How do you create luxurious pampering in a harsh, remote environment? Spa day! Yes, it is possible even all alone, with limited resources, deep in the heart of the San Rafael Swell. I had flowing water, a rich creamy lotion (completely out of place with most of my other gear) and my resourcefulness.
During my time in the Swell I frequented the creek, mostly to ward of sunstroke. When the fiery imagery reminiscent of my heat hallucinations in Costa Rica arose in meditations I knew it was time to soothe fire with water. Usually I climbed into the knee deep creek fully clothed and submerged myself to keep the coolness alive on my skin longer.
After some rough nights and even rougher days I felt it was time for some pampering, hence Spa Day and laundry day. The reason for laundry day was in the interest of simplicity I packed two pairs of pants and three shirts plus fuzzy pants and a sweater for sleeping (and a pair of clean socks and underwear, no bras – yay, for each day). Clearly, everything was filthy. Beyond the requisite desert dust there were tea and food remains, the perma-stench from sweating profusely into the same clothes in the 100+ degree heat day after day, soot rubbing off my cooking pot, random small insects, and unrecognizable particulate matter from whatever floats in the muddy creek: icky (yet heavenly in its own way).
Spa day wasn’t the typical dip and run visit but a nice soak and scrub from head to toe. Despite the obvious dubious benefits of bathing in something called “Muddy Creek” I stripped down at ‘the beach’ and got in, enjoying squishing my toes through the mud while I encouraged my body to slide into the cool water, cringing at the shocking temperature difference. I found rocks to hold my clothes steady so they could wash in the current while I leisurely rolled myself around in the creek, enjoying the cool wash. A light cloud cover rolled in – water letting me know she had my back. I submerged myself completely several times and took my time enjoying all the sights, sounds and sensations along the creek. A beetle came chirping scared down the creek as he had fallen in and I splashed him to the shore. I noticed how nice it felt to help another creature along and contrasted the feeling with the earlier glee of killing a fly that had bitten me. Where along the compassion to self-defense continuum do creatures fall?
As I submerged myself I remembered my childhood baptism at the age of 8 where all parts of person including clothing had to be submerged. Because I had long ago traded in my family’s religion for seeking my truth I decided to repeat my own version of baptism “by the authority granted to me by myself and the San Rafael Swell” washing away the superfluous parts of years past into the cool desert stream. I felt clean, refreshed and renewed.
When I got out of my bath I massaged the ridiculously rich lotion into my skin, especially my feet which I then covered in socks to keep them from collecting even more insane amounts of dirt. I scrubbed my face with herbal wet-wipes and did some minor cuticle maintenance. All in all the best spa day I’ve had in a while. I spent the rest of the luxurious evening wandering wrapped in a light wrap enjoying the cool-ish air as the cloud cover remained until the bugs came out at dusk.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Transitioning Back to Society
Today was my first day back at work after 5 1/2 weeks in meditation/adventure/personal land. All in all it was a gentle roll back into the rhythm of 'work at a desk' life. Full blooms of tangerine colored roses brought the pleasure of scent with the beautiful reminder of the richest colors of the desert into my space.
The afternoon included a nice walk by the Swaner Eco Center. I enjoyed the birds calling and the long grasses waving in the the slow wind, a reminder of listening to the approaching wind through the canyon in the Swell. Dry wind, the faint smell of desert, a small squirrel and a single yellow sweet clover brought me into the depths of feeling at home. I LOVE Summer.
Conversations were interesting and lively as always. Thanks to the indescribably wonderful people of Backcountry I didn't even have to rely on chocolate, my everlasting friend, to make it through the day!
The afternoon included a nice walk by the Swaner Eco Center. I enjoyed the birds calling and the long grasses waving in the the slow wind, a reminder of listening to the approaching wind through the canyon in the Swell. Dry wind, the faint smell of desert, a small squirrel and a single yellow sweet clover brought me into the depths of feeling at home. I LOVE Summer.
Conversations were interesting and lively as always. Thanks to the indescribably wonderful people of Backcountry I didn't even have to rely on chocolate, my everlasting friend, to make it through the day!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Photolog - Highlights
Wow, home already? I have spent a week re-integrating with society - rough. So far fuel and groceries felt disorienting, dizzy and I had to split ASAP. I've been hiding out at home with the cats putzing around. Getting out for some climbing and mountain biking to ease the transition. The Wasatch Mountains I call home aren't the Swell though they are another of nature's marvelous beauty and a 'helluva' lot better than fluorescent lights.
Notes on this photolog:
1) Starts with the preparation (aprox. 72 days) and the blue hair highlights and continues through the two weeks in the Swell (San Rafael Swell, southern Utah). There will most likely be some post-trip pictures included in the future. Since I did some drastic things with my hair thought it would be nice to show the transformation. Also interesting to note is how bright blue my eyes become through long periods in meditation. I included some photos of my time at retreat "setting the stage" where Nisaa buzzed my hair, traveling from New York and events of the few days at home between trips including a friend's wedding at Snowbird (where there was still snow on the ground in spots - trippy before heading out into 100+ degrees a few hours away).
2) I took most of the pictures. Exceptions: "no services for 100 miles" (challenging to make out what it says at that size) came from americansouthwest.net to show the remoteness of the area (didn't want to stop for the picture when I drove in); July 4th weekend Bob came down with water, veggies and to check on me. The final days he brought our buddy Jaime with his beautiful dog Lily to help him build a route, some pictures during these times are Bob's.
3) The first few days were brutal as you can see in the pictures, beastly hot with bugs worse than the heat (you'll see some pictures showing my grumpiness at their presence). Even Kate's fabulous Protection Spray couldn't keep the particularly fierce gnats and biting flies away. Bob tried three different bug sprays while he was there and still got eaten alive. The white/pink on my lips in some pictures is the only lip sunscreen I've ever found to work like a charm: Burt's Bees Sun & Snow (worth the funky look).
4) There are a few scenery pictures showing blessed storms brewing, dropping the temperature anywhere from 10-15 degrees (often it was 95 degrees in the shade and I spent a lot of time just waiting for the sun to set). The temperature range I recorded was from 115 degrees to 50 degrees. I saw two readings of 124 degrees and 144 degrees respectively though I don't trust those as my altimeter watch/thermometer was in the direct sun on a reflective surface (although 124 is not out of the realm of possibility). I am pretty sure it was colder than 50 degrees some nights, though I just curled deeper into my down sleeping bag instead of checking. There was a lot of variation in the nighttime temperature. Some nights I slept nearly naked, others even bundled up I was freezing. One night my toes were so cold I had to get in the car to warm up.
The next full photolog will be a more complete story showing some of my desert friends on the journey and the requisite Swell experience of fine to fucked in a matter of seconds. Stay tuned!
Notes on this photolog:
1) Starts with the preparation (aprox. 72 days) and the blue hair highlights and continues through the two weeks in the Swell (San Rafael Swell, southern Utah). There will most likely be some post-trip pictures included in the future. Since I did some drastic things with my hair thought it would be nice to show the transformation. Also interesting to note is how bright blue my eyes become through long periods in meditation. I included some photos of my time at retreat "setting the stage" where Nisaa buzzed my hair, traveling from New York and events of the few days at home between trips including a friend's wedding at Snowbird (where there was still snow on the ground in spots - trippy before heading out into 100+ degrees a few hours away).
2) I took most of the pictures. Exceptions: "no services for 100 miles" (challenging to make out what it says at that size) came from americansouthwest.net to show the remoteness of the area (didn't want to stop for the picture when I drove in); July 4th weekend Bob came down with water, veggies and to check on me. The final days he brought our buddy Jaime with his beautiful dog Lily to help him build a route, some pictures during these times are Bob's.
3) The first few days were brutal as you can see in the pictures, beastly hot with bugs worse than the heat (you'll see some pictures showing my grumpiness at their presence). Even Kate's fabulous Protection Spray couldn't keep the particularly fierce gnats and biting flies away. Bob tried three different bug sprays while he was there and still got eaten alive. The white/pink on my lips in some pictures is the only lip sunscreen I've ever found to work like a charm: Burt's Bees Sun & Snow (worth the funky look).
4) There are a few scenery pictures showing blessed storms brewing, dropping the temperature anywhere from 10-15 degrees (often it was 95 degrees in the shade and I spent a lot of time just waiting for the sun to set). The temperature range I recorded was from 115 degrees to 50 degrees. I saw two readings of 124 degrees and 144 degrees respectively though I don't trust those as my altimeter watch/thermometer was in the direct sun on a reflective surface (although 124 is not out of the realm of possibility). I am pretty sure it was colder than 50 degrees some nights, though I just curled deeper into my down sleeping bag instead of checking. There was a lot of variation in the nighttime temperature. Some nights I slept nearly naked, others even bundled up I was freezing. One night my toes were so cold I had to get in the car to warm up.
The next full photolog will be a more complete story showing some of my desert friends on the journey and the requisite Swell experience of fine to fucked in a matter of seconds. Stay tuned!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Water Blessings
Our prayers for water were answered! There were a couple of great storms. Even with more thundering and rumbling than rain, the dense cloud cover brought the temperatures down to a manageable range.
Thank you everyone for the cool watery thoughts, prayers, blessings and support!
Thank you everyone for the cool watery thoughts, prayers, blessings and support!
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