SAGE BRUSH IN THE WINDS OF EASTERN IDAHO  SEPTEMBER 3 2004

I was extremely pleased and personally very reassured to learn yesterday that my favorite mountain boot company – Lowa – continues to offer my boot-of-choice -- XL Extra Trekker -- in Size 16. That is as high as they go there but that’ll do very nicely, for now. More on that interesting development in a few moments.

In the meantime, Summer has ended, days are cool [50s and 60s for the most part] and so are nights [30s and lower 40s.] With reasonably adequate water finally at hand, game continues to come down from the higher country: mule deer and elk, moose, coyotes and cats. And maybe a wolf or two.

Although the docs continue to say that I can expect no substantive remission in my fight against SLE Lupus – and certainly no cure – I have never accepted that and I never will. The potentially lethal disease can erode or can strike from the blue – but I sense a positive shift. My walking into the rough country is more frequent, my breathing is now normal, and my legs are stronger each time. Still lots of medicine and many of the various and aggravating symptoms that accompany SLE – but I am now increasingly [and I think realistically] optimistic. Everyone’s good thoughts, I should add, are critical. Clyde has regularly sent Buddhist metta and Alice and Dan and Steve are among those who have sent very helpful reading materials sketching out critical trails toward the Sun. And many, many others have been doing their good things.

Depression is a common characteristic of Lupus, especially my oft lethal variant, but I have been able to handle that without resorting to any substances – other than strong coffee. I am fortunate that the disease has not entered my brain or nervous system. I ask myself, occasionally, rhetorical questions, such as: "If your mind was going over a cliff and so was your coffee, and you could only save one, which would you choose."

And my answer is, "My mind – but I’d have to think about it for a quick moment."

Yesterday at Jackson, Mrs Doris Allison was laid away in an appropriately consecrated Catholic cemetery. [I believe I know the priest from Canton who did her funeral mass – a very fine person.] The major state paper, The Clarion Ledger, carried a good obituary. The Allisons have no children and we here are all pleased with the inclusion that,

"She is survived by godson, Thomas Salter."

On politics, our interests and assistance are focused almost exclusively on the vigorous and promising grassroots populist campaign of veteran Idaho Labor activist, Lin Whitworth, for the Second Congressional District seat now held by rightwinger Mike Simpson. http://www.linwhitworth.com/

My youngest daughter, Josie, is the extremely special friend of Brother Whitworth’s grandson, Cameron. They, Josie and Cameron, are presently on a bow hunting expedition for deer – close to the nearby Wyoming border.

And now to the feet and boot situation – which is an old phenomenon having nothing whatsoever to do with Lupus or any malady. In 1989, my feet which had long been Size 12, suddenly grew to Size 13. At the beginning of 1998, they suddenly jumped to Size 14. And, at the end of 1998, they went up to Size 15. I have one big-footed grandson, Scotty [a mid teen] in Nebraska, who loves boots and, as I am forced to discard footwear that has become too small, I pass those on to him.

Recently, I told him, "I think I have probably stopped growing."

That was quite premature. It’s now very clear that I am at Size 16. Nothing to worry about as long as I have appropriately sized boots – but it is sort of mysterious.

[Excerpt from a post of mine, September 9 2004:

 "What would General Rommel do in such a case?"  said I to Eldri -- in the
unwelcome event that my feet should grow toward Size 17 with commercial boots no longer available in that size. I recently saw a fine film on Rommel.

[Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, "Desert Fox" from the North Africa
campaigns, and the most capable general
on the German side during World War II.  Also -- from many perspectives --
an increasingly obvious critic of Hitler et al, aware and supportive of the
unsuccessful effort to do in the Fuehrer via the bomb route -- for which
Rommel was pushed into suicide by the Nazis.] Interestingly, he was publicly praised twice by adversary, Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons -- once while he was alive and once when dead. I have his excellent World War I book, Infantry Attacks [London:  Greenhill Books, various editions, initial copyright by Erwin Rommel, 1937.]

Eldri surmised Rommel might cut off the ends of his boots, but I disagreed.
"More than likely," said I, "he'd cut off the tips of his feet rather than
impair good military equipment."

And General MacArthur?

We both agreed that he'd want to Nuke the feet.

"Now Geronimo," I went on, "would simply kill a buck mule deer and make
appropriate moccasin/leggings from its fast drying hide. I think that
arrangement would fit us and our feet much better in the personal/cultural
sense -- although, of course, it would hurt the deer."

I can find no sign of any major boot manufacturer who proceeds beyond Size 16 -- and it's tough enough to find that size.

At this point, such a choice is not on our table -- not yet.  My brand new
Size 16 Lowa Extra Large Trekker mountain boots [four pounds in weight] have arrived and fit perfectly.  I immediately took them on the Trail  -- about two miles steep up/steep down and they did wonderfully.  [Although I have previously printed it, see my glowing endorsement of Lowa Extra Trekkers -- a testimonial still used much by Lowa -- from almost two years ago when I secured Size 15. It's at the conclusion of this.]  As it turned out, Lowa itself had none of its Size 16s and Summit Hut at Tucson, the major Lowa outlet, had only two pair.  I moved Real Fast with a solvent credit card, Bless Its Shiny Plastic Alchemic Soul.]

As I've noted, my feet in 1989 grew suddenly from Size 12 to Size 13.  And
then, at the beginning of 1998, they moved to Size 14.  At the end of 1998,
they were Size 15.  And now, late summer/early fall 2004, they are a full
Size 16.

This, a long standing phenomenon spanning 15 years, has nothing to do with SLE Lupus.  Nor does it have anything to do with falling arches -- since I was born with completely flat feet [like my father] and have never had an
arch of any kind.  Nor does it have anything to do with any disease.  My SLE
took a long time to diagnose, during which I had no end of tests:  bone
marrow for literally hundreds of diseases, cat scans all over, urine tests,
and no end of still continuing "blood work."  Nothing exotic in me, just
plain old lethal SLE, recent and rare.  But the foot thing is mysterious.

These Size 16 Lowa Extra Large Mountain Boots have given me a substantial physical and psychological boost.  We are hopeful that I will now be able to cover much more turf on my frequent Treks.    H ]

 

Good widebrimmed hats [I have four]; good firearms [I have seven, all descended from pre-1900 patents and, with the exception of one shotgun and a revolver, all Western lever actions]; and good mountain boots are always my most important material possessions.

Although rarely do I do consumer endorsements, here is the one I made for Lowa on December 15, 2002 and they continue to carry it:

Reviewed by: Hunterbear, Mountaineer, from Pocatello, Idaho, USA

Summary:
 

My Lowa Trekkers [Extra -- size 15] are splendid in all respects. I do a great deal of climbing in and out of very rough and rugged mountains and canyons here in Southeastern Idaho -- often on a daily basis. I require super-traction -- especially since some of this occurs in pre-dawn darkness. Within hours after receiving my Trekkers, I was on the trail. Within a six mile stretch, they dealt in extraordinarily capable fashion with steep up-hill, steep down-hill, snow, ice, mud, fixed rocks, loose rocks, slippery sage brush. In the days following, in addition to all of the foregoing challenges, the Trekkers dealt extremely well with water. They could not be
more comfortable. Virtually no breaking-in period was required. I recommend them with the highest enthusiasm.
 

Customer Service:
Excellent service. I called Lowa [USA] which rushed the Trekkers to the retailer -- who then rushed them to me.

Similar Products Used:
I have used Vasque Sundowners -- have two pair. They are quite good -- but my Lowa Trekkers have better traction, are better fitting, and seem less cumbersome.

 

My Great Lowa XL Trekkers


Fraternally and In Solidarity -

Hunter Bear

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by NaŽshdoŽiŽbaŽiŽ
and Ohkwari

__________________________________________________________

 

 

______________________________________________________________________

Hi, Hunter,

Are you sure you have all your genealogy down?  No Sasquatch beings anywhere?

Anyway, your email was good to read.  May you have lots more days of walking your trails, and if you happen to come upon  Wolf, please say hello to him (or her) for me.

Love,
Alice Azure   9/3/04

____________________________________________________________

 

hey, feel as good as you can.  go kick some sage
for me.  xo  Kass Fleisher  9/3/04

_____________________________________________________________

 

THE CATTLE GUARD [HUNTER BEAR   October 1, 2004]

This is a short but quite optimistic report on my so-called medical
condition and my fight against the most lethal form of SLE Lupus.  On our
walks into the hills which begin just above our far up home, I am now seeing old-friend geographical vistas that, even a few months ago, I never thought I'd ever see again.

A very few days ago, I had my regular med appointment and, simultaneously, was fighting off the same cold that had hit Eldri very hard, and Maria and Josie as well.  To play safe, the doc quite temporarily increased my Prednisone -- a short term increase.   Even now that hasn't had time to kick in -- it doesn't affect colds anyway -- and very significantly I by myself completely fought off the cold which, because of my presumed loss of immunity, should have immediately struck me very hard indeed.  But, to reiterate, I threw  off the cold.  [Eldri is still quite ill, Maria better,
and Josie with Cameron is now hunting deer on the Wyoming border.]

Yesterday, Maria and I and Hunter [Shelty] walked much further than usual -- to the Cattle Guard.  Early this morning, we went much further than that -- 'way, 'way up.  It is extremely steep turf at every point.  My brand new
Size 16 Lowa Trekker Extra Mountain Boots are doing a wonderful job.

The medic of the other day said I looked "Much healthier."  When I went to
get a very nice [our third] dog from the pro-animal county shelter [a branch of the sheriff's department], I asked -- almost for the first time in my life -- if they had a senior discount.  They do [thirty bucks off seventy or
so] but the very nice lady raised an eyebrow and said, "You really do have
to be at least 60."  Maria and Josie were grinning and when I indicated I
was 70, I was carded via my driver's license for the first time since I was
38.  Anyway.  In addition to our faithful Shelty and a black Siberian Husky,
we now also have an Australian Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog which the animal shelter had hopefully kept since June 11.  Maria, who with others in the family, walks dogs there weekly on a volunteer basis, reported that this gentle pooch in which she had a very special interest could not be kept much longer.  We acted fast and obviously successfully.

So we are now walking much more frequently and further and further.  While it's true the SLE [and the consequent diabetes] are capable of anything, we may well be seeing something very positive occur.

One of the landmarks  up in our hills is the Cattle Guard. [Not to be
confused with a simple barbed wire cattle gate.]  This Cattle Guard is on an
obscure Bureau of Land Management road ["road" is a generous
characterization.]  The Cattle Guard [a  constructed break in a barbed wire
fence] is a rectangular gulch about six feet long and a couple of feet deep
and maybe four feet wide.  It has, across it, seven or so medium size steel
rails -- separated from each other by a few inches.  People and trucks can
cross easily enough, horses and mules have to be led.  Cattle will never
cross it.

I want Eldri to come with us at least that far.  She works very hard around
the house -- with the help of all -- but she isn't sure she can get up that
high in the hills.  So, even though my real forte is nonfiction and fiction,
I am working on a Song to Eldri:  Oh Come With Me To The Cattle Guard.

Best - Hunter Bear

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by NaŽshdoŽiŽbaŽiŽ
and Ohkwari'

Hunter:  I am glad to learn that you are feeling so much better.

Sandra  [Adickes ]   October 2, 2004

I am so glad you are feeling better.  Give my regards to Eldri and tell her that I hope she recuperates soon.

Hunter,

     This is a wonder-full post.  It warmed the cockles of my heart. (hmmmmm.  What do cockles have to do with one's heart?) It surely does bring joy to me that you are feeling better, looking better, walking to higher heights, enjoying those vistas that you thought you might never see again.  And, yes, DO turn to poetry -- at least long enought to compose the poem for Eldri!!  

     May you and your family be well and happy.

     Paz, Clyde [Appleton]  October 2  2004

I hope you are doing better, Hunter.  I include you in my prayers.  All the
best to you my friend.

Walk in Beauty, Peace.  Scott  [Colborn]  10/13/04

ALMOST LIKE OLD TIMES  [HUNTER BEAR]  10/22/04

NOTE BY HUNTER BEAR:

Up at 2 am this morning.  Had a gallon of strong black coffee.  Temp down in Pocatello was barely above freezing but, 'way up here where we live, it was well below freezing and the wind was very strong.  Maria and I and our faithful Shelty headed 'way up in the hills in 7 am dark pre-dawn.  Higher we went, the colder it got and the fiercer the wind.  Saw no other people -- no surprise -- and no human tracks. Much wild game sign. Eventually, as the Sun peered over the Caribou ranges from the east, and we climbed higher, we and the Sun met each other.  We kept going.  Heavy rain with snow is coming tonight and tomorrow to our Snake River country.

There'll be much, much more of this before Spring -- but we are off to a
great start.  Very fortunately always, our three family-affiliated Jeeps
[mine/Eldri, Thomas/Mimmie, Josie/Cameron] all have 4WD.  [And with my new Size 16 feet and my really great Size 16 Lowa XL Trekker Mountain Boots, who needs snow shoes?]

Eldri et al. have been making Navajo tacos tonight.  Tossed the diet out --
and feasted.

It wasn't but a few months ago that I couldn't even get out of my chair or
off my bed without assistance.  Things are not perfect but, as the Rubaiyat
puts it, "Take the cash. . .

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by NaŽshdoŽiŽbaŽiŽ
and Ohkwari'

In our Gray Hole, the ghosts often dance in the junipers and sage, on the
game trails, in the tributary canyons with the thick red maples, and on the
high windy ridges -- and they dance from within the very essence of our own inner being. They do this especially when the bright night moon shines down on the clean white snow that covers the valley and its surroundings.  Then it is as bright as day -- but in an always soft and mysterious and
remembering way. [Hunter Bear]

Hunter,

I remember last autumn when we were pulling for you to get the first taste
of spring. Here we are again, a year later.

I get by with one strong cup of coffee in the morning - a gallon would be
pushing it for me.

Glad you tossed the diet out for an evening,

Peace,
David McReynolds  [10/22/04]

 

Hunter:
       Dave McReynolds beat me to the punch by a few seconds. Anyhow,
wonderful!
Bill Mandel [10/22/04]
P.S. A GALLON of strong black coffee? Maybe you've discovered the cure
for lupus extremis. Drown it in the bladder.

 

This makes me so happy.
Sheila Michaels  [10/23/04]

 

 

Hunter: I wish you’d stop bragging about your health. It makes me feel inferior. I don’t have any disease to justify my condition. Mazel tov! Steve

This is indeed heartening.
I have been cut off from email for several days, and to come back to this news was very nice indeed!
sam [friedman]   10/23/04

 

John,  Glad to hear you are drinking a gallon of coffee.    Very very heartened to hear that you are making your early morning trek. Stay well.     Dale [Jacobson]  10/23/04

MY KIND OF WEATHER, JACK REED, LUPUS AND MORE [11/23/04]

Note by Hunter Bear:

This geographical setting in the following Severe Weather Alert is precisely
where we are -- and this is just the kind of weather I like.  With my fine
new Size 16 Lowa Extra Mountain Boots, I [and other likewise well outfitted
family members] expect no problems as we hike along in the "Idaho back
country."  Later, depending on the developing winter, I may get bear paw
snowshoes [good in brush and rocks] but my boots alone may be enough.  As I
have previously indicated, we do need 4WD around these parts.

When I was about 16, I checked out Granville Hicks' fine book on Jack Reed
[John Reed:  The Making of a Revolutionary, The Macmillan Company, New York,
1936.]  Got it at the Arizona State College, Flagstaff, library.  [ASC is
now Northern Arizona University and huge.]  Dad, of course, taught there and
was the long time chair of the Art Department.  The old librarian, Miss
Ragsdale, an Anglo Mississippian -- involved in a many years affair with a
thoroughly reactionary college retainer, Colonel Drake, knew precisely who
Jack Reed was and raised her eyebrows. They were always on the scout for
Reds.  But, a "faculty child," I got the book, which had not, incidentally,
been checked out since about 1938 or so.  [At that point, I had been barely
four years old.]  Later I got my own copy and have it right here, right now.

Anyway, in due course, I came across an old copy of The New Masses [October,
1930] and, therein, was a fine drawing by the excellent radical
cartoonist/artist, Art Young, which had originally appeared in the
predecessor Liberator, " made at the time of Jack Reed's death, October
1920."  Underscored by Reed's bold signature, it shows him -- face up and
chin out, bright-eyed, anticipatory -- advancing steadfastly into a hell of
a dark and windy storm.  And the caption is indeed "Storm Boy." Immediate
empathy!  I clipped that out and it's pasted at the fore in my own copy of
Hicks' book.

I had a regularly scheduled session with our primary doc early last Friday
morning.  Checked me over quickly and thoroughly.  Took a conventional
amount of [routine] blood and indicated that if anything is amiss, he'll
call and "we can go from there."  The medics are always concerned about
kidneys where SLE Lupus and Lupus/Diabetes are involved [as is the case with
me.]  He expressed no undue concern and has not yet called.

There was just last Sunday a 4.0 earthquake near Challis, Idaho, which is
not all that far from us.  So far, three quakes -- this was the biggest --
in this region in a month.  Nothing more from any family skeptics on my
purchase of Earthquake Insurance via State Farm.

Severe Weather Alert for Pocatello, ID

"TRAVEL IN THE IDAHO BACK COUNTRY WILL BE DIFFICULT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THANKSGIVING DAY."

Special Weather Statement - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED HAS BEEN
ISSUED FOR LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN VALID FROM TUE NOV 23 2004 03:54 AM MST
UNTIL TUE NOV 23 2004 04:00 PM MST.

EASTERN MAGIC VALLEY-BIG AND LITTLE WOOD RIVER REGION- SAWTOOTH
MOUNTAINS-LOST RIVER/PAHSIMEROI-UPPER SNAKE HIGHLANDS- UPPER SNAKE RIVER
PLAIN-LOWER SNAKE RIVER PLAIN- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CARIBOU HIGHLANDS-
350 AM MST TUE NOV 23 2004 ...WET WEATHER EXPECTED FOR THANKSGIVING DAY... A
PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL BRING SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS AND MIXED RAIN AND SNOW
TO THE VALLEYS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. MODERATE SNOW WILL DEVELOP
WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN THE IDAHO CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND SPREAD TO THE EASTERN
HIGHLANDS BY THANKSGIVING MORNING. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL RISE TO AROUND 6500
FEET AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT DURING THE DAY THURSDAY THEN FALL TO THE VALLEY
FLOORS BEHIND THE FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT. COLD NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE
OVER SOUTHEAST IDAHO THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH A FEW SNOW SHOWERS
FROM TIME TO TIME. TRAVEL IN THE IDAHO BACK COUNTRY WILL BE DIFFICULT
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THANKSGIVING DAY. HOLIDAY COMMUTERS CAN EXPECT PATCHY
SNOW AND ICE ON ROAD WAYS OVER THE WEEKEND.

Yours, Hunter [Hunter Bear]


HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by NaŽshdoŽiŽbaŽiŽ
and Ohkwari'

 

Hunter,

Sounds like rough weather - and shaky. (I remember, if dimly, the great
"Long Beach Earthquake" of 1933,
which left me with a life-long fear of buildings that shake).

Enjoyed your story of Granville Hicks' book on Reed - and the librarian's
raised eyebrows.

Glad the doctor wasn't unduly worried.

Watch out for the weather! Enjoy the boots.

Peace,
David [McReynolds]  11/23/04

 

NOTE BY HUNTER BEAR 11/24/04
 

Re your latest medical report:  HALLELU!!  paz, clyde [Appleton] 11/24/04