Four Girls, One Bear and A Cabin

An incredible young man who was not only known to my family for many years, but who was deeply admired and loved by us, passed away today. He lost the battle with cancer. His young life taken far too soon. This tragedy filled me with incomprehensible sadness. Serving as a harsh reminder that we are not to waste one minute of Life. For it is precious. It is ours to cherish, to live and to explore. With this sadness consuming me right now, I realise, once again, just how grateful I am for the many experiences and people that make up my beautiful life. One such adventure involved a log-cabin, a bear and four amazing women.

A holiday, it has often been said, begins not at the destination, but with the journey itself. For what one learns and experiences along the way  is every bit as important as the destination. This was true for our drive up into the mountains and beyond, into the wilderness. Breath-taking scenery, around every bend of the well-maintained road, welcomed us into a terrain I had yet to experience. I had seen it in movies and read about it in books, but never before had I opened a window to breathe in the crisp, pine-scented air of Oregon.

The sky, the snow-covered mountains, the rivers, canyons and lakes slipped past the car as we climbed higher and higher. Names such as, Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Big Bear, Eagle Canyon, Salt Creek and Black Canyon greeted us. I was convinced we had found ourselves on an old-fashioned movie set once more. It was all that beautiful. Quite surreal in fact. The lakes glistened. The shades of green added a unique charm to the surroundings. We were embraced by the Cascade Mountains which extend for four hundred and eighteen kilometres across the state of Oregon. It felt so good.

A rich history greeted us as we pulled up to the cabin. Untouched by pollution, the sky rolled out to eternity, providing a canvas on which the trailing vapour lines painted a silent choreography.  Massive wooden logs, connected securely to one another, created the backbone of the cabin. Steadfast, it protected the past and anchors the future. A haven. Walls of rock existed alongside the wood, enhancing the ambience of the place with their own unique beauty. Chairs and tables created from odd pieces of wood graced the outdoor area. Their bones having heard many stories and promises made. 

Waves of sheer wonderment engulfed us. The surrounding views were magnificent. Words fail me here. How does one describe paradise … The vast open spaces, the forests and the sound of silence embraced us. Cowhorn Mountain, its 2,335-metre peak etched against the sky, watched us from across the Oregon Cascades. A powerful, yet nurturing aura, cradled us within her sphere.

From within the thick wooden beams of the cabin, the views of the creek were spectacular. Beyond the deep colours of the scatter cushions, the icy waters formed a barrier between us and the forests. Warmth and a sense of belonging had been so well-captured in those cushions. Energies, vibrant and wholesome, past and present, hovered throughout the cabin. Trophies of various animals hunted, adorned the walls.  Traditional cowboy hats, saddles and boots bore testament to a rich, adventure-filled lifestyle. This was the real deal. Cherished memories were evident throughout. Those of cowboys, log fires and no doubt, of storytelling.

Pulling the extra thick blankets tighter around our legs, we snuggled deeper into our chairs and watched as endless sandhill cranes made their way through the grass on the opposite side of the creek. We sipped our first coffee of the day, accompanied by a breakfast of cinnamon cookies and peanut butter cups. Watching in complete awe as a herd of elk passed by in the grasslands, stopping often to tilt their beautiful heads to the wind. Acknowledging our presence. The males proudly displaying their massive branching antlers. They have been the caretakers of this land forever. Their silent elegance carried a strong sense of ownership.

Stepping out of the fast lane that is life nowadays, our time at the cabin was about experiencing the magic of the wilderness. It was about connecting to nature and to one another. Four fabulous women. Each with their own story to tell. We talked and laughed. And felt sad too.  We shared moments of complete silence and serenity. Each one of us saw our time there through different eyes. Our own eyes. We took away with us, various bundles of memories. Meaningful and unique to only us four.

As we set off through the meadows surrounding the cabin, a flock of wild geese shattered the silence, greeting us with a cacophony of sound. Kinai, our beautiful four-legged companion, discarded them with a look of disdain, preferring to stay close rather than to engage in the chase. Kinai’s presence was always reassuring. It was a joy witnessing her connection with the breathtaking surroundings. She had become our rock - physically present when we needed grounding, and always alert to keep us safe.

The weather was perfect. Brilliant sunshine added a certain dazzle to the world. Melting ice from the spectacular snow-covered mountains in the distance filled the creek and the large ponds with crystal clear waters. Our walk was interrupted by the need to simply stop and comprehend where we were. To absorb the reality of our environment. To fill our lungs with the purest air and feel the gentle warmth of the sun wrapping us in her arms. We witnessed the pristine beauty and ensured the images around us were captivated in our hearts and minds forever. That was all we needed to do that day.

With Kinai on permanent bear duty, I allowed myself to lie back on the rickety bridge and to be transported into what I remember as a heavenly state. The silence was profound. I lost myself somewhere in that enormous clear blue sky. My imagination ran wild. I thought about those who had lived on this land hundreds of years ago. I wondered if they were looking down upon us. Grateful that we too appreciated the magic of the place.

Whilst nodding off in the sunshine back at the cabin, I noticed something large and black moving in the meadow just beyond where we had walked earlier. Debbie took off vertically as I yelled, bear! We four ladies spent the next few hours riveted to the spot, taking turns to sneak inside to make coffee, whilst witnessing a large black bear tumbling about in the meadows. A quiet reminder of how wild the world, just beyond our walls, could be.  It was surreal, since bears hadn’t been a presence at the cabin for the past eighteen years. Needless to say, we stayed close to the cabin after that. There were no more walks — understandably so. The following day, whilst washing the dishes in the kitchen, I spotted the same bear romping around outside. As one does, of course …

                                                                                                                                   For Johan