Poetry from backpacking

Fire

Wind antagonizes the fire
Bringing roaring life to its dying embers
Flame soon leaps out on its own
Without the aid of billows

View

Cresting the ridge
Panting, aching, exhausted
A new part of creation is revealed
Its beauty greater than all I had seen before
All former views pale in comparison to this
All future views will be measured by this standard

What trail?

A map with no paths leads to wonderful places
Places off the established routs
Locations that offer incredible beauty

Of course at times it is a risk
Never knowing if a saddle is passable
Or if a lake or stream has fish

But the sense of accomplishment at reaching your goal
Outweighs the comfort of the trails
And out shines the merits of a standard hike