The Calling

Folks talk endlessly about their Manifest Destiny, an uncontrollable urge to follow an idea or a career, as a calling. I suppose that’s real but it’s always seemed like an intellectual ruse more than a spiritual tug. Besides, I can’t imagine anyone’s calling to trash disposal, as difficult and necessary a job as it is.

I had a vivid dream the other night. It took place at Kearsage, the spelling of which is incorrect to those of you who know what it is, but in my dream that’s what it was. Kearsage. It existed somewhere in a wilderness unknown to me. My goal was to run the cirque around a large lake, not unlike Lake Tahoe, first up the west side, then traverse back down the East side over four very prominent and steep peaks. No information appeared regarding the length of the run, but all the trails in the region were distinguished by colored lines similar to those found on Metro and subway maps. My line was yellow; follow the yellow brick road, I suppose. Next thing I knew I was pacing it out on the trail, heading north, a sense of elation growing bigger and wider and…then, of course, I woke up.

The dream continued to haunt me and I finally gave in to curiosity regarding the reality of the place.

Kearsarge. Kearsarge Pass, lakes, and pinnacles, all part of the John Muir Wilderness. Several alpine lakes nestle in a drainage under the shadow of ten steep and prominent peaks. I had no prior knowledge of this and the similarities between the reality and the dream state are not to be ignored.

Now I’m haunted by the region and why it’s calling me. Native Americans used this pass to cross from one side of the south Sierra to the other. John Muir is a personal hero of mine. Kearsarge is likely a mutation of a Native word that means notch-pointed mountain of pines, and there are two mountains of this name in New Hampshire. Short of researching at the Western Museum in the Denver Public Library, little else is available online on the subject.

So I guess I have to go on instinct. Most importantly, I have to go. Planning has begun for a winter trans-Sierra trip early next year when conditions are favorable. The exact route is undetermined, but it will certainly include skinning past the lakes and clambering over several of the pinnacles.

I don’t know why this calling is so strong but I’m sure I’ll find out when I get there. It may even be something I've always been looking for.