Hedra Articles

July 2009

Gifts

 May 27, 2009 I decided to walk up the Ridge as it was the highest point behind Suzanne’s in Hailey.  At 8:23 am, I started the walk, the slope was hard going as the pebbles and stones were rolling under my feet where I have little to no feeling at all.  With each step I was sliding backwards, had to stop several times to get air into my lungs as Suzanne’s place is at 5300 feet and the ridge was another 1,200 feet or higher. 

Next plateau was making the walk harder as underfoot was shale, rock and more stones that were not stationary.  The small outcropping that I came to just about did me in, my knees with hurting and several times popped and I was thinking about going back, but I never quit.  Again more stops along the way for air and to slow my heartbeat down.  Made by animals, the path up disappeared often making me work around the smaller sagebrush and there was an abundance of colorful wildflowers that many bumblebees were lighting on as well as moths and butterflies.  No more level areas to rest my legs and heart, at this point I decide I will go only as far as the next rock formation where I saw 2 deer off to the north; I gave them Reiki and one immediately spooked, the second one liked what I had to offer. 

Off I go, my pace is now slower and the next outcropping was dangerous as the incline was steeper and down was far away.  Several times I slid backwards, praying to stay vertical!  The big outcropping of rock was beautiful and had such strong energy, so I stayed here for about 10 minutes, sat down on a small cluster of rocks and enjoyed the view.  Saw a pair of Ferruginous Hawks, they have a wide wingspan.  Getting around this large rock without getting hurt was a true test of my own faith since my ‘85 accident at the lumber mill; each side was so steep and I was guided to go around on the south side.  More broken shale and lots of small rocks dotted the landscape up here; now I was higher than the ski hill to the east. At this point I see 3 deer and they were curious and then they bounded off one at a time.

My heart was beating so hard, my arms and legs now hurt all the time and I just kept going up.  When I reached the low part of the high Ridge I was truly amazed of the view and over the next valley to the west was the tree line and snow.  I picked up a beautiful rock that had a quarter inch white band running through the middle and pocketed it.  Being on the Ridge didn’t make the going any easier; in fact it was harder than the climb so far.  I was now headed north still going higher and I was proud of myself for making it up here and was now concerned on how best to get down to the valley floor. 

 At this point the trail ended and every step I was sliding and if my legs were tired going up, they were no longer supporting me from a place of strength! 

One quarter of the way down I stopped, sat down and there were the 3 deer who I thought I would not see again. They were listening to my outward complaints and were amused and went back up over the hill.  When I turned around to look where I had been, I was shocked, it was almost straight vertical and I had come down that without hurting myself – truly amazing.  At this point I saw a beautiful plump toad that stopped while I gave it some Reiki and then it hopped off.

I am now half way down when I felt a strong presence and there she was, the most beautiful Wolf I have seen up close and personal, standing on a rock overhang where the pups were inside looking out.  She had a dark belly and a brown/grey overcoat; I stood facing her with my palms outward and sending her Reiki and communicating to her.  She never threatened me and I was not afraid.  I watched her for some 10 minutes when she walked away from me and sat down.  What a gift for me to see her in this rugged wilderness.  I asked her if she would allow me to continue on my path without tracking me and she said, “Yes.”  Off I go and the terrain was getting harder to negotiate as it was steeper and the ground was becoming more unstable to walk on.  Thankfully I had my walking stick with me, without it I wouldn’t have gotten back safely and here I used it for every step.  The sagebrush & vegetation were thick and not much room for my feet.

 I loved every minute of this new adventure and the heat was stifling at this point with no breeze at all.  Once across the brook I realized I didn’t know which way to go and the she-wolf told me what direction to take and she was right.  I eventually came to the area I had hiked the day before for an hour.

I was so happy to have forced myself to take this hike as it tested my resolve and I saw the deer and the wolf.  It took me 1.5 hours to climb to the highest point on the Ridge and it took me 1 hour to come down.

Back at Suzanne’s, I sat on their porch and watched 2 Vultures for 40 minutes who were playing in the thermals, several times they dove on some smaller birds to chase through the air.

 What a wonderful morning!