Birdsong

 written by a child in Terezin in 1941, age and gender unknown

He doesn't know the world at all

Who stays in his nest and doesn't go out.

He doesn't know what birds know best

Nor what I went to sing about.

That the world is full of loveliness.

When dewdrops sparkle in the grass

And earth's aflood with morning light

A blackbird sings upon a bush

To greet the dawning after night.

Then I know how fine it is to live.

Hey, try to open up your heart

To beauty; go to the woods some day

And weave a wreath of memory there

Then if the tears obscure your way

You'll know how wonderful it is to be alive.

Mira on Three Lakes Trail

Shingle Gully and Ice Caves - Ellenville, NY November 7, 2010

My friend and fellow hiker, Bill Cahill, commented on Shingle Gully after we had finished. I asked him "how it compared to Breakneck?" I wanted to be able to describe it to something most of my hiking buddies know.

He described it pretty perfectly when he said,

By comparison, Breakneck is a walk in the park.
Sunday was:
"Trails? we don't need no stinkin' trails"
It was beauty and sheer terror.
It was "You want me to go where?"
It was physically and mentally challenging but one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I am also still on a high. I can't and don't want to get the experience out of my mind. Just looking at the pictures, it is hard to believe the things we did. My friends don't believe it and think I am nuts. Of course they are right. Just relish in the accomplishment and you will come down to earth in a month or two.

Take a look for yourself in the video below. But it doesn't even begin to tell the real story!

Glynwood

Last Hike North Rockland Central School District 
Adult Education - Fall 2010