The tradition of Scout Camp continued this year with a trip to somewhere in the wilds between Lillowet and Pemberton.
Martin as usual picked a wonderful hike that managed to be peaceful, remote, interesting, and as vertical as the CN Tower. But you don’t get a view without going up, right? Luckily, this year there were six of us, and that made for light loads: a tent divided three ways is much lighter than one that you haul yourself.
The hike up was the perfect length—about four hours from the car (which was itself about an hour up a logging road). Near the trail head, the terrain was that re-planted stubble you get about five years after a slope’s been harvested for trees. But above that, we got into really spectacular alpine meadows in full flower.
Here’s the part where, if I knew anything about flowers, you’d get a description of the floral vegetation. Instead, I’ll tell you I saw red, purple, white, and several varieties of yellow, including one that was “cool.” Luckily, I took pictures.
“Almost every American I know does trade large portions of his life for entertainment, hour by weeknight hour, binge by Saturday binge, Facebook check by Facebook check. I’m one of them. In the course of writing this I’ve watched all 13 episodes of House of Cards and who knows how many more West Wing episodes, and I’ve spent any number of blurred hours falling down internet rabbit holes. All instead of reading, or writing, or working, or spending real time with people I love.”
“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
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