Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
--John Muir

At summit of Mt. Massive (14,421 ft.), San Isabel National Forest, Colorado:

Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself... It's the sides of the mountains which sustain life, not the top.
--Robert Pirsig

Three of my six team members-- Aaron, Jen, and Morey-- in one of the many expansive, lush meadows we walked through.

"But now," says the Once-ler, "Now that you're here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. SO...Catch!" calls the Once-ler. He lets something fall. "It's a Truffula Seed. It's the last one of all! You're in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back."
--from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.

Dusk at Pinko Pass (12,800 ft) where we bivvied one night:

i thank You God for this most amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened) --e. e. cummings

Aptly named "Strawberry Lakes"! This was the only time I truly craved fresh fruit.

Rapelling in Strawberry Lakes Basin:

View of Tuhare Lake from approach to summit of Mt. of the Holy Cross (14,003 ft), White River National Forest, Colorado