Picto Diary - 13 June 2020 - SDFTWMP Tour (Part 4)
Above: Aquarius Plateau (beyond). Garfield County, UT. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from the Walking Mask People Tour.
Chimney Rock hike. four miles. 600 vertical feet. Image of Aquarius Plateau taken from this hike located at Capitol Reef National Park.
The Chimney Rock hike at Capital Reef National Park is a tradition for me. I've done the hike at least a dozen times in the last twenty years. Most of the "heavy lifting" of the hike happens in the first mile, a pretty steep climb of five hundred vertical feet. The trail then ranges across a plateau with expansive vistas of the Waterpocket Fold and the Aquarius Plateau before descending into a gully. There is a climb from that point of about one hundred vertical feet to the top of a knoll whereupon it is about a half mile descent to the trail head parking.
The five hundred feet, steep uphill climb, was palpably easier for me after my forty pound weight loss, accomplished since the last time I hiked here two years ago.
In the far distance of image, the Aquarius Plateau, rising above eleven thousand feet. On it grows the largest stand of ponderosa pine in the world.
Aquarius. Reminds of the sixties..."the age of Aquarius"... hippies, free love, dropping out, zoning out.
A lot of hippies, soi disant Buddhists, Socialist drop outs, and artists have moved into this area over the last fifty years, no doubt animated by its Aquarius theming and off the beaten track location.
In a way, these Aquarius drop outs are the "ancestors" of today's social protestors and property destroying anarchists. Today's social outliers are more bent on violence than their predecessors, and they have the support of main stream media outlets...the wind at their back, so to speak. It's an I'll wind that blows nobody any good.
A Dad, Mom and teen daughter arrived at the trail head at the same time as I did. I said to them, "you guys go ahead, I'm slow. I'm the Peterbilt of hikers, I huff and puff on the way up, but keep up a pretty good pace on the down hill." Dad smiled, and said something like "no problem." They lingered to read some signs and I walked on.
As I expected they kept an uphill pace that was faster than mine, and soon, I could hear them coming up behind me. I stepped aside and let them pass. "Is this your first time at Capitol Reef?" I asked. "Yes," Mom said. But, that was it. They didn't seem interested in engaging in conversation. I've noted an awkwardness on the part of many hikers who seemed to be concerned about the social distancing protocols set up in the wake of the Coronavirus scare. I've noted that normal interaction between strangers has been altered by Coronavirus distancing protocols. Many strangers you pass on the trails seem positively freaked out about getting near another hiker... so much so, that their normal instinct for being friendly seems suppressed.
Periodically the family of three would stop to take in the magnificent vistas and I would overtake them. On these occasions no words were exchanged.
Half way through the hike, at the two mile marker (the hike is a loop), I saw the family, ahead of me climb the trail to the top of a knoll and then disappear from view. At that point I sat down on a rock to take a mid hike rest and a drink of water. I sat there for two or three minutes.
After my break I resumed my hike and hiked to the top of the knoll where I had last noted the family of three. There they were standing, looking at me as I approached. "We wondered where you were," Dad said. "We were worried about you. We've been standing here waiting for you."
Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Here I had been thinking that this family was somewhat aloof and didn't want to have much to do with me. And, I find out that they were worried about me. They must have been thinking, "boy, that old geezer is out here on this remote hike all alone. I wonder if he'll be OK. We should keep an eye out for him."
Next, a very friendly conversation ensued.... at a more than six foot social distance of course. The family was from Houston. They had hoped to do an international trip this year, but on listening to President Trump call out the benefits of travelling domestically, they changed their plans to do "the great American road trip." They were bowled over by Utah's beauty. They were visiting all five Utah National Parks."
It just goes to show that quite often all is not as it seems. Its never smart to rush to judgement about people based on superficial first impressions. Stated another way, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Above: Mt. Terrill. Sevier County, UT. Gooseberry Road. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc. 35 mph wind gusts at this location.
Social Distancing from The Mask People Tour
Duc parked at 10,276 feet elevation on Gooseberry Road, at 28 miles of curves and low usage, one of Utah's great motorcycle roads. Mt. Terrill, behind, stands at 11.5 thousand feet. Here, we're on the southern end of the ninety mile long Wasatch Plateau.
Feeling safe with no mask people in sight...in fact, no people in sight, period.
Speaking of The Walking Mask People, I love the zombie memes. Look. I get it that it's a stretch to conflate The Walking Mask People with The Walking Dead. But, hear me out.
I've long seen the zombie memes as a metaphor for any human population stirred up in a submissive mob frenzy. I am sure that the authors of zombie literature think the same way. That is, zombie behavior is an apt metaphor for mob or centrally controlled group human behavior
"The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman), World War Z, (Max Brooks), and The Cell (Stephen King) all chronical evil, destructive machinations of zombies, the functional equivalent of a destructive mob of humans.
The central element of the zombie meme is control. On some level there a source of control... power... behind zombie behavior. In King's "The Cell," an otherworldly entity, in the body of a zombie, captures unwitting innocents by sending them a controlling message via their cell phones. The "entity" has control over the mob and directs the mob to accomplish his evil intent.
If zombie memes are a metaphor for real life, what is a real life functional equivalent? Start with any situation where a compliant, submissive, unquestioning population is caused to universally respond to a demand from a power source. The demand might be I innocuous or it could have sinister implications.
A demand like "wear masks," might seem innocuous. But, unquestioning compliance to mask wearing, especially when there is legitimate debate about a mask's efficacy, particularly out doors, can also be seen as a first step down a slippery slope to "zombocracy." A population that does not question authority will cease to become a free population. It will become a zombie population. Just sayin'.
Above: Bishop, Friar, and Monk. Salina, UT. 13 June 2020.
Out and about on the Duc.
Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour
Over pizza, outdoors in the brisk breeze, the Bishop, the Friar, and The Monk talk Utah politics and cows.
Talked about Utah governor's race. I noted the frequency Greg Hughes campaign signs seen in rural Utah while on my Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour. None of the other candidates had signage in places like Scipio, Junction, Panguitch, Kanab, Mexican Hat, or Bicknell. Could Hughes, the unabashed Trump supporter among the four candidates, be banking on a rural Utah vote to put him over the top if there is a close race on the highly populated Wasatch front?
We agreed that John Hunstman gave an outstanding presentation to La Societe Deux Magots a week ago. He showed great vision about the possibilities for Utah's future. But, we worried about his ruling class credentials and the possibility that his focus as governor would be on his national aspirations and not on Utah. Voire Pierre Delecto.
We liked Thomas Wright. He is well qualified. Rob Bishop, his running mate, had a solid record as US congressman for Utah District One. But, his campaign hasn't seemed to catch on. He also gave a great presentation to La Societe Deux Magots, but his focus was on more traditional issues such as taxes, education spend, development... as opposed to Huntsman's grand vision for the state.
None of us knew much about Cox. We felt that his governorship would be a clone of Herbert's. Herbert was a good steward and not a risk taker.
The Monk is a great friend. There are many things to like about him... character, sense of humor, grand, global experiences and story telling, but, what I like most is that, as a cattle rancher, he is grounded in the land. No pun intended.
The Monk raises cattle on his 7000 acre privately held cattle ranch, ranging across 5000 feet of elevation change, in central Utah.
Emerson said, "The land is the appointed remedy for whatever is false and fantastic in our culture. The continent we inhabit is to be physic and food for our mind, as well as our body. The land, with its tranquilizing, sanative influences, is to repair the errors of a scholastic and traditional education, and bring us to just relations with men and things."
The Monk, real and grounded, comes to mind when I remember this quote
— in Salina, Utah.
Above: TIMDT. Franck's Restaurant, Salt Lake City, UT. 13 June 2020.
End of the Social Distancing from The Walking Mask People Tour.
Dining out with the "Princess and the Pea," who is wearing one of her new "TIMDT Originals" knitted shawls.
Glad to be back!
Princess TIMDT waiting for the Sprinter and her Frette sheets to do road trips.
— with Margaret Taylor at Franck's Restaurant.
Addendum:
Hi Steve,
Enjoyed the pictures and narrative. It certainly is sad times here in America!…Americans need to “Guard The Gains”…Keep well.
Boeing,
Sedona, AZ
Hi Steve,
We missed you by a week......I was with Ronnie Weinzapfel from Texas riding out of Hanksville (as our base camp) and we both left for home on the 5th.
Our original plan was to ride the New Mexico BDR starting May 1 but the Dem. Governor kept moving the quarantine date back so we decided to move the trip to Utah since they opened up. The motel manager in Hanksville said they didn’t have one Covid case in the whole county.
Take Care,
Wise Man,
Colorado Springs, CO