Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Great Basin NP, NV w/ TR


As a young man in the fall of 1858 he had left for the Deseret Territory and taken a job in the Beehive-shaped charcoal ovens. It was only his third week when, one day, having climbed atop the cone, his bootheel melted and he found himself tumbling helplessly into the scorching furnace…. When he finally awoke, after what had been to him a long and dreamless sleep, it was to the rumble of a freight train no more than a rod from where he lay. He found himself whole and his limbs without injury. And when the train had passed he looked up into the quiet sky and blinked at what seemed a white stylus of a bird, drawn across the blue.




We found that, in an unprecedented compromise between extreme conservationists, under-funded and lazy parks service personnel, and people who were just in a hurry to get somewhere else, wilderness had now been made available for a small fee from a vending machine just outside the park.


Lehman, brother


so little depends upon a rusted and beaten wheelbarrow left by miners in a field of white stones.


Once the craft had departed, and the column of flame had been carried away on the wind, the creature emerged awkwardly from its yellow pod. Then, raising its long, fleshy blue ocular trunks, began to survey its new surroundings.


Sunday morning in a forest of bristlecones, several of which have been around since the Iron Age. and they’re like, “‘iron age’ eh? sure, you can call it what you want, I guess.”




some more photos here

12 comments:

jo said...

Aren't those Mountain Mahogany leaves the coolest?

Anonymous said...

Splendid photos and writing.

T.R. said...

Your caption gave me a new appreciation for the Nature Machine.

english said...

thanks tr & dave

yeah, jo. like lizard tongues. I had never swished my shoes through so many before.

laura said...

Bowden and Cardona were both available for signing. Fabulous entry. Love the nature machine commentary. Made feel like visiting the Lehman caves of my youth. Do I know you, by the way?

english said...

thanks laura. no, I don't think so. but I think I heard your essay on hip, hop, hope. and that was a great macaroni you did!

Matsby said...

Oh man! Nature in a vending machine. A few more of those around town and nobody would ever have to go outside again.

jefferies said...

Ah! Great Pictures. We finally just figured out who you are incognito.

english said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
english said...

gatsby, yes. it was pretty irresistible.

hi jefferies! Ryan and Zach surprised us the other night by appearing at the Stretch Armstrong reunion show. "but where was Bake Sale?" we all wondered.

zlb said...

gorgeous. i've been meaning to go there for years. now i HAVE to.

Desert Survivor said...

I love the Wilderness vending machine!