I take my inspiration from one of my favorite all-time blogs posted by daughter Sara entitled “Left on Henry.” As best I remember that particular blog post, they lived on Henry Avenue in Philadelphia while Jonathan was going to dental school at Temple U. Most everything they did required them to turn right onto Henry – school, church, shopping, etc. But every once in a while they got to take that liberating turn and go "left on Henry" – to Amish country, Valley Forge, and a world of exploration and discovery.
Well for me, the same thing happens when I get to go into my closet and take down a pair of boots from the top shelf.
Every other day, it’s the shoes on the bottom of the closet that I wear to work, church and wherever duty takes me. But every once in a while I get to put on some boots from the top shelf and go hiking, camping, snow shoeing, exploring and discovering. It’s true liberation each time I get to lace them up and head for the mountains.
One of my favorite summer hikes is the annual Death Hike. It has been going on for over 20 years and got its name because it involves a one day, 50 mile hike, usually in the Sawtooths or White Clouds. I just recently started participating and have now done 3. There are always a few crazies who still do a full 50 miles, but I am content to settle for something a bit more realistic for my old bones. But it is still a major one-day undertaking with substantial miles and elevation gain. And it takes me places I would probably otherwise never go.
The 2010 Death Hike originated out of the old mining town of Atlanta, ID and went off trail up to the Lynx lakes and to the top of Greyloch mountain. A total of 19 miles and 3,800 feet of elevation gain (and then loss!), almost entirely off trail.
Oh, and did I mention that there are usually big hungry fish in the lakes just waiting to entertain you? 
In winter, the hiking boots get put away, but then I break out the snow boots and go snow shoeing. There is nothing quite like hiking to the top of a mountain, under the cover of a breathtakingly blue sky, with fresh snow piled high all around.
It’s best to go with a group so you can take turns breaking trail
but the possibilities are endless. Just take off in any direction and head for the top!
It's also kind of fun to stay in a back country yurt in the middle of winter, miles and miles from civilization.
Well, it’s not exactly like turning left on Henry, but putting on the boots from the top shelf for me serves the same purpose. It renews my spirit and makes me feel, well, like a man!
(Ok, maybe the purple pants aren't so manly, but the scouts loved them.)I would love to share an adventure or two with you so please come and visit us and give me an excuse to go "left on Henry"!
9 comments:
Yea! A man post! Maybe now I can get Ken to do one. I love the pictures. They are gorgeous. I also loved the "Left on Henry" post. Now we have the "boots on the top shelf" post to talk about.
Well Dad, not a bad post from an amateur (this is coming from someone who has made a whopping 3 blog posts). Bear Grylls has got nothin' on you (except millions of dollars and a killer English accent). You've caused me to ponder what my "Left on Henry"/"Boots on the top shelf" activity of choice is? I'd say watching Jimmer Fredette play basketball but I think Mom's already got dibs on that post.
On a more serious note, I think that I'm going to show this post to my Teacher's quorum. You wouldn't believe how much whining I heard from them this past summer on our 50-miler. Once they see that my old man is doing 50-milers in a day, they'll change their tune...
That looks awesome!!! I am almost finished editing your photo's and should have them in the mail later this week- sorry I got a new laptop and new edition of photoshop so I am trying to figure it out!
Great manly post Tom! I must edit this post to add that your "every once in a while I get to put on some boots" is about every other weekend ;)
Great post! So clever. I especially like Joan's addition in the comments. :)
I love this post. It's amazing how little things like that resonate (sp?) with everyone-- I remember in 9th grade during early morning seminary, setting my alarm clock on Saturdays just so I could see what it felt like to actually turn it OFF...
I particularly liked the picture of the beat up shoe boxes on the shelf and the shoes. They tell a story. It reminds me of someone else's closet that lives with me. Maybe I should take some pictures of that (how there are more sleeping bags and camping gear in our closet than actual clothes)-- but I guess it's the stuff you manly-men's dreams are made of. I also love that picture of you guys looking down from the top of that hill with the vibrant blue sky in the background. Beautiful! Well done, Lone Wolf.
Amidst my laborious dentite travails, I have found contentment in a blog post that resonates with my soul. I share a quote from my most fav mag "Backpacker". "Backpackers intuitively understand that nature holds the best remedy for a whacked-out psyche. Wilderness really is a sanctuary--in all the ways the term implies." It takes a manly man to venture out into the wild and experience nature to its fullest extent. Tom Morris, you are my hero--behind Bear Grylls.
What a fun post! Tom, you are a great writer and I love all of your pictures!
Well done.
Funny how the love of the hiking boots seemed to skip my dear hubby. Maybe it will skip a generation and our kids will be your outdoor friends. It seems you wife has had a bit more pull since Devin's "boots on the top shelf" is "BYU shirt (or body paint!) off the rack". So muah! Here's my comment love for the manpost! It feels good, doesn't it?
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