Thinking Like A Mountain

Sketches Here and There

• Packing the Piano

  • A difficult task requiring a highly skilled packer for balancing the load.

  • The piano did not bring the expected happiness; subsequently, the lady moved away.

  • The ranch cabin eventually fell into disrepair and became a ruin of sagging logs.

• Frijole Cienega

  • Described as a marshy meadow surrounded by pines.

  • A small log cabin existed there, used as an overnight camp by travelers.

  • Unwritten Law: Owners of such real estate should leave provisions (flour, lard, beans).

  • Breach of Hospitality: One traveler found only beans after being trapped for a week by storms, this incident became notable and transformed into a historical place name.

• Paradise Ranch

  • Initially appears as a simple name on a map; however, its location is significant after a hard ride.

  • Located on the other side of a high peak.

  • The area features lush meadows and a singing trout stream.

  • Cattle left in this meadow gain significant weight: enough that rainwater can pool on their backs.

  • After the author’s first visit, he questioned, "What else could you call it?"

• Reflections on the White Mountain

  • Despite many chances to revisit, the author chooses not to see the changes (tourists, sawmills, and logging railroads) made by industrialization.

  • Observations from younger individuals about its wonder are accepted with a personal mental reservation.

Arizona and New Mexico

• A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold

  • Thinking Like a Mountain: A call from a wolf echoes across the landscape, conveying defiance and sorrow.

  • The call elicits various responses from different beings in nature:

    • To the deer, it serves as a reminder of mortality.

    • To the pine, it is a premonition of conflict and bloodshed.

    • To the coyote, it heralds coming opportunities.

    • To the cowman, it predicts financial hardship.

    • For hunters, it presents both a challenge and a promise.

  • Only the mountain possesses a deep understanding of the howl’s significance, developed over time.

  • An innate feeling of the presence of wolves is recognized in all aspects of nature, further emphasized by unnoticed events.

• Experience with Wolves

  • The narrator recounts witnessing a wolf dying, sparking a life-long realization of a unique connection shared between the mountain and the wolf.

  • Initial belief: Fewer wolves would increase deer populations, leading to a hunter's paradise.

  • After observing the wolf's dying eyes, understanding of the interconnectedness of the ecosystem was gained.

• Consequences of Extirpating Wolves

  • States have systematically eliminated wolves, resulting in significant ecological consequences observed:

  • Many deer trails appear as deer populations increase in the absence of wolves.

  • Edible bushes and seedlings were browsed to frailty and ultimately death.

  • Overgrazed trees reach an unhealthy state, likened to divine interference ("God's new pruning shears").

  • Outcomes of too many deer lead to starvation and ecological decline.

• Philosophical Reflection

  • A broad pursuit for safety and prosperity parallels the living struggles across species.

  • While modest success is acceptable, excessive safety can paradoxically lead to danger and disruption.

  • Thoreau's observation, "In wildness is the salvation of the world," reflects this sentiment.

  • Mountain's Perspective: A deer herd's fear of wolves mirrors the mountain's fear of deer, emphasizing ecological balance.

  • The cowman’s actions to rid the range of wolves neglect the wolf’s role in ecosystem management, resulting in ecological issues such as dust bowls and river degradation.

Escudilla

• Life in Arizona

  • The environment is defined by grama grass on the ground, a vast sky overhead, and the presence of Escudilla on the horizon.

  • Riding north leads to honey-colored plains, while any glance upward reveals Escudilla.

  • To the east, wooded mesas present a rich, fragrant world filled with wildlife.

  • Atop a ridge, the immensity of the area is highlighted by Escudilla.

  • To the south, Blue River's canyons teem with wildlife, indicating a lively connection to nature.

  • Observing landscapes, including mistakes made while hunting, often hints at distant mountains, again referencing Escudilla.

  • The west showcases the Apache National Forest, representing another vital ecological zone.

  • Timber cruising in this area turned towering pines into figures representing various measures of the ecosystem's health, hinting at conservation and sustainable practices necessary for maintaining balance.