"Ignorance is the beginning of knowledge. You cannot learn what you
think you already know."
The great Greek Philosopher, Anonymous
Before we get into the whats and hows of camping, let us ponder the whys.
Why do we leave the comforts of home and the conveniences of technology to wander in the great outdoors? What is it about the wilderness that draws us out of our concrete jungles and ivy covered towers?
Perhaps these lyrics might shed some light...
Muir and the Master Builder by Brian McNeill
I asked the Master Builder
Why did he make John Muir
From the seed of a man, so hard and unforgiving.
A father who tried to use the Gospel to ensure
That his son's life would never be worth living
And the Lord's voice answered on the High Sierra wind
From the mountains where the clear waters lie, saying:
"Hold the bravest heart, above the gravest of sins
And I'll show you how to make a hero rise"
CHO: Leave Calvin and the Bible
To the parish o' Dunbar
Give a blind man back his eyes to find
The brightest o' the stars
Then lead him to the altar of a better God by far
In the vale of the redwood cathedral
I asked the Master Builder, how did he find a way
To put the man in the mountains
And the mountains in the man?
How long did he search to find the uncommon clay
That he needed for his Masterbuilder's plan?
And the Lord's voice came down from the High Sierra skies
Saying: "Take a heart, - of hard Scottish stone
Plant the seed of a wild place, deep down inside
And I'll show you how to call a hero home"
Chorus:
And as I stand by the thunder of the roaring mountain falls
And hear California call you saviour
I cannot help but wonder, had a different fortune called
Would you have done the same for Scotland the Brave -
Your home and your father's
Chorus:
God lives above the redwoods, so men say
Looking down, straight and true at the best of all his treasures
And if a man should stand among them to pray
It's against them the Lord would take his measure.
And who grew straighter than long Johnny Muir?
A redwood of flesh, blood and bone
Filled by the Master Builder with a passion so pure
For the mountains no single man can own.
Chorus:
So what is it? I believe it is our inherent desire to enjoy Creation. It's most often there that we most clearly glimpse the Creator's fingerprints on His creation. And it is ultimately Him whom we seek.
So why do we lug so much junk with us? Isn't our purpose to get away from the distractions of our fast paced society and slow down enough to revel in His Presence in the beauty of Creation?
Before we get into the gritty details, PLEASE read the pdf's below. They will set the stage for what is to come.
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Section last updated/reviewed 4 Mar10.
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