Attention all HF friends, post here to be part of collaborative art

[Two Tents]

In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things. In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me.
John Fowles

[Dos]

In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things. In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me.
John Fowles

thank you TwoTents....my new signature

[sargevining]

The smell of hot pine needles gently lifts off of a century's worth of needle fall on the forest floor, to just about the height of a 10 year old boy's nostrils, and beckons him to lay on the ground next to one of those warm patches. As he buries his nose into the warm needles, the aroma of the warm earth beneath comes through to provide a dusky counterpoint. He rolls over onto his back as a breeze comes across Lake Masabesic stripping molecules from the tops of the wavelets it creates and mixes in the smell of pristine fresh water with that of the needles and the earth. The breeze rustles the branches of the trees, the ferns in the undergrowth, and the junipers at the water's edge, moving the sun patterns about and and he hears a low rushing sound all around him.

Then, even at that age, he knows that God exists, that He is good, and that He loves you. That feeling and that moment stays with him, even until he's become what many folks consider to be an old man. He finds that he can conjour up the sounds and smells any time he needs to think of something clean and pure and good.

I've said elsewhere here that I grew up in a time when mothers thought it safe for thier children to go into the woods unescorted by anyone other than other children thier own age. During the summers of the years I spent between the ages of 8 to 16 my mother would tell the neighbors that she knew my brother and I were still alive because every few days canned food would disappear from the pantry.

My Dad provided me with basic skills, a Boy Scout Handbook, a good pocket knife, some Army surplus camping gear----and the freedom to use them. My mother provided the food, and the kind of worry a mother has that makes you think about what you're doing and bringing into the woods so that she won't have to worry quite so much. My freinds provided companionship, and we provided each other with a sense of adventure and imagination.

Camping and hiking back then was less of a science and more having an adventure. Whenever I stepped out the door and my mother would ask "Where are you going?" the answer was always "To the Lake." Massabesic was about a mile and a half down Island Pond Road, past the house with the big German Shepard and beyond the Water Works fence. The Lake was the county resevoir and there was chain link fence and barriers at all of the Fire Roads going into the woods around it on the Hillsboro County side, each with a big sign that said "No Trespassing--Violators will be prosecuted---$200 fine." $200 was a lot of money in 1963, but that kind of thing doesn't matter when you're 10 years old. Besides, what better adventure can a group of 10 year olds have than outwitting and outrunning the Water Works guys who sometimes drove thier pick up trucks on the fire roads? We knew that area better than they did.

I have no idea what Heaven will be like. If, for some reason, God lets this sinner choose what his Heaven will be, it will be to live the summers of 1962 through 1970 over and over again for eternity.

[Triggerhpy]

Starts with family. My mom did'nt go camping. Dad not so much. But all of our vacations were in the mountains or near the coast were it was cool. All of our family reunions were held at or near camp grounds. So I got to hike and go play out in the woods with my cousens. Watching my dad and uncles build fires, cook and tell strories about growing up when they were kids. And I was in scouts. I lived in the city and when I had a chance I would camp in the back yard. Build fires in the fire place/BBQ.
But there was a time on one of our family vacations up in the mountains mom dad and I went on a walk. I was anout 8 or 9 at the time and we stoped along the trail and they asked about what I thought Gods creations. It was then that going into the woods hiking and camping was'nt just an adventure but fun with perpose. It's that we are'nt seperate from Gods creations but apart of the whole. It's by going out into that creation that we remember who we are and where we came from. That is the peace we feel and why we keep going back.

[Shug]

When my Dad took me camping he was a different man than at home. He would take me places in the woods often and it was years later on my own in the woods that I though...."he made time to find and walk these places...when?'"
Then shared with me. We were quiet. I was a quiet kid then. Thinking of those times makes me smile and be thankful that he shared.
Shug the Sappy

[mbcruzin]

For me its about getting away from the chaos of everyday life. I put away the laptop, must see tv, Facebook, emails, bills, politics, and I turn off the cell phone (to save the battery for emergencys). I get lost in the peace of it all and I think to myself.

[Deadphans]

The ever talented Shug, nice painting. Possums last wave eh? xP

I will reply to this for you tomorrow, sounds like a great project.

[Stormstaff]

Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts started my love of the outdoors and hopefully I'm continuing to spur love for the outdoors as I'm an active leader with scouts.

[bigbamaguy]

I grew up in rural Alabama, we didn't have a traffic light until 1990 and it is still the only one to this day in that town!!!! Our home was situated on a little more than 3 acres of land and wide open for roaming, which we were made to do cause for some reason we were always in our mothers hair!!!!! The roads were tar/gravel and there were only 6 houses on that road for the first two miles, I wore out several pairs of shoes walking those roads and fields. I can remember sitting in the fields for hours watching a hawk circle above and then diving when he found an unsuspecting mouse or snake for his dinner. There were creeks that always had little tadpoles or crawdads in them and I was always trying to catch them, but it was always catch and release. Then there was the years as a cub scout and 4-H member that got me to summer camps and retreats. But most of all I was in the woods to ride.......I had a motorcycle from the time I was 9 until today. I don't trail ride anymore but I still remember the days of riding from the time school let out until just before dark 30 when I would get home for dinner and homework.

I gues in short I grew up in nature........I was taught to respect it, to learn from it and to always have fun while in it. Today, I am getting back to my roots I guess you could say.....I go to the woods to relax, reflect on life and get a reminder that childhood dreams can still be had by an "kid" of any age.

[Dimpleflirt]

I could give a romantic answer about what drove me to the woods as a child in regards to the feel , smells , and sights but after deep reflection it seems that it was my sanctuary as a youngster. Growing up was not easy in a broken home , being quiet and having learning issues in school didn't help either in adapting to society and social clicks.So as any animal will do I gravitated to what made me feel safe and accepted. In nature its Migrate, adapt , or die . Point being is that I understand the rules of animals , nature and basic survival. Its viewed as hard work by many but for me its much easier that dealing with society, government, and so many rules set up to milk us of finances and freedoms. Being out in the Wilds is my basic and natural environment where I'm happy and can run free unlike the jail cell of a neighborhood and city life restrictions that I'm stuck in currently while raising my kids.
Can't speak as to what drew me to Hammock camping because I have not had a chance to go on a hang yet but in regards to general camping and being out in nature its my home environment and still my sanctuary .