Wade Davis has served as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society from 2000-2013. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at UBC.
I spent most of Friday reading his book of essays.
Three topics caught my attention: the history of America, the crowning of Everest, and beyond climate fear and trepidation.
(image link HERE)
Besides his ‘Anthropology’ perspective, he is also a Geographer. See for example, essay #7 ‘ the art of exploring’.
His final word:
“Before Buddha or Jesus spoke”, wrote DH Lawrence “, the nightingale sang, and long after the words of Jesus or Buddha are gone into oblivion, the nightingale still will sing.”
“The goal of the pilgrim is to become as if a bird dissolved in the sky yet filling heaven and earth with song. Passing through the sky, leave no trace, at one with the sacred.” p.255.
Saturday evening, Heather and I shared a growler of Brickyard Red with John Wightman. It had been a wonderful summer day. As we were out on the back deck, we were joined by a Broad-winged hawk, sitting in one of our mature oak trees.
It had caught a small bird, and proceeded to dismember it, sitting on a branch in full sight. A unique, memorable end to the day.
Acknowledgements
We enjoyed visits from both Rosalind Miller and John Wightman on Saturday. Edward added the graphics and links
Reference
Wade Davis, 2024, Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays, Greystone Books.
Ernest Blair Experiment 