Comments for West Desert Journal

Comment on The Shortest Poem I Have Ever Written by Carl Sandburg

Carl Sandburg — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:31:23 +0000

Here is the shortest one I know.

“Splinter”

Carl Sandburg

The voice of the last cricket
Across the first frost
Is one kind of good-by.
It is so thin a splinter of singing.

Comment on The Shortest Poem I Have Ever Written by Roger Bourland

Roger Bourland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:52:44 +0000

I’m in the desert too…

Comment on The Jackelope by HAYHAY

HAYHAY — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:02:52 +0000

wow…..do you know how lame this is??? Like Jackalopes? COME ON!!!

Comment on Living in Isolation by sandra

sandra — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:37:42 +0000

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

Comment on When Confronting Rattle Snakes… by Gambolin' Man

Gambolin' Man — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:06:23 +0000

Nate,

I wrote a bit about rattlers in my latest post on a hike down into the Royal Gorge - the “rattlesnake capital of the universe”. . .hope you have a chance to check it out (it’s in the first part of the narrative!)

Gambolin’ Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com/2009/08/royal-gorge-first-annual-russell-towle.html

Comment on Four Havasupai Men Saved Us by Alldarker

Alldarker — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:58:50 +0000

One year to the day of the flood… Hope you are still doing well! Thank you for your account.

Comment on When Confronting Rattle Snakes… by Ralph Alcorn

Ralph Alcorn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:56:43 +0000

I’ve always had an “ok, no problem, everything’s cool” attitude with them. We’ve been section hiking the PCT and have now seen quite a few. Even my wife, who started out snake phobic, can now take them in stride. They pick the dammest places though, sometimes when there is no possible detour around them. In those cases I give them a little encouragement to move with the hiking pole.

On the big ones, it is so obvious that they have absolutely no fear of anything. They definitely have an attitude, “Don’t mess with me”.

Comment on Everett Ruess and Chris McCandless by Kerry Butler

Kerry Butler — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:32:26 +0000

Hi Nate. We are sort of out of it electronically. We are not on face book or my space and I don’t know what twitter is. I would like to hear from you so you can e mail us anytime. Just finished a great bike run up to Nelson B.C. We were in Wyoming last September. We may be back in Wyoming next fall but not sure.

Comment on When Confronting Rattle Snakes… by sage

sage — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:47:54 +0000

There is wisdom here! Leave them along, unless of course you’re hungry.

Comment on When Confronting Rattle Snakes… by Gambolin Man

Gambolin Man — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:56:13 +0000

Good man, Nate. I, too, would never kill a rattlesnake. I try not to kill even the lowly mosquito, or any life form.

Comment on The Jackelope by Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:06:20 +0000

Tales of jackalopes were inspired by sightings of rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus also known as Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, which causes the growth of horn- and antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit’s head and body. Wikipedia has a picture of one with “antlers” growing out of it’s mouth

Comment on The Jackelope by billy williams

billy williams — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:05:15 +0000

so are they real

Comment on Teachable Moments in Grand Canyon by Joe

Joe — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:43:35 +0000

I remember you telling me about this. I was unaware that you broke the back window though… I bet those tourists all have a good “survival” story to tell to future generations because of you!

Comment on Teachable Moments in Grand Canyon by Gambolin' Man

Gambolin' Man — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:51:55 +0000

Good story, good lesson. I had one myself once in the Mojave Desert outside of Las Vegas. I pulled down this dirt road out in the middle of nowhere for a break in the great vast silence and in my haste and mindlessness I ended up locking the keys in the trunk. I went into a deep panic, and then began tearing out the back seat to see if I could then reach in and grope around and find the keys. I couldn’t displace the seats, but I did bend them outward just enough to squeeze my arm through and wriggle around groping with my hand where I thought the keys would be laying…sure enough, I managed to grab them and pull them through, along with my mangled arm, the equally mangled back car seat (of the rental!) I whooped and hollered and just hoped the rental company would not notice how distorted the seat was after I tried kicking it back in place. Later on, rolling down the road, feeling confident and superior in my ability to extricate myself from the crazy situation, it dawned on my how utterly stupid I had been - how utterly blind I had been in my haste and panic to resolve the problem….for all I had to do was gently lift up the trunk lever beneath the driver’s seat. Think. Think. Think. Before acting rashly and stupidly!

Comment on A Supernatural Wind by DSD

DSD — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:11:38 +0000

Very nice Nate…
Much feeling and beautiful images…
DSD

Comment on Teachable Moments in Grand Canyon by Sean

Sean — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:34:17 +0000

Automatic locks on a fancy modern vehicle, in the desert, that is quite a story. May I say, I admire the bravery represented of (1) smashing out the window to regain access to your company’s vehicle and save the health of everyone there, and (2) continuing the tour after the fact.

I could like to ask if you’ve ever brought along a video camera, on such a tour. Remembering how rewarding was the on-site studies course I was in, in Fresno — the instructor had us prepare reports about particular features of where we were going to stay a weekend, then we camped out for the weekend, stayed just outside the east gate of Yosemite, and once right by Mono Lake — well, it was a rewarding experience. Presently, the experience leads me to believe than yourself perhaps giving a video tour of the desert could be rewarding, as well, if you would be interested.

I mean, while I really wish that I could offer production support to such a work, and given as I would propose the suggestion — maybe sometime, I could, honestly, even if not right today — but I’d bet it would be a good experience for the viewer. Supposing that even the proposal would be considered, I would hope it could be enjoyable to produce — and I don’t suppose it would really be worth it, if it wasn’t enjoyable to produce. I bet it would lead to the company you mention getting more coverage and presence online, too.

I know it’s out of the blue, for someone to say so — about which, I would offer apology if it would seem obnoxious, to anyone.

I just thought I’d lay that particular card to the table, so to speak. I mean, if there was interest, I wonder how much fun it would be.

The logistics of it, I’d think, shouldn’t be much more than to research, propose, and iterate about it until it works out well enough to be a “go” — to the effect of a plan, then — then to procure or just borrow what simple items would be necessary so as to simply film it and put it online. I’d bet it can be pretty easy, really. (I think I see why movie stars don’t tend to self-produce their works, considering)

I’ll put in my xanga blog’s URL, if in case you’d be looking for someone to run any research about it, and to follow through on this impromptu idea.

I realize that something of this magnitude could require a little more carefulness before mentioning it. I’m afraid it would’ve fallen between the cracks, if I’d not said it here and now though. So, I hope this chance I took doesn’t tweak anyone’s noses, out there. I mean this with every due respect that my thick noggin’ has into it already.

Aloha and suchforth, sir

– Sean, longtime reader, first-time caller

Comment on Teachable Moments in Grand Canyon by DSD

DSD — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:06:48 +0000

A true musing and nicely said.
Your images are full of spirit…
DSD

Comment on The Jackelope by Glover

Glover — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:38:42 +0000

my friend and i are going to become scientists and figure these things out, because were either going ot make them real, or rediscover them.

Comment on Storytelling & Snow Covered Landscapes by Nobody

Nobody — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:43:45 +0000

Its important to keep posting and transcending your art. Part of your art is to keep posting. You do touch many with photos, words, and the passion which comes through. My opinion.

Face the horizon and meet its silence.

Comment on Storytelling & Snow Covered Landscapes by mw

mw — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:22:03 +0000

I love your description of the southwest - I spent a week down there a short while ago and have decided to move to the area when circumstances allow, for all the reasons you write here. There is a magic there that I’ve never sensed anywhere else - it is a potent land.

I love your second to final paragraph about your stories. Thank you for your gifts and your willingness to share your writing.

Comment on Classes and Havasupai by Susan Walter

Susan Walter — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:57:58 +0000

how do i volunteer at havasupai?

Comment on The Dream of Reality by Joe

Joe — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:31:21 +0000

Sweet poem! Very interesting comparing the sky and earth to dreamer and realist. Makes sense, yet it almost doesn’t. very cool.

Comment on The Heart is Innocent by Nathan Cowlishaw

Nathan Cowlishaw — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:44:22 +0000

You’re welcome MW… Thanks for visiting. You are always welcome here and may the words continue tpinspire. Take care, my friend.

Comment on The Heart is Innocent by mw

mw — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:14:31 +0000

Your blog is amazing - it speaks to me like no other blog has. I’ve been reading back through your posts and really appreciate the descriptions of the places you’ve travelled and the feelings you’ve had. Thank you!

Comment on Living in Isolation by angel williams

angel williams — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:23:21 +0000

i was just wondering can you be happy or comfortable enjoying isolating from people being by your self maybe it’s wrong i think since i have been suffering from depression most of my life isolation comes with it but i know it can get lonely but now i’m getting to a point in my life were i am enjoying isolation just wanting to be left alone and don’t want anyone to bother me to be a loner alone maybe it’s also because i lost my parents and feel abandoned does this make sence let me know i guess i had to tell someone please let me know if you could thanks