By Jacob
An interested observer who happens upon our campsite would find a variety of footprints. Sean and I both wear a larger shoe and leave imprints characterized by the latest sandal fashions. Chaco and Keen leave a very distinct mark as it’s etched into the ground, our tent leaves soft square print and our tires leave a cyclic pattern of geometric shapes trailing along the contours of their path.
Goat, however, might leave clues that would baffle even the most astute physical anthropologists. If one were to pass upon our campsite outside of Grand Cache they would find a series of paths, trails and footprints that would offer some curious insight into our adventure.
The first and most obvious would likely be our bike trails, attempting to burn their way through the snow. Upon closer observation, they would certainly notice the tell-tale signs of cyclists more than struggling. Fallen snow angels, marking clumsiness and a general inability to glide through the snow upright, as it were. Following these tracks, an expert anthropologist might likely be inclined to imagine the path punctuated by a variety of screams, spawned by frustration of repetitive falls.
The wheel is an invention that has altered the course of history, to the extent that we cannot fathom life without it. While living in snow, one would hardly be inclined to extol the virtues of the wheel in all its roundness. Quite the contrary, smooth flat objects empower the individual across snowy surfaces.
Bikes hardly fit into that category, which explains why our paths were not clean, precise lines cutting through the foot of soft powdery snow, and away from their tent.
Leaving a large square shaped footprint in the snow approximately seven feet by seven, the tent’s footprint provided a tangible clue about their experience the night prior. Piled around the edges of the print was about 3 times as much snow, a shallow and oddly square shaped crater filled with mud. Having set up their tent with relatively little snow on the ground, one could estimate that the amount of snowfall would surely offer a hardy challenge for any temporary lightweight housing construction. Testing the strength of the seams the fabric and the stakes plunged into the ground, the snow had slowly built up over the night. Starting with a gentle sag, inching the roof closer, only to develop into an oppressive curve, placing physical and psychological pressure on the inhabitants inside. Eventually, one of the stakes failed pinning down one of the occupants inside (Goat) with a foot of snow. The only solution was to venture out into the blizzard in all our naked glory to re-place the stake and attempt to restore the tent’s integrity. The anthropologist would certainly have ascertained their preference to sleep in the comfort of a wood framed house complimented by a nice stove and hot cocoa.
Having spent a good amount of time in school learning about how humans adapt to their environment, the academic would would be shocked and delighted to come across a particular temporary fossil that just might challenge some schools of thought.
It is not often that you would encounter bare footprints, resembling those left by human, on stark white snow. Throughout the ages, humans have invented highly sophisticated padded apparatus to walk on. These, of course, are collectively referred to as shoes. Something that we have become so accustomed to, it is not only considered uncouth to walk inside various establishments without these on, it is too often illegal. As for the footprints left at the campsite, our friendly anthropologist would be left to wonder if these in fact were the result of a human, and questions of motive and symbolism would follow throughout the day.
If it were me, I would easily dismiss the sighting as a result of the legendary Sasquatch, or “bigfoot” as it is known in other parts of the world. I’ve already convinced myself that one late night outside of Watson Lake, my sleep was disturbed by a legendary Chupacabra grunting and snorting it’s hideous nose in anticipation of sucking my blood.
However, academics do not have the luxury of such convenient explanations and are compelled to seek more “reasonable” answers. If I were still around I might offer the opinion that my friend is nuts and I can surely not explain his behavior. I would probably continue to explain that during the few days we biked through the snow, I was certain my feet were blue and about to fall off, despite being entombed in three pairs of socks and what goat refers to as “foot coffins” (aka SHOES).
Has this creature and it’s ten toes evolved into a more functional human species capable of greater weather extremes? It was patently clear that I was whining far louder and far more about my feet than he was (in fact, he wasn’t whining at all). As I sat on the road attempting to revive the circulation to the ice blocks below my leg, I cursed my own feet and circulation for forsaking me.
Personally, I’d rather leave the Anthro person alone with these footprints and their imagination. It would surely offer some food for thought and would leave them hungry for more.
Our experience can never be understood or explained through physical evidence. Pictures and words can not do justice to the some of the scenery we’ve pedaled past. To the mountain faces that have been arranged in impossibly incongruous geometrical patterns. A cubist illusion of beauty that eludes the mind and inspires the soul. Riding through the Icefield Parkway, peering down at crystal lakes whose clarity has been infused by the electric blues of the sky and the vibrant greens of the forest, leaving the beauty of the colorful in between, settled by the winds and currents.
Jacob, have you been reading the dictionary?
Great animal count!
Jacob, have you been reading the dictionary?
Great animal count!
Jacob, have you been reading the dictionary?
Great animal count!
heya guys! thinking about you all from here in Santa Cruz… its just starting to get foggy and approaching rain– nothing like the snow you’ve encountered! love reading your updates, and the pictures even more. you are inspiring! arla says she’s sending a package for you to pickup soon… what can i send along? also, I’ve got family with land in Aspen and in Carbondale, CO… let me know if you want to connect with em. much love
heya guys! thinking about you all from here in Santa Cruz… its just starting to get foggy and approaching rain– nothing like the snow you’ve encountered! love reading your updates, and the pictures even more. you are inspiring! arla says she’s sending a package for you to pickup soon… what can i send along? also, I’ve got family with land in Aspen and in Carbondale, CO… let me know if you want to connect with em. much love
heya guys! thinking about you all from here in Santa Cruz… its just starting to get foggy and approaching rain– nothing like the snow you’ve encountered! love reading your updates, and the pictures even more. you are inspiring! arla says she’s sending a package for you to pickup soon… what can i send along? also, I’ve got family with land in Aspen and in Carbondale, CO… let me know if you want to connect with em. much love
my moms likes you guys
my moms likes you guys
my moms likes you guys
Jacob, is that a picture from the haunted house in the boardwalk?
Goat if your feet turn black, no one will want to massage them back to life.
Do you still have the flipflops I gave you? silly silly silly goat going barefoot in the snow is like when I found you cooking catfood all by yourself in Zach’s
Jacob, is that a picture from the haunted house in the boardwalk?
Goat if your feet turn black, no one will want to massage them back to life.
Do you still have the flipflops I gave you? silly silly silly goat going barefoot in the snow is like when I found you cooking catfood all by yourself in Zach’s
Jacob, is that a picture from the haunted house in the boardwalk?
Goat if your feet turn black, no one will want to massage them back to life.
Do you still have the flipflops I gave you? silly silly silly goat going barefoot in the snow is like when I found you cooking catfood all by yourself in Zach’s
I’m curious: how did Goat develop such a tolerance for cold in his feet? His callouses must be centimeters thick to do what he does, and it still doesn’t explain how he’s managed to ward off permanent damage from frostbite… how bout a little breakdown of goat’s feet endeavors?
I’m curious: how did Goat develop such a tolerance for cold in his feet? His callouses must be centimeters thick to do what he does, and it still doesn’t explain how he’s managed to ward off permanent damage from frostbite… how bout a little breakdown of goat’s feet endeavors?
I’m curious: how did Goat develop such a tolerance for cold in his feet? His callouses must be centimeters thick to do what he does, and it still doesn’t explain how he’s managed to ward off permanent damage from frostbite… how bout a little breakdown of goat’s feet endeavors?