#ridges

[pangeen]

" The Moment you know, you left Earth "

// © Ronald Sothje

[alteredstatesstuff]

small island with pine

[nakedinthecity]

Ridges of Tatra Mountains, 21.09.2021

[colorblindstories]

Last year in September I went hiking in my home mountains, Retezat National Park. Here are a few words I wrote down in my journal after that experience.

Meeting Jenna again births a desire in me to continue writing, telling stories through photos and written words. Being in the mountains with friends I haven't seen in such a long time, reconnecting with old friends, and new, sharing stories with Marc, Shanley, Jenna, Lelde, Eathan, Lidia. This is freedom, to be able to roam freely in the mountains. I wish to experiment more with hiking and fasting. I felt empowered. Water tastes different with altitude. And being focused on the path, every time it becomes overwhelming, coming back to the breath, remembering.

Breathing through the nose, pranayama is so vital, practicing more and more makes the body more resilient, more prepared for this kind of exposure.

After six months, I return to these words and to the photos, glimpses of past reality captured in time. The desire is still alive, action is needed.

I have been dreaming of these mountains many times in the past months, their magnitude and vastness always bring me a quality of peace and humbleness I haven’t experienced anywhere else.

Hiking up on the rocky trails we shared the journey, the beauty, the stories, the encouragements, the effort, the treasures found in the depths of our backpacks in the shape of homemade peanut-butter and jams and other goodies, the smiles, the fresh air and the celebration after reaching a summit.

After we parted ways with our friends, we returned to our campsite and witnessed an exquisite play of light and clouds as the Sun was swallowed by the sleeping mountain giants.

In this sunset light I met my brother, another moment of peace and shared love for the beauty found in Nature.

We decided that we will go to sleep in our tents and wake up early, hike up to the ridge where we would receive the Sun and the new day.

Waking up early when sleeping under a clear starry sky seems easy, yet the hike turned out to be harder than expected.

It was still worth it. The gift of the moment is priceless.

My brother loves coffee so much that he even carried his moka so we had a nice hot cup of coffee while waiting for the first rays of the Sun to touch the landscape and our cold skin.

It’s really hard to explain with words the sensation I get when I start the day this way. It’s not the first time I have done it and for sure not the last. Every time it’s different and yet it’s already familiar, the moment when the night surrenders to the day, bowing down in front of the light, feels divine. It’s like being in a temple and witnessing a sacred ritual.

With Rumi’s words:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep.

So I will try no more to explain the profoundness of the experience. I let the images speak. Let them move you, let them allure you. Let the mystery speak to you.

[thorsenmark]

High Adventure in Shenandoah National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: This setting is at Trayfoot Mountain Overlook with a view looking to the south to a nearby Flowering Dogwood. This is in Shenandoah National Park. My thought in composing this image was to center the dogwood tree and use the forest and ridges as a backdrop. I felt whites of the tree blooms would be a good contrast to the earth-tones in the nearby setting. The other thing about the contrast was the field present around and behind the dogwood tree. If you look closely, you'll notice a wild turkey that seems to be lying down in place.

[tofreezetime]

there’s a picture on the wall ...

[abyssmarked]

r i d g e s

[concertphotos]

(via https://www.flickr.com/photos/livemusicphotography/53587318487)

[bonguri]

20231120 West-Gifu Autumn tints 2 by Bong Grit Via Flickr: 天空の茶畑の到着時は雨が降ったり止んだりだったので、片手で撮れるRX100M3が大活躍。 @Photo taken at Ibigawa town, Ibi district, Gifu pref. （岐阜県揖斐郡揖斐川町 天空の茶畑）

[arborius]

[danjiisthmus]

Tangerine Leo Morph

Tasty!  Piece for grecko

[pangeen]

" Cliff dives in Utah " //© Parker Sheppard

Music: © Maiah Manser - With A Smile

[alteredstatesstuff]

old ruins of church

[wally-b-feed]

Anthony Fineran (B 1981), Ridges Certificate X680, 2023

[elizjjwold]

by Elizabeth Johnson-Wold

[thorsenmark]

Discovering the Benefits of Being Outdoors in the Mountains and Amongst the Forest (Blue Ridge Parkway) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the ease-southeast while taking in views from a bridge watching the waters of the Roanoke River flow downstream. This is along the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Roanoke, Virginia. My thought in composing this image was to align myself and center the river with the image as a leading line and keeping both hillsides of trees on either side. The blue skies would then be that color contrast to complement the image with earth-tones present in the lower portion.