Life lived simple
Dreamy and warranted
Jealous of people who blog about their one hundred things
But wondering how we might live without 60 second coffee brewed on a Jetboil
And still remain addicted to our iPhones and their gateway to a cluttered world.

Packing light
Driving to a trailhead
Hoping for something other than an internet connection
But secretly pleased to get one bar upon arrival.

Bear spray ready
Toxic insect repellent coating me
Food stored in a plastic barrel the government says is for me
Skin protected by questionable chemicals that block Vitamin D
Corn pasta recommended by an old pal who never did understand my dietary needs
Shoes, pack, shelter, clothes – all made of plastics and oil and wildlife refuges.

Wondering at this point if the internet wouldn’t be a better place to hang out
And a little irritated that I don’t have two bars by the time I reach the harebells.

Then, around the corner
Through the forest
I get a glimpse
And start the process
Ponderosas to whitebarks to larches
Larches to firs to willows to lupine
Lupine to tundra to talus:

And there they are, rising to impossible heights and it’s now

“Searching…”

and all is well again.