Vivien, Linda, Kim, Catherine
Everything happens for a reason. I hiked up to Raven Lake today. We started to get up in the snow and were about 20 minutes away from the cabin (our final destination) and we ran into these two lovely ladies. They informed us that there were very fresh (within the last 20 minutes) grizzly tracks just ahead. They had made the decision to turn around and leave the grizzly alone, after all it is HIS territory, not ours. We asked our new friends if they wanted to team up and finish the last part of the hike, because with 4 of us, the grizz would likely leave us alone. As we were romping along, we saw more and more tracks and they got fresher and fresher. We ended up following his tracks and Vivien (a 71 year old amazing outdoors woman) said, "I think we should leave this grizzly alone and head back). We decided to listen to our elder as she seemed very wise to her environment, and this definitely wasn't her first time in bear country!I am so happy that we ran into these amazing ladies. They are very wise and wonderful women. Vivien, as it turns out, is an author. She has written several books and she writes for a guide book company. She has traveled the world and her own backyard, she is a mountaineer of sorts and she had so much wisdom to impart. I probably asked her 100 questions on the hike down. Vivien has taken incredible photos of her journey's and she has a website. Her website is: www.chickenbustales.com (you should check it out!) that chronicles her adventures and showcases her incredible photography and books she's written. I do believe we met these ladies for a reason, not only to save us from a potential grizzly encounter (as they are looking for their big protein at this time of year) but I also feel like they shared their years of knowledge and wisdom about the outdoors with us.
Vivien is inspired by nature, her art is motivated by the natural beauty in our world; the mountains, streams, trees, rivers, bears, squirrels, birds. I think we should bring our students outside and see if they are inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds us. There is so much adventure outside, we must show our students that there is a world beyond video games and structured sports and clubs. Being in the wild allows your imagination to run wild!
I have lived right next door to Vivian (and her husband John Harris, who is also an author) for the last 5 years! They are both amazing people. Super tough too! They own a cabin out in Shelly and in the summer they ride their mountain bikes there and back from their house near Spruceland! I sometimes get out of breathe walking to the parking lot at the university form our classroom.
ReplyDeleteHow cool that Chris knows Vivian, too! I agree that nature study and experiences in nature are incredibly important for children. A graduate student who is nearly finished his thesis writes about the concept of biophilia, the affinity for nature that is an innate part of being human. But he and I are both concerned that biophilia will not develop if children have little opportunity to explore the natural world, to be close to plants, animals, etc. I've thought tha I would be healthier and happier if, for every hour of computer time, I spent an hour outside...but I think I may have to start with a more realistic goal, maybe 5 - 10 minutes outside for every few hours! I admire people who have an active lifetyle and make it a priority to spend time outdoors - they seem physically fit and mentally healthy as well. If this is your style, I hope you can find ways to maintain it througout your career. (Catherine Whalen did, so it is possible!)
ReplyDeleteMy ego has been inflated. Thank you so much Cat! I look for you often when wandering the halls of the institution where we should not be. I sent a friend of mine a photo that was taken 113 years ago when we went to Bob Lake above Dunster for a day hike. I had forgotten my boots on the doorstep. No problem. I wore her boots and she wore my sandals. In the photo she is wearing the tivas and the Bob lake hike is a goo 3500 feet of not really easy terrain. She replied that of all the places we have been and seen and things we have done, the Canadian mountains being the most smiles.
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