Essays
Philosophical and Political
August in Kings Canyon
8-31: If it were possible to believe that gods created the Universe, the next belief might be that they had decided to use Earth for the indulgence of their artistic talents. To see just how much beauty they could create in, from their perspective, a limited space....
Entangled Life – Part III
(A few days later) For many years one of my favorite places to camp has been Warner Valley, a remote area in the southeast corner of Lassen Volcanic N.P. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through, as does a permanent stream, and I’ve hiked both north and south on the PCT...
Entangled Life – Part II
Plato, in his Republic, imagined what a magic ring that he called the Ring of Gyges would do to justice. The ring would give its wearer invisibility and thus the ability to do anything they wanted without fear of apprehension. Presumably the temptation would be too...
Entangled Life – Part I
I read a book a few months ago called Entangled Life. It describes the astonishing activity beneath my feet, especially when said feet carry me through a forest, a place where fungi and roots commingle with lubricious-level abandon, and microbes, invertebrates, and...
At Butte Lake
Two days at Butte Lake now; three weeks ago, when I started my trip I mentioned signs that eras were closing, and here they are again. The first: Spontaneous camping trips to long favored locales will require planning, contradictory as that obviously is. Most of the...
Improving on Silence
There’s an expression I’ve always liked: “Don’t speak unless you can improve on the silence.” Wise words but rarely honored. Even I, quiet by nature, have a hard time abiding by them in situations where talking seems called for and where I could not often claim to be...
