Page 141 - Dark Matter:Women Witnessing Issue2

beginning of this spiritual trek, love holding me, encouraging me, guiding me. I was honestly terrified to

make this journey, for I was in bear, mountain lion and rattlesnake country. Yet I also trusted the

Spirits entirely. This flow of love was a reassuring balm. If trouble or injury awaited me on the high

peaks, I accepted the necessity of it. I had lived and worked long enough with the Spirit World to know

my ancestors and spirits would keep me safe in every way they could.

The upward hike was even more grueling than I had imagined. A high waterfall required hurtling myself

across a five-­‐foot stream at its base where it tumbled down a steep drop-­‐off. I just barely made the

jump, my feet sliding and staggering on the muddy edge of the fast-­‐moving stream before they found

safety. When I turned to look back, I discovered a couple at the fall’s edge debating worriedly whether

to go forward, having observed my bold, precarious leap. Smiling ruefully, they shouted that they were

turning around here, as the falls seemed too dangerous to cross, and headed back down the trail.

Within an hour, I had to climb over several downed trees whose trunk widths were taller than me. The

angled slope made this just as treacherous as the slippery falls, but after tossing my pack over first, I

was able to scramble over each challenging barrier. A few miles more brought me to a spring where I

soaked my swollen feet and sponged my aching knees, and listened to a friendly fly inform me that my

boots weren’t tied tightly enough, that my joints needed the support of a firmer fit. Thank you, Fly!

After a full seven hours of hiking, I

stumbled into a meadow at the top of

Joseph Mountain, and stood among tall

pines gazing out over the five-­‐mile

stretch of Wallowa Lake and the green

forests below. I dropped down to the

earth, just resting and observing the

open meadow with its sprawl of scrub

sage and the rocky peaks rising up

before me. I noticed a young pine

broken in half in between two tall
Joseph Mountain, Oregon. Photo by the author

mature ones. Although the top of this pine was split and hanging, the tree was healthy and vibrant. I

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