{"id":8149,"date":"2018-05-03T06:08:46","date_gmt":"2018-05-03T12:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=8149"},"modified":"2021-09-17T06:20:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T13:20:51","slug":"the-clarity-of-window-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=8149","title":{"rendered":"The clarity of Window Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>I pull my beanie down over my ears<\/strong> and smile at the frosty air that comes out of my mouth. It&#8217;s a quiet morning at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.texashiking.com\/Locations\/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=1409\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Window Rock trailhead<\/a>, just how I prefer. I get my blood pumping as I start the five-mile journey to the Window. The stillness of the forest makes it easier to listen for larger creatures that may be foraging in the bush.<br \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8152\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=8152\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 8 Plus&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1514715825&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.99&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00045454545454545&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_9281\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?fit=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8152\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?w=4032&amp;ssl=1 4032w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?resize=684%2C513&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?resize=336%2C252&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_9281.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><strong>\u00a0A couple of girls are hiking<\/strong> ahead of me. I slow down my pace so I&#8217;m not intruding. They suddenly stop and signal to me with their hands of something in the bush. My heart races as I scour the landscape for a bear or mountain lion, but then see the familiar head of a deer before it disappears. We all breathe a sigh of relief as the girls let me pass them. I carry onward.<br \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8153\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=8153\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?fit=3088%2C2206&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3088,2206\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;My Walkabout&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;340&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1514714110&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;My Walkabout&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.87&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00076923076923077&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?fit=640%2C458&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8153\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?resize=640%2C457&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?w=3088&amp;ssl=1 3088w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?resize=684%2C489&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?resize=336%2C240&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536428510.423516.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><strong>\u00a0I remember how happy I was on this day<\/strong>, thinking about the possibilities that lay ahead of me for 2018. Intimacy and dreams is the motto I tell SeaBee I will live by. It&#8217;s funny how quickly things can change, but I am still holding fast and true to this motto, just without her.<\/p>\n<p>As the canyon narrows the rocks become slicker, and I focus all of my attention on not twisting an ankle. I crag and crawl my way closer and closer to the Window.<\/p>\n<p>Finally I arrive. To get to the actual view of the Window, one must literally slide down the rock. I realize that if I&#8217;m not careful, I could slide right over the edge and see the view from the Window as my body falls a couple thousand feet. I precariously edge my way down, and the end view makes it all worth it.<br \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8150\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=8150\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?fit=3088%2C2206&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3088,2206\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;My Walkabout&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;340&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1514717312&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;My Walkabout&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.87&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00066666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?fit=640%2C458&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8150\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?resize=640%2C457&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?w=3088&amp;ssl=1 3088w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?resize=684%2C489&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?resize=336%2C240&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><strong>\u00a0I sit with my buddy Stretch Armstrong<\/strong> and enjoy a morning snack. The two girls eventually make it down as well, and hold each other in a loving embrace as I take their picture.<\/p>\n\n<p><em>Intimacy and Dreams<\/em> indeed. The clarity of this phrase will be my mantra in the New Year, because you never know if tomorrow Wendy you&#8217;re going to die.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m8lkzptbHHw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I pull my beanie down over my ears and smile at the frosty air that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowqprcCw:productID":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7315],"tags":[589476282,589476427,589476451,7815,126535,436,589476439,589476453],"class_list":["post-8149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-day-in-the-life","tag-a-day-in-the-life","tag-big-bend","tag-chisos","tag-hiking","tag-outdoor-adventures","tag-photography","tag-west-texas","tag-window-rock"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/HipstamaticPhoto-536431712.976130.jpg?fit=3088%2C2206&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p99I7P-27r","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8149"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14997,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8149\/revisions\/14997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}