Snow Hike

View of San Gorgonio from the trail next to Onyx peak

Went on a snow hike last Sunday in preparation for next week's snow camp. Tried out my new gators, rain pants, and snow boots.  All worked well. Stayed warm, although it was a warm day so I kept peeling off a layer, then putting it back on when we sat for a spell.

We learned a few nifty techniques for traversing snow when going uphill and down.  Even tried out snow shoes for the first time. Pretty awesome.

Heading up in our snow gear

Now, on to snow camp next weekend.

Time for a Writing Challenge

While working on novels, I love shorter writing challenges. Whether it's poetry, flash fiction, or a short story, I love working within the confines of a particular challenge to hone my writing skills.

The Liars' League writing contest takes place in London, Hong Kong, New York City, and Portland. It's a great contest. Stories are submitted, and the chosen one is performed live onstage.

I chose to submit to Liars' League PDX, which is in Portland, Oregon. The story I'm choosing to submit is entitled "Silk." It's a spooky, sexy, provocative little story about a jazz musician. the tale is set on the west coast during the Prohibition.

It's rewarding to work on shorter pieces. I get the satisfaction of bringing a work to completion.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Silk will be chosen to be performed.

Keep Writing!

C

Throwback Thursday: Glastonbury

The Glastonbury Tor

Traveling abroad is great for understanding different cultures and ways of life. Traveling abroad alone teaches you a lot about yourself. In June and July of 2013, I traveled solo to England and Croatia. It was a planes, trains, and automobiles adventure that spanned just under one month and can't possibly be told in one blog post. So today's post will focus on my time in Glastonbury, England.

For about twenty years, I'd dreamed of visiting the Glastonbury Tor. Finally it became a reality. My goal was to be on top of the Tor on the sunrise of the Summer Solstice. It was worth the effort.

It was the bus ride that set the stage. I took a bus from Bath to Glastonbury. It was like I was transported back in time. The bus smelled like armpits and pot. It was full of hippies, banging drums and singing. I felt like I was on my way to Woodstock. The driver wasn't thrilled with this, which was a bit funny.

I finally got to my motel and barely had enough time to rest up for the following morning. Starting at about 3;30 am on June 21st, I jogged from my motel to the top of the Tor. I made it with a bit of time to spare. The top of the Tor was packed. Some had camped overnight.

At sunrise. There was a ceremony welcoming the summer solstice. It was awesome. I stayed until the sun bathed the place in light, then went down the hill, had breakfast, and got ready for a walking tour of Glastonbury.

The top of the Tor on the Sunrise of the Summer Solstice 2013

The Abbey at the top of the Tor just after sunrise

Happy Solstice!

My tour guide's name was Tor, not kidding. He was very knowledgeable and well-known throughout the town.  Here's a link to his website. Tor's Tour of the Tor

The tour began at Wearyall Hill, the location of the Glastonbury Thorn, where Tor told the legend of how Joseph of Arimathea placed his staff in Wearyall Hill, which grew into the legendary tree.

The legendary Glastonbury Thorn atop Wearyall Hill. People tie ribbons around it to commemorate their visit. Beside the Thorn tree is Tor's doggie, and tour guide assistant, Sage. 

From there we visited the chapel of St. Margaret and the site of Waddle Church, then to the Church of St. John.

St. Margaret's Chapel

The Church of St. John

From there we visited the Glastonbury Abbey, the legendary resting place of King Arthur.

The Glastonbury Abbey

 We had lunch, then continued on to White Springs and chalice Well. As we made our way through town, which was lined with shops and restaurants (may of which were vegetarian/vegan), the locals would greet us with a warm, "Happy Solstice!" Tor's quite the celebrity there, he knew everyone.

Chalice Well, a place of healing.

Chalice Well

Tor's tour ended with climbing the Tor, where we learned that the path up to the top was actually a labyrinth. Tor is a wealth of information. I was so glad to have met him and get insight into this wonderful place I'd always dreamed of visiting.

After the incredible tour, I climbed the Tor once more, then headed to town and stopped at a coffee house called the Hundred Monkeys Cafe for cream tea, which is tea with a scone with clotted cream (why we don't have this here I'll never know).

It was an amazing day. And that's just one day of the eight that I was in that wonderful place.

I took another tour with tor to Corwall and Tintagel, the legendary birth place of King Arthur, but I'll save that for another post.

May your heart lead you on wonderful journeys.

Peace,

C

Jones Peak

I went on a nice 6 mile RT hike with 2300' elevation gain up the Bailey Canyon Trail to Jones Peak last Sunday.

The weather was great and it was a great conditioning hike.  I love being surrounded by green while spending time with like-minded folks. 

Hikes are always very cathartic for me. Similar to meditation, being immersed in nature helps melt away worries and helps me focus on the moment.

There were eleven of us in the group. Our leader was very knowledgeable. He shared a bit of history about the trail and had every leg of the trip well-planned out.

The view from the peak was very pretty. 

It was a great experience. Nature is my medicine.  :)

Enjoy the outdoors. Embrace the beauty around you. Make every moment count.

C

Joshua Tree: Day 2

Day two of the Joshua Tree adventure began before sunrise. The only "luxury" item I brought was my French press, and it was worth it. I enjoyed my 'elixer of awakening' with fellow WTC peeps as the sun rose. I tried out a freeze-dried granola pack I bought at REI, which was tasty, but cold on a chilly morning.

After breakfast, it was break-down camp time, then off for the day's adventures.  My phone died the previous night, so the only photos I have are provided by classmates. Day two involved more rock scrambling, then a hike across Rattlesnake Canyon. With guidance and the leaders spotting us during the tricky spots, we scrambled up to an overlook with breathtaking views, had a snack, and a lesson on geography, then back down we went for one more navigation lesson.

For our final task, we hiked to a large rock cluster and were ushered through an "obstacle course" for lack of a better term. The leaders stood at points within the rocks and showed up various techniques for ascending and descending the rocks.

Then, at about 3:00 pm, it was back to camp. We packed up the bus and off we went. Feeling tired but accomplished, I settled in and watched the sun descend into the western horizon.

It was the best kind of tired. A peace settled over me as I got comfy and listened to the rest of the novel.

We hit a bit of traffic and got back to Glendale close to 7:00 pm. I loaded my stuff and was on my way home.

I'll admit that I was initially nervous and insecure about this trip.  I wondered if I would be adequately prepared and be able to take care of myself. Apparently I was. I was worried about over-packing, but, with the exception of a rain jacket, I used everything I brought and all worked out fine.  No, wait, more than fine, it was pretty awesome.

I try to embrace challenges whenever possible. Challenges invite growth and teach me about myself. I feel grateful for this weekend.

To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”


Peace, 

C

Joshua Tree: Day One

Last weekend was the first overnight outing with the WTC class. We went to Joshua tree for two days jam-packed with hiking, navigating, bonding, and eating. :)


We left on a bus from Glendale at 5:30 am Saturday. With a 2.5 hour journey each way, I decided to settle in and listen to a book during the ride. I decided on Fahrenheit 451. It was great watching the sun rise as we headed out of civilization into the harsh and rugged beauty of the desert.

We arrived and hit the ground running, We had a short time to grab our stuff, set up camp, and report for the day's activities. With some help from my tent buddy, we were set up and on our way in no time.

We started the day with a bit of rock scrambling, basically scaling to the top of large rocks. With guidance and leaders spotting us, everyone did well.

Heading to the rocks.

 The next few hours were all about navigation. Students were given locations, and then required to use a map and compass to guide leaders there. My partner and I did well. I'm able to plot a bearing and get to a location, but I could use work on other mapping skills.  More on that later.

 We had lunch in the shade after that, and then it was off to climb Mount Mel. It was a literal climb, scrambling up rocks the entire way.

The climb up to Mount Mel.

 The view from the top was amazing.

The view from Mount Mel

We climbed down and headed to camp. Then it was happy hour/feast time. It was an amazing spread. Everyone brought something to share. I brought a pot of vegan gumbo.

Nighttime in the desert is beautiful. The sky was inky black peppered with bright stars that can't be seen within city limits. I settled in after a wonderful meal and slept well.

And that was day one. Our class really bonded during this great adventure.

Day two coming up.

Compass and Gear

The Wilderness Travel Course is going well, and we're getting ready for the first overnight trip to Joshua Tree. The homework involved delving into map reading and understanding how to use a compass to find your bearings, locate points on a map, then plan your route to a location. I feel I understand it to a degree, but I have questions. The staff of WTC is awesome and helpful and I know with a little guidance I'll get the hang of things pretty quickly.

I needed camping gear: a tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, food, and clothing for cold weather. it was an expensive endeavor, but necessary to insure a safe and comfortable trip.  The tent I chose was a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3.  It's an amazing three-season tent tent with all the bells and whistles. It was easy and quick to set up (I did refer to a YouTube video to insure I was on the right track).

I chose a Marmot zero degree down sleeping bag for the warmth, and its really light. We will be doing a snow hike in March and warmth is key. I went with I chose a Thermarest pad and a ProLite Plus self-inflating mattress based on the recommendation of the REI staff. Although many choose a Jetboil or the like because it's quick and easy, I went with a Pinnacle dualist ultalight cooking system with a Gigapower mini stove for the versatility.

To test out my gear, I camped out in my backyard this past weekend.  I felt like a kid again. It was wonderful. Even though I wasn't in the wilderness (yet), I must say that being outdoors overnight was awesome. The night was pretty warm (in the 50s). and being outside was cathartic, bereft of the constant hum of electronics involved in keeping a home going (refrigerator, thermostat, etc.). I could hear some traffic on surrounding roads, but overall it was quiet and peaceful. I curled up in my bag and read until I was sleepy.

I slept very well that night and woke feeling rested, at peace, and energized.  When it came time to pack everything up again it was a snap.

Now, I just have to figure out how to compact everything into my backpack for the trip.  I bought some freeze-dried food for the trip, but I'm still figuring that out because I'd like to add some culinary delights into the mix.

This is turning out to be a great adventure. Looking forward to Joshua Tree.

Steel on the Anvil

I wrote this in the spring of 2015. I sought to find a place where my journey made sense. This was the result.

____________________________________________________________

Steel on the Anvil

By C. Sonberg Larson

You were brought into being to complete a task, one that provides an essential element needed by the universe in its evolutionary process toward perfection. The unique nature of your assignment is in the hands of no other, and failure leaves a void in the collective wisdom of the cosmos. This task, the burden of your short stay, is to channel your life energy and forge an authentic self.

Your responsibility begins at birth, where you’re given the raw materials for the job, but that’s all you are given. It is you who must build the tools from these materials. It is you who must listen carefully to the universe to map your journey onward. It is you who must gather the knowledge to go further and sidestep the pitfalls along the way. This is not an easy undertaking. It’s often wracked with so much pain and angst that many take refuge along the way, ultimately stopping their journey long before the self reaches the calling of the soul.

Fear is always the culprit. It will rear its ugly head during hardship, times of self-doubt, or social pressure to conform. It is what makes the self question everything: the path, the process, the very nature of existence. If fear wins, actualization stops there and then. The damage of this often goes undetected on the surface, but succumbing to fear ulcerates the mind, creating sickness, madness, and hate; it is how monsters are born. The key to overcoming fear is recognizing what it truly is, the discomfort in forging that which has never been forged before.

Be warned of those who stopped short of their own journey’s end. These individuals are angry, outwardly at their circumstances and others who bullied them to conform, but really their anger is at themselves for being cowards and letting fear win. They don’t even know it, but they hate that you are still on the path toward creation. Your courage cuts them deep, your life a mirror they put away long ago. They need you to quit in order to alleviate their own pain and their means to halt you in your tracks can be quite insidious, often couched within the context of friendship or love. Be gracious toward these lost souls, but keep your distance.

Savor the ebbs and flows of your journey. Setbacks are a necessary part of the growth process. Let love lead you. Reconnect with nature and animals. Seek answers in your dreams—your mind traveled there for a reason. Voyage to faraway places, those of legend, those imbued with magic and lore. Stand at the water’s edge and breathe deeply. Look up at the stars and revel at the infinite within the finite. Ponder the meanings buried in your unique experiences, then share them through kind acts and artistic expression. Be a beacon of light in the darkness. Add to the collective. Create yourself. Do not be afraid.

And as time passes, so shall you be forged, year after year, layer upon folded layer, the sparks from your life’s pounding soaring like fireworks that illuminate the night sky, giving hope to all who thought it wasn’t possible, and calling on them to remember who they were meant to be.

___________________________________________________________

I still smile when I read it. I hope it speaks to you. 

Best, 

C

Welcome!

View from just below the summit of Mount Wilson on 1/30/16.

Two things have called to me over the years, nature and writing. Both have been integral parts of my personal growth. Both bring me to my center as calming and cathartic presences, while at the same time, challenging me to grow.

My first memory of the profound power of nature happened during a camping trip when I was a small child. I remember rising with the sun, and the delicious smells of breakfast wafting from campsites as I wove through the tents peppered in the forest early in the morning,  I trotted up a small hill and when I reached the top, the lake came into view, spanning as far as the eye could see. I stopped in my tracks, in awe of the beauty and majesty. The cool breeze, the water, the lush green. At that moment, I was forever changed.

Writing has always been in my life. Although my earliest story was written in the first grade (I still have a copy of it), my first memory of writing was in the 3rd grade. I wrote stories because they just came to me and I had to get them out. Over the years, writing became a release, a way to express my innermost thoughts, fears, and hopes. Eventually writing became a part of who I am. I am as much of a writer as I am human. I have written four novels. My latest novel, The Decomposer: Part I: Fallow was my first publication. I am currently writing the sequel to that novel.

This blog will celebrate my two loves. I am an avid hiker and am currently taking a Wilderness Travel Course to learn techniques to stay safe and be responsible when hiking and camping. I will share my experiences, the beautiful places I visit, the new-found knowledge through these experiences, and reflections.

I will also share thoughts on writing: the craft, the creative process, the ups and downs of creating art, and the joy and hurdles of serving what I've created up for public consumption.

So walk with me, through green places full of wonder, along the waterfalls , through forests, and over the mountain tops, and let's also embrace life's endless search for meaning through the art of storytelling.

Peace,

C