… yesterday. Yepp. Some months ago I wrote here about a documentary “Finding Farley” made by husband-and-wife team Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison (remember their documentary “Being Caribou”?), along with their two-year old son Zev and dog Willow. You can watch this documentary on NFB’s website or here:

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Novica (he is a farmer from Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

photo by Gorida

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Gorida: A version of ‘The Map Upon One’s Face‘ article originally appeared on DSD’s website Summit Stones. Thanks DSD.

The Map Upon One’s Face by DSD

Do we not all carry and display a type of map upon our faces… Are the lines, the contours, the images not unlike the symbols we find on the maps we use out there…

Our adventure experiences and the challenges & successes, trials & lessons, enjoyment & wonder of it all would seem to create many types of impressions upon one’s face. When looking at each other during our journeys, we can see where we have been, can envision where we will now be going, almost as clearly as when we spread our maps out upon the ground.

The title of a ‘map’ for any day of wandering may be of a hiker, a climber, then a kayaker, later a canyoneer, or river rafter, among so many other wondrous adventure pursuits. The legend of these maps - their keys, helps us to understand what is actually being represented there. We read it closely to envision what is being told to us… Again as we do when reading each others faces as we weather the elements, as we make our way among the wilds, when we look into that mirrored reflection upon those mountain lakes…

Maps need a compass too for knowing how to orient oneself to it, for clearly establishing north, and then understanding which way to turn and carry on. We enjoy mentally picturing such distances and heights, size and scales, depths and elements, both personal and of the wild places.The maps upon our faces were not purchased though, but earned… They are as valuable as any ancient mariners chart, and have been sculpted not by ink, but by the elements themselves and through our efforts.

I so enjoy learning to read, to understand, to envision and embrace, the many challenges and discoveries that the maps on our faces and in our lives present for us …..DSD

Did you know that August 31st is National Eat Outdoors Day?  I didn’t know, but I wouldn’t mind having an outdoor dinner.

Two months ago Jeanette Kozlowski sent me an email asking about guest blogging.  I didn’t have time to respond because of our long holiday in Europe, so here comes a funny article she wrote for Hiking Boots Blog about different types of people we meet on the trail:

PS: A version of this article originally appeared on Hiking Boots Blog.

11 Types of People You Meet on a Hike

Trail time means different things to different people. There are those who take hiking as seriously as a standardized test; others float across the forest as if they left their mind back at the trailhead.

Maybe for you, it’s all about something else completely.

Whether you’re new to the outdoors, returning from a long sabbatical or just an average trail junkie, there’s a good chance you’ll run into the following hikers at some point. Some are friendly; some not so much.

Subscribe to proper trail etiquette and greet each one with a warm smile or head nod, no matter how menacing they appear. Looks are deceiving, and someone with a ugly mug could give you vital advice like, “hey, there’s a giant bolder blocking the trail ahead” or “we just ran into a great grizzly a half mile ago—watch out!”

1. The Boy Scouts – These little trouble makers look like the kids from Stand by Me. Maybe they have no business being on the trail, but chances are their parents aren’t far behind.

2. The Awkward Couple – Are they brother and sister? Are they married? Did they just meet in the parking lot? Let these questions swirl while you bypass them with a friendly wave.

3. The Crazy College Kids – They tend to roam in large packs and participate in questionable and potentially even illegal activities. Aside from those attributes, they’re also the most friendly and welcoming.

4. The Mysterious Lady + Cute Puppy – Much like some mystical apparition, she glides across the leafy ground and acknowledges you just enough to make you wonder if she actually did. Then a baby dog pokes his head from her carrier, and you wonder if she even knows it’s there. You start to say something, and just like that, she’s gone.

5. The Hardcore Hikers – Much like that mysterious lady, they appear out of nowhere and immediately leave you in the dust. However, during your five-second encounter, they make you feel completely inferior on every level—from your clothes, to your hiking gear, to your floundering athletic ability.

6. The Drunk Guy – Yep, that’s a Budweiser and a cigarette. This guy either really knows how to have a good time, or you’ll see him further up the trail passed out.

7. The Prison Escapee – Nobody knows if he just busted out of jail in Shawshank fashion. But you’re on the trail alone with him now. Best to buck up, break into a cold sweat, say “hello” and an even faster “goodbye.”

8. The Sweet Older Couple – Proof that you can be active at any age. Older hikers inspire the younger, out-of-breath chaps to strive for a life of health and fitness.

9. The Out-of-Shape Dude – As he shuffles along the pathway, you cross your fingers and hope he doesn’t straight up collapse in front of you. Hurry up and pass him unless he is in really bad shape. If that’s the case, just offer the poor guy some water.

10. The Slow-Walking Family – They take up the entire trail and they don’t move out of the way even if they see you quickly approaching. The nerve!

11. The Benchwarmers – The harder the trail, the less likely it will be lined with cozy benches. For these folks, it’s like lazy moths to a couch-shaped flame.

After today’s Grouse Grind walk, I think I fit the number 9 category.