Seriously, is it good for men and women and children to swarm together in cities and stay there, keep staying there, till their instincts are so far perverted that they lose all taste for their natural element, the wide world out of doors?
Granting, then that one deserves relief now and then from the hurry and worry that would age him before his prime, why not go in for a complete change while you are about it? Why not exorcise the devil of business and everything that suggests it? The best vacation an over-civilized man can have is to go where he can hunt, capture and cook his own meat, erect his own shelter, do his own chores and so, in some measure, pick up again those lost arts of wildcraft that were our heritage through ages past but of which not one modern man in a hundred knows anything at all. In cities our tasks are so highly specialized, and so many things are done for us by other specialists, that we tend to become a one handed and one idead race. The self dependent life of the wilderness nomad brings bodily habits and mental processes back to normal, by exercise of muscles and lobes that otherwise might atrophy from want of use.
— Horace Kephart 1916
Quote: Wanderlust
Rebecca Solnit
“I like walking because it is slow, and I suspect that the mind, like the feet, works at about three miles an hour. If this is so, then modern life is moving faster than the speed of thought or thoughtfulness.”
— Rebecca Solnit
Essay: For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk
This essay is a beautifully crafted articulation of the art of walking. The writers shine a light and then position a looking glass on the simple act of walking. They are gently exhorting us to reject technology for walking purposes and revisit what it means to be human. We are at a unique time in evolution where we are being challenged by technocrats to change the old ways and let these new tools become our master. Our challenge in the Order of Walkers is to maintain the course of the old ways and so nurture a simple, small footprint, satisfying life.
Of course the irony of walking is not lost on me. You go out walking to think. You think of great ideas around technology, which distorts the purpose and purposelessness of walking in the future.
I commend this essay to the Order and may you dwell on its sentiments when you next take the path.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
— Robert Frost 1915
Howto: Taking Care Of Your Feet
Movie: The Great Walk
I commend this work by Clive Austin to the Order.
Autumn 2020: The Evening Constitutional
What is a constitutional ? It’s an old time expression referring to one’s vitality, health and strength. Often a purposeless walk for some fresh air and limited exercise for one’s general well being. Over exertion is not encouraged.
The covid 19 pandemic has wreaked havoc with capitalism around the world. It has changed the evening constitutional in a positive way and I am now cherishing these night time wanders around my district. Our population is heeding the exhortation to stay at home and as such our night time suburban streets are filled with the quiet of a small country town. Early on, when daylight saving was still alive there were many people out wandering after their dinner, but since the return to normal time the streets are vacant after dark. Traffic noise, that normally backgrounds the landscape is non existent, noisy neighbours and loud music playing from cars or houses is bygone.
We are now in the easter week, and a full moon decorates the evening sky. I am seeing both ring tail and brushtail possums emerging from their daylight hiding places and doing their fancy trapeze work over powerlines to trees. As I descend into gullies I can feel the change of temperature and hear the sweet song of frogs in darkened water bodies. I still notice the light pollution, too much precious energy is wasted on keeping lights on for the people who are not around to use it. Some dogs are being walked by masters who have giant headphones on without wires. The poor dog. How does he communicate with his master? Are we breeding a generation of dogs that in the future will exhibit security and detachment issues that will require years of therapy.
Then of course we have the earthlings that walk with smartphones out in front of them at a non rhythmic pace doing god knows what. The evening constitutional is not about taking your phone for a walk. It is not a good look and for those guilty of it consider yourself chastened. The evening constitutional is everything else. It’s deliberate breathing, it’s going in a direction you may not have been before, it’s about discovery of your neighborhood, maybe a chat with the old bloke at the end of the road, maybe a pat of the leashed dog on the end of the big pair of headphones.
In any case this is a special time in our history. This will all be over soon enough and the din of capitalism will once again return. Enjoy the respite and take an evening constitutional.
– The Provost
Podcast: An Account of Everest
James Strofeldt is a surgeon and psychotherapist from Melbourne, Australia, and a climber for over thirty years. This twenty five minute interview was originally broadcast on RN’s blueprint for living segment “Lost and Found”. James articulates his deep connection to being outside and gives us an insight into the high altitude mountain climber. A great interview.
Walking as a Spiritual Practise
I commend this piece to the Order.
https://simoncareyholt.wordpress.com/2018/06/28/walking-as-a-spiritual-practice/
Essay: A step at a time towards appreciating nature
This essay by Canadian, Tian Ren Chu, is a grand articulation of both the importance and joy of walking. Discussing and promulgating the connection to nature, is critical to future generations. You don’t destroy the things you love. You fight for them. It appears tech companies want us to walk around with ear pieces and phones, and be servant to trivial notifications. I fear this is creating social isolation and divide. We are in danger of losing what it is to be human. I commend this piece to the Order of Walkers and I commend the practise to all.
The Order Of Walkers 