Moonshiner's Clan - 09 JUL 62

MON  9 JUL 1962
UP FROM SLAVERY!
    Underground Railroad Time Table
W E   D O N ‘ T   W A N T   T O   T E L L   Y O U   A B O U T   I T
B E C A U S E   W E   D O N ‘ T   W A N T   T O
W O R R Y   Y O U . .
But! – Like what Sherman said about War, the same applies to the first five (5) hours in Adventure Trails Camp!  Survival!! Every man for himself!!! As soon as we crawled on hands and knees up to the 9000-ft level on Socrates trail, everything started moving like clockwork – busted clock.  Once in Base camp, got just the news necessary for starving thirsty, exhausted Mountain Men: No food prepared or sterile water available!  Soaring Falcon took charge. Got buckets of raw water.  Collapsed.  Didn’t have his mountain legs yet.  Tripped over some unknown object. All we could see was the fur retreating over the horizon. Crash could be heard 3.71 miles away.  Place where he fell looked like dried up river bed filled with water.  Held burial service there. 
   Seriously tho, (HAW!) the first 5 hours are the most important.  The Success of failure of the camp depends on the spirit of teamwork to draw good natured order out of confusion.  Food, water, sanitation, shelter and orientation are vital to help ward off the homesickness which is always close below the surface of the hard smile. 
-   Possum
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Hike Up Thru Thermopolae Pass
First hike to begin toughening up our mountain legs was up the sunrise trail of Hawk Cliff.  Before mounting the top from the back, we had to make the finger-hold and toe-hold climb thru the vertical slot called Thermopolae Pass.  Lingo yarned us the story of the original Pass in Greece where one man refused to retreat from the barbarians any further and vowed he would die ther with nobility.  He was joined by a second warrior. Then a third.  Then many. They fought with the fury of men possessed. Civilization was thus saved, as we trust it will be saved again by men of courage in these times of peril.
   Atop Hawk Cliff we meditated the view of The Camel Humps, The Knowledge Bumps, Bald Headed Squaw, Bald Headed Chief, Big John Evans and the Whole Divide down to Spike’s Peak. Learned direction-pointing technique for such big country: Front, Left-Flank, Right-Flank, Right-Front, Left-Front; at arms length, 1, 2, etc fingers above or below horizon. 
Panther Track discovered tiny humming bird nest with 1-day old birds, one quarter inch long. Made plans to feed and study them daily.
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To dedicate the first sunset, Mt-Men each played a two-fisted hot, juicy Harmonica Steak… just like mama would never allowed to be played at home!
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CAMPFIRE SESSION:  Huge happy log blaze. Singing. Telling lies. Went around the circle of 11 veterans and 3 cityboys and Mt-Men related with gusto and poetry the origin of each one’s Medicine Name.  Iron Jaw read the “Filter ideas for yourself” passage from Walt Whitman. More sing. 
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Call of the Wild: “Mommmmeeeeeee – Come WIPE meeeeeeeeee……”
“”””””””””””””””””””
Day ends in peace and harmony as sighs, smiles and snores float out from horizontal bodies in Medicine Lodge, Fort Jim Bridger, Rabbit Hutch Lean-To, Kremlin Lean-to and around glowing embers of the fire pit.

-30-




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