experiment. 

     We took the day to go into Buena Vista rather than onward to Durango. Approximately 15/20 minutes away lies downtown Buena Vista where we indulged in coffee and free WiFi. We then took off on foot to cover the entire town in maybe thirty minutes. Buena Vista is a tough place to describe. Where it lacks in size it makes up in bounds with character. 

     We went to a restaurant/brewhouse (Eddyline) for a house made beer before a walk along the Arkansas river. The best part is a little setup made to look like a mini living room outside. A couch, lamp, chair, table, and rug made out of tiles sat along the river. Both Mickey and I were pleasantly surprised to reminisce that our trip to Eddyline was neither of our first time there. (My last was a lovely lunch with Mickey and his parents on our first Durango to Fort Collins drive a few weeks ago.) 

     Later back at camp we hiked upward along the creek following what may have been a maintenance trail leading to various spots of manmade water rerouting systems. The sheer delight of finding hidden, seclusive spots by the river can not be taken lightly. We walked along seeking the sun in search of the warmest rocks to sit on. It felt as if time stopped and the world turned on without us as we lay like snakes in the sun on the bank of the creek. 

     The latter half of the evening was devoted to dinner, a fire, reading, and a sweet bottle of moscato. Here I must interject the importance of dinner. A glorious meal- burritos!! Mickey used his culinary art skills to perfectly season ground beef, corn, red kidney beans, and tomato's/chilis. I'm actually drooling as I write this. It's a camping must because the ingredients were cheap (canned veggies) it didn't take long to make, and it was both mouthwatering and filling. The only part that may be hard to find, and here is where I luck out, is a burrito rolling master like Mickey. 

     As I lay here on my second night in the tent I am awestruck once more by this magical life I have the unforseen luck to continue to live one more day.
~Brianna

*side note* July third: the beans/corn/beef makes an AMAZING leftover corn salsa paired with cracked pepper and olive oil triscuits (: