Archive for the ‘John Muir’ Tag

Standing At Nature’s Alter   2 comments

Standing At Nature’s Alter — Image by kenne (Monday Morning Milers — August 29, 2011)

Standing at Nature’s Alter

When we stand at the
altar of nature,
we stand with the greats;
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau,
and John Muir,
each having helped define
our relationship
with nature and language —

“Every natural fact is a symbol
of some spiritual fact,
. . . words are signs of natural facts.”

Nature’s beauty becomes
a source of spiritual energy
connecting all things
into a universal whole
with the power of our
thoughts and will.

We stand at nature’s altar
not separate from her,
seeing us in the flowers,
insects, animals, mountains,
creating a unified landscape
of our inward and outward senses.

Like all relationships,
the experience depends
on the degree of harmony
between us and nature,
therefore becoming a gift
granted while walking with nature
as she is embraced in our minds –

Enlighten, she shares her secrets,
making the universe more “transparent.”
Yet, the gift may only offer a glimpse,
to be shared in images and words,
charming all living things.

— kenne

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. — John Muir

Wilderness of Rocks In Pusch Ridge Wilderness   Leave a comment

Wilderness Trail August 2011 - 2011-08-12 at 12-22-35-72Wilderness of Rocks In Pusch Ridge Wilderness — Images by kenne

Words by:  Edward Abbey, Aldo Leopold, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
John Muir, and Wallace Stegner

 

Wilderness FloorWilderness Floor

Fall Reflections   Leave a comment

Fall Colors-Painting II-72Fall Reflections — Photo-Artistry by kenne

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

John Muir

Bee On Camphorweed   Leave a comment

Bee on Camphorweed (1 of 1)-Edit-1-art-72.jpgBee On Camphorweed — Photo-Artistry by kenne

Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile,
and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

— John Muir

King Canyon Trail To Wasson Peak, Revisited   1 comment

A couple of weeks ago some of us did our annual King Canyon trail hike to observe the wildflowers, which in the past was part of our hike on up to Wasson Peak. However, this year the plan was not to go all the way to the Peak. I hate to admit it, but time is beginning to catch up with us. So, the best I can do is to revisit a posting from six years ago. My days of cheating time might be running out.

— kenne

King Canyon To Wasson Peak

Kings Canyon Trail — Images by kenne

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Wildflower Slideshow by kenne

King Canyon To Wasson Peak

Panorama of Wasson Peak Near The Top

SCVN guided hike to Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon trail, which is about a seven mile (roundtrip) hike and elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
Some of our hikers made only the Kings Canyon trail to the first saddle since we were experiencing unusually warm record-setting temperatures (the mid-90’s).

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people
are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home;
that wilderness is a necessity…”
― John Muir

Rocky Mountain National Park — Photo Essay   Leave a comment

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”

— John Muir

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Rocky Mountain National Park-0154 blogRocky Mountain National Park — Photo Essay by kenne
On July 30, 2017, we drove through the park from the west entrance to the east entrance. We had been to the park several times in the past while visiting Estas Park entering outside of  Estas Park. 

— kenne

 

Catalina Highway Underpass Painting   Leave a comment

Doves, Lightening, HikingCatalina Highway Underpass Near Mt. Bigalow, Santa Catalina Mountains — Painting by kenne

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

— John Muir

Catalina Highway Panorama   Leave a comment

Catalina Highway from Bug Springs Trail- blogCatalina Highway Panorama (April 14, 2017)  — View from the Bug Springs Trail by kenne

As the desert spring days begin to become too warm for hiking the foothill canyons, we have begun hiking the trails along the Catalina Highway at the 5,000-6,000 foot level. The Bug Springs trail has an accumulated gain of 1,500 feet. (I merged three photos in Photoshop to create the above panorama.) 

— kenne

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people
are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home;
that wildness is a necessity.”

— John Muir

 

Standing At The Altar Of Nature   1 comment

SCVN Day 1Naturalist David Lazaroff and several other naturalists with the 2011 SCVN Training Class, Day 1 — Image by kenne

I was a member of the 2011 Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) class. During the fall training I wrote the following poem, posting it on this blog:

STANDING AT THE ALTAR OF NATURE 

When we stand
at the altar of nature,
we stand with the greats;
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau,
and John Muir,
each having helped define
our relationship
with nature and language –
“every natural fact is a symbol
of some spiritual fact,
. . . words are signs of natural facts.”

Nature’s beauty becomes
a source of spiritual energy
connecting all things
into a universal whole
with the energy of our
thoughts and will.

We stand at nature’s altar
not separate from her,
seeing her in the flowers,
insects, animals, mountains,
creating a unified landscape
of our inward and outward senses.

Like all relationships,
the experience depends
on the degree of harmony
between us and nature,
therefore becoming a gift
granted while walking with nature
as she is embraced in our minds –
Enlighten, she shares her secrets,
making the universe more “transparent.”
Yet the gift may only offer a glimpse,
to be shared in images and words,
charming all living things.

Commenting on my poem, SCVN member, Walt Tornow, wrote that my poem  ”. . . captures beautifully my feelings about being in the mountains.” He went on to share the following:

GOD, GRACE, AND GRATITUDE

Finding God in the wilderness …

  • The majesty of our mountains, the magnificence of views/ vistas they afford, and the splendor and munificence of the many gifts that nature has to offer
  • The awe and humility that comes from being witness to the grandeur of it all, juxtaposed with realizing the relative smallness and fleetingness of  our existence
  • Never feeling or being alone … lots of company by nature’s creatures, and taking in the beauty of nature’s show
  • Feeling vulnerable, yet trusting, being in the wilderness — potential prey to wildlife, and exposed to the elements
  • Experiencing awe, joy and inspiration by being here
  • Feeling connected … becoming one with myself, with nature, and the universe
  • Finding peace, serenity, and sense of holiness … my place of worship and meditation

 

Here for the grace of God am I …

Grateful to be, to be here, and be given the opportunity and capacity to enjoy the many gifts/ blessings around me.

– Walt Tornow

If you feel our passion for nature, we want to share it with you by inviting you to become a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist.

We are currently recruiting people who share our passion for nature
to take part in our 2017 SCVN Training Class from the beginning of October to January.

After completing the training you will start next January teaching kindergarten and/or elementary students approximately 1 morning per week. All training curriculum materials provide for an excellent learning experience, along with many guest nature experts.

Additionally, you can take part in adult Public Interpretations nature programs about Sabino Canyon.

You can learn more about this wonderful volunteer nature program and get an application by visiting our website 

www.sabinonaturalists.org/

Please pass on this information on to persons you will be interested in becoming an SCVN member. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have — kenneturner@gmail.com

kenne

Strike It RichNaturalist, Gwen Swanson, demonstrates “panning” to students in the “Strike It Rich” program.
This creekside activity allows children to learn about the difference between rocks and minerals
by panning for garnets in the sand along Sabino Creek, and the importance of water in forming the canyon.
Image by kenne

SCVN Nature Walk #1SCVN Training nature walk with naturalist, Bill Kaufman (Fall 2011) — Image by kenne

Modern Footprints On The Trail   2 comments

footprints-0179-blog-iiModern Footprints On The Trail — Image by kenne

Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time.

— John Muir

 

Common Mullein   1 comment

SCVN Nature Walk July 18 2012Bee on Common Mullein Blossoms — Image by kenne

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

— John Muir

Standing At Nature’s Alter   1 comment

Mt. Lemmon TrainImage by kenne

Standing At Nature’s Alter

When we stand
at the altar of nature,
we stand with the greats;
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Henry David Thoreau,
and John Muir,
each having helped define
our relationship
with nature and language —
“every natural fact is a symbol
of some spiritual fact,
. . . words are signs of natural facts.”

Nature’s beauty becomes
a source of spiritual energy
connecting all things
into a universal whole
with the energy of our
thoughts and will.

We stand at nature’s alter as man
not separate from her,
seeing her in the flowers,
insects, animals, mountains,
creating a unified landscape
of our inward and outward senses.

Like all relationships,
the experience depends
on the degree of harmony
between man and nature,
therefore becoming a gift
granted while walking with nature
as she is embraced in our minds –
Enlighten, she shares her secrets,
making the universe more “transparent.”
Yet the gift may only offer a glimpse,
to be shared in images and words,
charming all living things.

kenne

(First posted August 30, 2011)

Desert Scene   2 comments

Desert Museum-9781 bee art blogDesert Scene by kenne

Keep close to Nature’s heart…

and break clear away, once in awhile,

and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.

Wash your spirit clean.

— John Muir

Ventana Canyon — A Hike In The Canyon   1 comment

Ventana Canyon (1 of 1) blogVentana Canyon — Image by kenne

Looking back down from the Ventana Canyon trail with much climbing to do until reaching Maiden Pools.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

— John Muir

Hiking With Friends   Leave a comment

Cam-Boh Trail HikeHiking with Friends — Computer Art by kenne

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people

are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home;

that wildness is a necessity.”

— John Muir

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