NHVSP 2011 Update 8

A happy group arrived at NorthWoods Steward Ship Center
left to rt: Bridie, Nimrod, Zane, Sam, Serene, Rosa, Mathilde, Jon, Jake, Tim, Julian, Tobias.
Misha and Nate in the front

     Only a few days after I wrote down the last update, I sit here at the office of Northwoods Stewardship Center, writing my last update. We’ve gone about 300 miles since base camp in Marlow, NH and we’re now at the half point of our journey. Spring teases us with coming for a day or two and then disappearing in a blizzard.  This morning was around 0°F, and almost 3 feet of snow are still on the ground; yet catkins are appearing on trees, the sun is out for warm bits occasionally and we know spring won’t fail us. As we settle into base camp life in Northwoods, building our little village and wrapping up the winter expedition, we look towards spring: new big jobs, pounding ash for baskets, building canoes, carving paddles and preparing for our life on the river.

Nimrod 

There isn’t going to be a long update about the last few days so I will just add a few words about small group solos. After a long, hectic expedition preparation which went way into the night (most went to sleep between 12:30 and 2 AM), we woke up at the usual waking time, had a big, protein rich breakfast for heroes, finished our last-minute preparations, took down our camp, filled our water bottles with maple sap and set out in our groups of four. Tobias, Rosa, Mathilde and Tim set out first. Not long after Heartbeet they found a road-killed porcupine named Jimmy, which they skinned, gutted and roasted over the fire. Their tales are unknown from there, except the fact that they reached Northwoods safely. The second group to set out was Zane, Bridie, Julian and myself – we travelled fast across the North Country, so fast we almost forgot to camp one night. The third group was Sam, Jake, Serene and Jon, who did everything the right and safe way.

   To conclude this update, I will just say I loved talking to y’all over the last 10 weeks. To those who are confused, this is not the last update, but rather the last update I will write. So, goodbye!

         -Nimrod

Quote of the expedition: “Certainty of Death, Small Chance of Success, What are we Waiting For?” Gimli, son of Gloin

A Very Long Poet’s Yurt

On our last night

We slept together side by side

Held in a cradle of tree limbs

Projected by the moon onto our tent

I remember the feeling

So content

So confident

So eager and ready for the dawning of tomorrow.

         -Sam

As the daylight slips away, in comes the night sky with the moon and stars to take its stage.

A beautiful sight that doesn’t fade as you age.

Bridie

Why do we close the curtain to the stage by being in constant cage in this time and age?

I have opened my eyes to this beautiful starry sky by opening the stage curtain, for this is better than the constant cage I am certain.

The green boughs as my cradle,

The thermos cup as my ladle.

The wood to burn

Will keep me warm in turn.

This very memory of that night

Will stay shining bright

As long as the stars keep shining at night.

         -Bridie

Two-

Sharing one talent

Two-

Coming together

To play one song

A fiddle and guitar.

         -Tim

Shoveling out the base for "Honey Hollow"
Jon, Rosa, Serene and Jake

Work

I’m working but I want to work harder

I want to work and think only of my work

I want my hands to know where to go

And what to do

I’ve known idle time

I’ve known endless comfort

How it can kill

Body and soul

I don’t want to work for the end result

I want to work for the work itself

Because life is work

I want to stomp out all signs of my

Lazy youth

I want to never shy away from

The necessary effort

From the next task

From the painful, difficult but vital parts

Of life

         -Jon

The forest is my friend

I thought

As I sat under boughs and sticks

Warm in the winter snow

Who was it who told me

To be cautious of the woods

To be safe and not get lost

And be careful not to trip on roots?

‘cause the other day

I fell down the stairs

And they didn’t feel any safer to me

Than a fallen tree or bush

Who was it who warned me

About the cold and snow?

‘cause I’m feeling mighty warm right now

Out in the dark cold

I snuggled my feet towards the fire           

And laid my head on boughs

And thought of all the good hard work

Right here in my hands.

         -Rosa

Beautiful Northeast Kingdom

They come with a

Strong presence and large vibrations

They come across the stream

Slithered over our tangled veins

Threw down their burdens and took all

Their work

They take from us

They change the scene, changing the sounds,

Changing the smells, smoke, food, socks,

The odors of a dozen or so unwashed

Teenagers

They change the vibrations

Slamming axes, dragging saws, moving feet

Now they are silent, lost in their thoughts

Them like us are growing

But them unlike us are going

This is only a stop on the map

A moment in a much larger scheme

Will they even remember taking our boughs

And our wood? Probably not. Will they ever

Come back? Probably not. But for now they

Love us.

         -Tobias

Jake, Tim and Tobias

Weather moving in to put weight on my belt.

Making me appreciate the sun.

Mighty Northwest

Cold, blue.  Bright.

Through the frigid air

      Radiates a warmth.

The Grey

       Warmer, freezes deeper

Bringing the burden of the heavens

         Unfolded

And the freedom of that weight

In the confines of my mind

   Is no longer a distraction.

         -Jake

Serene

Invitation to group solo

Will you join me on this

Wild adventure through the woods?

We might get lost, we may get hurt

We will get tired

But we will do it together

We will lift each other up along the way

When the going is hard

Our hands/minds will work together

In unison

For we are a family on this adventure.

-Serene

To be Alone

Fear fills most hearts when exploring the

Dark spaces of their brain. The forgotten

Memories, some decidedly left behind, others

Blissfully washed away. But still forgotten,

It is not often one gets to

Sit by themselves and think deep. Putting

On the Indiana Jones hats and

Diving into the unknown regions of self.

Most see their caves, and shy

Away wishing for company to comfort them

Out of the self. Those people are lonely.

It is only when you can be at peace

With your past, present and future

That you can find serenity and joy

In being alone.

Being lonely is not bad, seeking comfort

And confidence in someone helps you grow

In a completely different way.

But next time you find yourself looking down a dark corridor

Turn off your light

And take a step

Into yourself

And welcome what comes with understanding

And a sense of gratitude

Mathilde, Serene and Tobias

For who you are today

And learn to be alone.

-Zane

I would stay here and live well. Live

Beautifully, here by this stream, these

Trees, this open sky, these three people

That I have around me. This is not all

There is in the world, and I would not

Stay forever. But for a few days,

We could build a life here, if we

Had them. Let our souls settle for

A while.

-Mathilde

Fire, so much power

Burning so brightly

In forest so nightly.

Fire, warmth and strength

The secret to success

Of the human race.

 This is to you,

Friend, foe and lover,

Who stands beside me,

Against me and behind me.

-Nimrod