The End of Helihiking and on to Glacier National Park

At the start of each new series of blog posts, I remind readers that  I keep journals when I travel and write my blog entries from the comfort of my home, based on trip diaries and photos.  Sometimes I’m describing trips that took place a while ago.  

But places change.  Cities vary with the times. Wildfires alter natural terrain.  Volcanoes erupt, and change anything from the local area to world weather patterns (massive volcanic ash clouds have done that.) So I like to remind readers--- it may not be possible to duplicate these experiences.

Why Hiking?  

My last trip blog was about heli-hiking in British Columbia.  When I decided to hike,  I wanted to challenge myself in ways I had never had done.  I wanted a better perspective of the world and my place in it.

Many of the places I’ve visited have helped me toward that goal...

- the Grand Canyon

- Bryce

-  Pinnacles of Western Australia

- Olgas of Central Australia's Red Desert

- Rotorua geyser in New Zealand

Rotorua,

-  Churchill, Manitoba's polar bears

Resting Polar Bear

 Tundra of Churchill

... All of those places give me a sense of the grand scale of this planet and all its life, its age, wonders, and startling variety.  I want to continue building on that feeling, on that sense of awe and beauty.  When I look out at the world that stretches for miles away from a mountain or a flat tundra, when I think about the many millions of years it took to form all this, I feel a sense of order in the world, and a sense of wonder.

Hiking has heightened that perception. At the end of every hike, there is the reward of a spectacular view, of nature at work, of life overcoming every kind of obstacle.  From mountain peaks, the vistas are so big I could see the variations of cloud shadows and sun breaks for miles and miles.  At the same time, there are clouds that look like they’re within reach of my hand.

Nothing will ever compare.

And that is why my next vacation is to Glacier National Park.  Another hiking trip.  Still kind of pampered---no camping outdoors, but hotels with fine dining at end the day.  But the days....oh the days.... 

And we’re off.

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