Summer Solstice 2016
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016: Hikes.
The full moon was setting in the west as I hiked to my sunrise overlook, where a mourning dove watched the sun rise from the top of a nearby tree as I performed my ceremony to begin the longest day of the year
I hiked down into this canyon in the 90 degree weather of late morning, looking forward to a dip in the cold mountain stream
A few wildflowers were still blooming beside the stream
I bathed in the cold mountain stream, and drank its clear water
Clouds came over in late afternoon
The storm began with distant thunder, soon followed by steady rain
I took shelter in a big cave beside the stream
I watched the lightning and listened to the thunder, dry inside the cave, where legions of daddy longlegs spiders ran harmlessly over me in their search for food
The stream kept flowing down the canyon, barely noticing the rain
After the storm moved off, I watched the water coming down the canyon from my bathing ledge
The rock ledge revealed its true colors after the rain
What a fantastic place to spend the longest day!
In early evening, the clouds broke up, and sunlight returned to the canyon
Reluctantly, I prepared to leave the canyon, grateful for the cooling storm
With the lower trail destroyed by landslide, I climbed straight up through the steep forest, hand over hand, until I reached a view above the canopy
I reached the spot along the trail where rocks of contrasting color spill down from the bank
The old trail was completely washed out in places by deep gullies
Penstemon was blooming in this gully
I contemplated the gap I’d have to cross to regain the trail
I was halfway up when the day’s last light spilled into the canyon
Last light caught the north slope
The storm had moved off to the west
Just before sunset, I neared the top of the trail
From the road down the mountain, I watched the last light of the longest day, shining through the storm in the west. Further down the road home, I saw the full moon rise behind the mountains in the east, and later, after the stars came out, I saw a meteorite falling directly in front of me, as if to mark the end of the solstice.