Mountain Bartering

Lyrics to a great song by Eddie Vedder:  If you know the song Society, this is how I felt in the video above.

Oh, it's a mystery to me
We have a greed with which we have agreed
And you think you have to want more than you need
Until you have it all you won't be free

Society, you're a crazy breed
Hope you're not lonely without me...

When you want more than you have
You think you need...
And when you think more than you want
Your thoughts begin to bleed
I think I need to find a bigger place
Because when you have more than you think
You need more space

Society, you're a crazy breed
Hope you're not lonely without me...
Society, crazy indeed
Hope you're not lonely without me...

There's those thinking, more-or-less, less is more
But if less is more, how you keeping score?
Means for every point you make, your level drops
Kinda like you're starting from the top
You can't do that...

Society, you're a crazy breed
Hope you're not lonely without me...
Society, crazy indeed
Hope you're not lonely without me...

Society, have mercy on me
Hope you're not angry if I disagree...
Society, crazy indeed
Hope you're not lonely without me...

Often, days start out rather slow, progressing little in speed or in interest and, often end slow. But occasionally there is a day when unexpected surprises pop out and make everything feel so much more interesting and alive. I was sitting here at my desk, on the computer in the mid afternoon when in the corner of my eye, I caught the movement and shine of lights. Five snow mobiles and six people were outside my cabin just yards away. I was shocked, excited, nervous and skeptical all at once. I grabbed my pistol, shoved in my pants and braced myself for the first encounter with another person in almost five months.

There was the knock at the door, and I could see a smaller man in height but not so much in width due to his attire of winter gear. He was a native from the village Aleknagik down the river and across the lake. He and his entire family were out fishing at Lake Nerka and were headed back for the day. He was asking about the trail through the forest, which I explained no one had been on this year, and that he would be the first.

It was monumental to see someone, very heart pounding and overwhelming.... I was all smiles.

There was a snow storm that night and I figured, that if I were to have any luck finding the trail they had just made, I'd better get out there as soon as I could. I managed to find the trail, which wasn't the best in ways of marking, so I found myself stopping and hanging flagging tape up every so often for the couple miles until the lower lake was in sight.

Once I had cleared the forest, there was a new landscape, the one in the video. A new frozen terrain, much more open and breathtaking that what I have been staring at for months. I took time to take it all in, strap on my backpack with emergency supplies in case my venture on the ice proved catastrophic. All around me were mountains and miles of open range for touring. To the right, were my nearest neighbors all the way at the end of the lake, along with a host of other small cabins and part time residents of the area. Some were constructed of not much more than what you might find in a nicer Tijuana barrio. Others were very nicely crafted log cabins with steep pitched roofs and tall chimneys. I couldn't resist the urge to have a look around and explore this new scenery, so I set off. Snow machine trails were clearly visible, weaving in and out of inlets, up and over bluffs, and braided throughout the lake ice. I was uncertain of most areas so I skirted the shore all around, occasionally following other tracks that had gone further from shore but returned out of uncertainty. At one point, I needed to cross an area where there were no tracks, so I got up some good speed and said a prayer. Later I found out that the area is about three feet thick in ice, so no worries.

I saw a man out on the ice in the distance and waved as I approached, receiving a welcomed wave in return. I had emailed this gentleman earlier that month, along with his wife. They have been caretaking up at that lodge for the past five years or so, and had given me an open invitation any time I felt like getting away. I had a real conversation that day, with real people, over tea and by their wood stove. I must say that it was a relief to meet someone, and to know my social skills haven't completely gone away. After a couple hours with them, we managed to find out what each other needs or wants in the way of supplies and so our mountain bartering began. I had no intention of going to visit that day and had not brought any trading goods with me, but their generosity was abounding when they gave me a few packs of Top Ramen and large can of mandarin oranges. It seems small and even unappealing to most who can have that anytime they want, but to me, who is without, it was glorious.

In the next week, I'll be headed down for another meeting, trading and even a homemade pizza with a large green salad.

February feels like it never came and yet is almost gone. I am busy shoveling snow from roof tops, sliding off in to the snow below and keeping tabs on the fox. Now that the trail is clear to the lower lake, I think I may do a little exploring and see what else is out there.  I have about five weeks left out here and will be departing on the first of April which is the six month mark. I have my days of envy for all who are out enjoying the comforts of modern life, but consider my life out here to be much more civilized. I already feel that my time has gone by too quickly, but if you had asked me how I felt back in November, I'd have said something to the effect of how much longer I had to go. Now, it is going so quickly that I'm trying to grasp every moment, each little joy and savor it to the best I know how. I may feel different next year when and if this opportunity presents itself again. Partly I wish to duplicate my experience and enhance it by knowing what to expect and how to deal with it. I also feel like my repeating of this would deprive someone else of truly a once in a lifetime experience. When the time comes, we'll see what happens but no matter what, through the thick of this past winter and the thin of the new year, I will never have traded this experience and personal growth for any other offer. No regrets.