The Wild Woman Walker

Friday, October 7, 2016

Grateful for the Loving Trees

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Painting the Presence (& Presents) of Nature

~ My first solo art show featuring 16 acrylic paintings expressing my connection with nature. Through my art, as I celebrate my relationship with the natural world, I experience joy and purpose. These paintings gratefully acknowledge the gifts I receive through nature.

Nature's Gift: Harmony

"Blue Heaven"

"It was one of the great delights and memories for me.... I felt like I was seeing, woven together, the power and scale of the entire world."

~ Kathy Sullivan, 1st woman to walk in space

Nature's Gift: Joy

"Life Force"

"Once upon a time, when women were birds, there was a simple understanding, that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world with joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated."

~ Terry Tempest Williams

Nature's Gift: Vision

"Autumn Contemplation"

"Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." ~ Albert Einstein

Nature's Gift: Movement

"Dance On"

"Our biological rhythms are the symphony of the cosmos, music embedded deep within us to which we dance, even when we can't name the tune."

~ Deepak Chopra

Naturs's Gift: Strength

"The Year of the Horse"

"Hold onto your hat, folks, and realize that you won't be able to, nor want to, slow your 'horses' in the new year ahead!"

~ Western School of Feng Shui

Nature's Gift: Change

"Emerging Feminine"

"Nature is ever at work building up and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another."

~ John Muir

Nature's Gift: Connection

"Hopeful Journey"

"We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say we have lost our connection to nature, we've lost our connection to ourselves."

~ Andy Goldsworthy

Nature's Gift: Oneness

"All As One"

"All things share the same breath - the tree, the man, the air. Each shares its spirit with all the life it supports."

~ Chief Seattle

Nature's Gift: Nurturance

"She Who Watches"

"Cherishing our Earth - falling in love with the Earth - is not an obligation. It is a matter of personal and collective happiness."

~ Thich Nhat Hahn

Nature's Gift: Beauty

"The Awakening"

"Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature's Gift: Inspiration

"Creativity Unleashed"

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Nature's Gift: Power

"Empowerment"

"Just feel the magic in the air and the power in the breeze. Feel the energy of the plants, the bushes and the trees. Let yourself be surrounded by nature at its best. Calm yourself, focus and let magic do the rest."

~ Sally Walker

Nature's Gift: Guidance

"Going Within"

"Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher." ~ William Wordsworth

Nature's Gift: Destiny

"Daydreaming"

"Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself, as given, formed by nature, history and myself."

~ Paul Tillich

Nature's Gift: Peace

"Peace Ascending"

"Serenity flows through the natural world. Listen and you can hear the beating of your own heart and the deepening of your breath in rhythm and connection with the powerful tranquility of creation, that becomes fully alive in you as you return to your roots."

~ Bella Bleue

Nature's Gift: Home

"Celebrating My Dream"

"The true wilderness experience is one, not of escaping, but of finding one's self."

~ Howard Zahniser

All 16 of these paintings are on display at the Unitarian Church in Eugene, OR for the entire month of January.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Painting a New Perspective


"Orcas of the Heart" by Carol E Fairbanks © 2015

In these days when there is so much happening in the world that challenges our inner security, it is no wonder that my sleep had been disrupted by a very disturbing dream. Even days later, when I was still feeling the impact of those ominous night time images, I knew that my dream was not going to be dismissed and forgotten easily. In my mind, I could still look out my back window and witness the ravages of a great storm that had torn through the landscape. I could see clearly the massive amounts of sea water that had been swept up violently into my back yard, creating a huge flood. But most troubling was the image of a number of orcas floating lifelessly in that churning water. I was still feeling incredible sadness with the inner presence of such a devastating vision.

To get a better understanding of my dream, I searched for the metaphysical meaning of whales in some of my books and read that whales can signal a need to “dive down deep within our own sense of self.” It went on to say, “When we learn to go deep within ourselves, the creativity that we awaken can resurrect our lives.” Perhaps my dream was not only about the healing of the Earth that is needed, but also it inspired a greater awareness of what was needed for healing within me, as well.

It was very timely that the Rainbow Warrior creative playshop, led by Mara Friedman and Trinity Harris, was being offered several days after I experienced my dream. I knew it would provide a supportive community in which to allow my creativity to “surface” and give a place where my dream had a chance to speak its wisdom to me. With the creative activities of chant, visualization and art making at that playshop , I would give new life to those wounded “orcas” of my heart and mind. And in that nurturing playshop, I did indeed fully allow the mystery of intention to rebirth my dream images in paint upon my canvas…. leaping joyfully and celebrating the gift of new life.

Weeks later, my painting continues to reassure me of the endurance of life, and so, with gratitude, I offer the gift of my creative experience to you and invite you to join me in witnessing this painted vision of rebirth and awakening.

~ Carol E Fairbanks

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Enlarging My Life ~

“Forgiveness does not change the past…. it enlarges the future.” Paul Boese

As I dropped the intensely colored acrylic inks on a wet gessoed board, I watched the flow of colors as they mingled and merged, acting like they had a life of their own. They charged forward seeking their destination, unknown to me, but perhaps moving according to their own mysterious intention. As the paint dried, a vision of beautiful flowers, radiating a new awareness, emerged and said, “Hi! I’m here!” So without intending to, I created an abundance of flowers in full bloom. Adding a few dots and lines with some paint pens, I more fully defined those flowers, bringing them more clearly into expression.

After contemplating a “message” for me in this act of creativity, a quote that I read a while ago, came to my mind. As I wrote it on the painting, I realized that there is nothing that I can do to change those “flowers” in the past, that have withered and lost their connection with life, but as I let go of old hurts and resentments and experience the healing of forgiveness, my future can then open up and abound with “flowers” in full bloom… alive and vibrant.

I have heard that the "language of the soul is one of image", and I am so grateful for the "soul talk" of the images of this painting - because, I, too, like the flowers, am blooming ... and feeling more alive and vibrant.

.... walking with lighter steps, Carol E Fairbanks, W.W.W.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Seeing Stars in the Darkness

" I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

Galileo

Change seems to be happening as rapidly as the continual updates that keep popping up on my computer screen. In a world where speed is recognized and, even lauded at competitions, to be quiet and slow down almost seems unnatural. Yet coping effectively within these rapid changes in our lives requires that we cease all frantic activity and quietly go within to listen to a source of wisdom that sees beyond the frenzy. And of course, change seldom calls on us in the "bright of day", when we can see more clearly, ...no, it rather seizes us with its challenge during the "darkness of the night".

In an inspiring book, Learning to Walk in the Dark, the author, Barbara Brown Taylor, explores our common perception of "darkness" as it inevitably happens in our lives. She says we are programmed to perceive "darkness", whether actual or emotional, as something to be avoided, and view it often as something to be feared or a sign of failure. Instead of seeing the beauty and maybe, the opportunity in darkness, we often perceive it as a possible threat to our survival and imagine all kinds of fearful outcomes. In reading Taylor's book, I became more aware of how much I have learned from those "dark" experiences in my life. And amazingly I seem to have always emerged from those challenging times much stronger and wiser. Those harrowing times of my life have brought forth attitudes and abilities I never knew I had within me.

After "surviving" a number of those fearful times, I have often laughingly repeated the quote, "What doesn't kill me will strengthen me." Sure, I have been in situations that have been serious and possibly very harmful, but it was my thoughts about the threatening situation that actually caused me the most suffering. The "darkness" in my life has always led me into the "cavern" of my hidden beliefs and that challenges me much more than any external enemy ever could. It is there in that dark "cave" within my mind, where I have had the opportunity look up and see the "light of the stars" that are shining there. Those "stars in the darkness" are like openings to new ways of thinking.... to attitude changes that encourage me to imagine healthier ways of relating to myself and others in my life. Here in this ominous, dark landscape I often see a "path" to actualizing a long held dream. In the "darkness", I am guided to explore deeper .... to go beyond the surface of things.... to a truth, like the stars, that cannot be seen in the intense light of the day.

"Destiny Unfolding" colored pencil by Carol E Fairbanks © 1999

So in the midst of "darkness", offering the change it asks of me, I am learning to open to the gifts of that shadow experience... to the transformation it challenges within me..... to the opportunity it beckons me to. Author, Eckhart Tolle, has written, "Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge." Rather than choosing to give image and form to my fears, I can resolve to see the "light of the stars" that are gently illuminating my nighttime landscape.

Yet in the "darkness", I often feel alone and abandoned, and, even though that is a only perception I hold in my mind, those thoughts can still sabotage my journey of the soul and keep me from opening to a landscape of opportunity and rebirth. So trust in the support and guidance available to me is what is necessary for my pilgrimage through that "darkness"..... and with that supportive trust, I do not have to wait until I am more enlightened before I courageously step into this transformative landscape. This poem beautifully states that process of trusting a truth before I can see it.

The real miracle of individuation and reclamation

Of the Wild Woman

Is that we all begin the process

Before we are ready,

Before we are strong enough,

Before we know enough;

We begin with a dialog with thoughts and feelings

That both tickle and thunder within us.

We respond

Before we know how to speak the language

Before we know all the answers

And before we know exactly to whom we are speaking.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Creating these art images in an intuitive way has given me a way of trusting without knowing all the answers.... or even some of them! In each of my art pieces illustrated here, I have modeled the path through the "darkness" that I have been writing about in this blog. With pencil or paintbrush in hand, I have faced the "unknown" on a blank paper or canvas, not having any idea of what I was going to create. After centering and relaxing, I started "moving" across that surface of "barren landscape", while letting go of expectations and opening to the images that would "appear". And all the while, I trusted that what would appear on my paper or canvas would be there to guide, support and illumine me.

"Destiny Unfolding" was drawn while I was healing from a life threatening illness and fear was my constant companion. "The Gift" was drawn when I was embarking on a new career as a yoga teacher and self doubt was trying to get my attention. And the "Opportunity of Darkness" was drawn as I was contemplating a second major move across the United States in a year. That drawing revealed images that suggested the Northwest, and I created it even before I was offered the opportunity to move to Oregon!

"Dancing in the Dark" was painted during the loss of my job at Michaels Arts and Crafts as a teacher and decorative artist, and as I was searching for a new focus for my creativity. My painting suggested that I lighten up and "dance" through that change! At present, as I am contemplating changes and new direction in my life, the "suggestion" of "dancing in the dark" sounds like a good one!

"The Wild Woman Walker dances on!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Woman Emerging ~

As I am preparing to make a physical move to a new home, many things are also “moving” within me. They have been for a long time. Some of it is exciting and welcome while other things (especially the letting-go type things!) are more challenging. Yet my art has always been a “compass” to guide and inspire the direction of my journey. The call of becoming that “butterfly” has always beckoned me, as I struggle to stay within my “cocoon” of illusionary safety. But, as my creative images “paint” an emergence not to be argued with, I reluctantly let go of the comfortable familiar in order to emerge into a state of being that is being born regardless of what "i" do.

I painted this intuitive painting (above) in my home studio in the summer of 1998, before a health crisis, …..before my move to Colorado ….and certainly before I had any idea of the massive changes that were about to take place – both in my mind, as well as in my life.

It was just a year earlier when I created this painting (above), “Touch Drawing” style, where I moved my hands and fingers over a painted paper turned upside down. When I turned the paper over, the images I “accidentally” created spoke to me of turning and looking at things in an entirely new way. I had just retired from my teaching position and felt like I was in free fall.

When I moved to Colorado, I thought that it would be a great adventure, and it was…just not the way I thought it would be. Every deeply held belief that needed healing rose up to challenge me. It was the “dark night of the soul”, and I “danced” through those “flames” that burned away the lies I told myself. This acrylic painting (above), done in 2003, shows this transformation in a way that looks like more fun than it actually was!

My pencil drawing on magenta paper, done in Oregon, as an assignment for an art class in 2004, was inspired by pieces of sculpture on display in the art room. They weren’t real… only suggestions of reality. That was the way I viewed things in my life. I was being called to look beyond the facade of life to a greater truth about who I really was.

And so, I chose to go on this spirit journey of my heart and soul… and take my inner child, who was never really cared for, along with me. I painted this acrylic painting in 2010 (above) when I was exploring some of my most deeply held beliefs about how “life should be”.

And, of course, this journey involved exploring some turbulent emotions and ultimately making some dramatic changes in how I felt about my life experiences. I would “ride” these currents of strong feeling with a sense of wonder and play … as shown in this painting done in 2010. (above.)

One does not do such a journey without some “hair-raising” events … and I have had some! I painted this painting, "Expressing Life", in 2012 with my sense of humor still intact. It’s interesting that the colors suggest a party about to happen!

As I evolved through these challenging times, I found that forgiveness was the key. I learned to let go of resentments and transform my hurt into lessons of wisdom and growth. This crayon drawing (above), done in 2012, illustrates that process of receiving a greater understanding of that process we call life. As I received wisdom from the past, I opened to a brighter and more promising future, and all that hurt was transformed into a thing of beauty and wonder.

And during the autumn of my life, when colorful leaves are losing their vibrancy and falling from the trees, I emerge into a sense of who I am beyond everything that I thought defined me. Painted in 2013, I was exploring life totally on my own… not looking at myself through a career, relationships or any achievement. It was just me… alone, yet part of everything and everyone.

Painted in 2014, "Destiny Within" was inspired by the connection I was experiencing while on my hikes in the scenic northwest. The beauty I saw in nature, was also within me…. and I felt it intimately while trekking through some fantastic natural wonders. It seemed somehow new to me…. but maybe, it has always been there. It’s just that my vision is much clearer now…. even in the moonlight.

Today, I know the path I open to is one of love…. for myself, for my journey and for all whom I “travel” with. If I am in that energy of compassion and joy, those “bumps in the road” will seem less hair-raising and more adventurous. Like the butterfly, I can finally show all my “colors” to the world.

..... the Wild Woman Walker walks on!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

In Full Bloom~

As I embrace my destiny for the coming year, I allow the images from my creative center to bring forth an intention the will guide and inspire me.

I am creating my dream

In an infinite flow of plenty.

With an open heart,

I am expressing the joy

of my adventure.

Feeling fulfilled,

I choose to be happy......

As I honor my journey...

of both gifts and challenge.

~ Carol E Fairbanks, W.W.W.

I know that for something new to birth in my life, a clearing has to be made for that new manifestation. That process can seem at times more like a devastating ending, rather than a new and exciting beginning. As 2015 rolled around, my retired teacher's pension went down and just about all my other bills went up. My computer crashed, my DVD player quit working and an angry, impatient woman plowed into the rear of my car as I was making a right turn. All this is happening as I am preparing my condo for sale and perhaps moving from Eugene, and maybe even Oregon! There is a definite clearing process going on, and I vacillate between feeling overwhelmed and looking forward to a new chapter in my life. With those ambivalent emotions, I am often wondering if I have the courage to make those new changes. I have always heard that "change is the only constant" and that "only that which "cannot be lost in a shipwreck" is one's to keep, but still I long for that feeling of rootedness that seems to elude me. So in the midst of this transition, I paint the "truth" that has not yet been revealed to me, and trust the flow of my journey. I might just create my dream of a home in nature, with a garden and art studio. It could happen....

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Daring to be Heathy!

It doesn’t take much effort for me to do the things that jeopardize my health. Eating sugary foods is always a temptation, even though it aggravates my allergies, and staying up late and not getting enough quality rest seems to come naturally for me, in spite of the resulting lack of energy. But the most noticeable challenge to my health is more to my emotional state, rather than my physical. When I’m not out walking on a regular basis, and especially when I’m not hiking in nature, I tend to lapse into depressed feelings, which, in turn, invite negative self talk and judgement. With the influence of the new “normal” lifestyle of being continually “plugged into” some kind of electronics, and usually assuming a sedentary position in front of a some sort of screen, I need to always be vigilant in my personal care - especially with the exercise part!

Reading what experts say about exercise, I found that where you exercise is as important as the exercise itself. Dr. Michael Nirenberg, who has written articles in the American Wanderer, compares the infinite benefits of walking outdoors to the practice of walking indoors on a treadmill. He says, that there is “no substitute for the wonder and health benefits of actually experiencing the grandeur of our natural environment while walking.” Many scientists argue that, in addition to the physical health benefits, like promoting longer and deeper refreshing sleep, exercising in fresh air is found to improve one’s mood, which usually results in a more positive outlook on life.

Even though recent scientific studies have supported the benefits of walking outdoors, people have known this to be true for a very long time. For centuries, the Japanese have used the term “shinrin-yoku”, which means “forest bathing”. Rather than involving a soak in a tub among the trees, this word refers to spending time in the woods and feeling the relaxing and healing influence of nature, both in your body and in your mind. This ancient wisdom is now supported by scientists, as they have discovered that, when outdoors in a forest or by a lake, you breathe in active substances released by plants called phytoncides. Plants release phytoncides to protect themselves against insects and from rotting, but you benefit, as they lower blood pressure, reduce stress and help to boost the immune system.

Okay, hiking in the woods is great for us…. but what about a difficult hike like, Dog Mountain in the Columbia Gorge area? Is there any advantage to challenging yourself that much? I asked myself that question, as I was planning to tackle that steep and rapidly ascending trail on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It turns out that, if you are physically able, there is a very good reason! In the most recent issue of Sierra Magazine, a publication of the Sierra Club, I read an interesting article entitled, “The Science of Awe.” It tells how scientists, in a study, are “charting what happens when nature blows your mind.” We have seen what happens when someone, like John Muir, gets inspired by his experience in nature. After his life-altering treks in the Sierra Mountains, Muir authored poetic-like writings that inspired a major conservation movement.

In wanting to explore how the science of nature elicits a response of awe and inspiration, University of California psychologist, Dacher Keltner, is now conducting a study to measure the long term physical benefits of awe and, for the first time, is moving the laboratory out into the natural world. He says, “We want to engage with people and observe them when they’re really out there on the river or lying under the stars.” Keltner has observed that when people are asked to recall awe-inspiring experiences, they often cite nature. He says, “Fleeting and rare, experiences of awe can change the course of a life in permanent ways.” If feeling awe is a stimulus that can force people to revise their mental frames of reference, then Dog Mountain, with its breathtaking views of the Columbia River, as it winds its way through that scenic gorge, has the potential to turn around any negative thinking in me!

So with the possible benefits of of inspiring awe, I put on my hiking boots, slipped on my daypack filled with goodies and extra water, and grabbed my hiking stick as I headed off to make my ascent of Dog Mountain. Climbing the trail, I had to stop often to catch my breath, as I made my way up the steep, rocky inclines; however, the real challenge I faced was that inner voice that broadcasted my self doubt and fear. “Turn back, you crazy lady!” it shouted at me. “You could slip and fall and kill yourself! Turn back now!” Refusing to be defeated by my fear, I kept reminding myself of those jaw-dropping photos I could take when I arrived at the viewpoints. (My ego can sometimes override my fear.)

With determination and refusing to to look over and down at the vast expanse between the high cliff walls of the gorge, I centered my focus on the narrow rocky trail, as it relentlessly meandered upward. Like a mantra, I told myself over and over that I was safe and secure and had all the ability I needed to successfully make it to the top. I also recalled a walking idol of mine, Hulda Crooks, who in her 90’s, hiked up Pike’s Peak numerous times. I remembered that she was convinced that hiking mountains was necessary for personal growth. She said, “That’s where you build character…. on a mountaintop!”

And indeed, as I arrived at the upper viewpoint of Dog Mountain, shaking a bit from my struggle with fear, I felt empowered as I turned toward the panoramic view of the gorge. Amazed that I made it that far, I felt perhaps I had more grit and skill than I had previously thought. In scanning the awesome view that I had avoided on that narrow upward-climbing trail, all I could think of now, as I gazed at this scenic wonder, was, “Wow!” The awe I felt, as I marveled at the majestic view of the gorge, dissipated my fear - almost immediately. All struggle of the difficult ascent was gone, and in its place was a feeling of reverence - what someone might feel upon entering a grand cathedral. I seemed to connect with a wonderfully expanded awareness that had replaced my small limiting self perceptions. Maybe, that was the “mountaintop experience” that Hulda was referring to! I wasn’t a fearful, shaky “crazy lady” any more. On the mountaintop of Dog Mountain, I was a competent, capable, and courageous woman!

History tells us how the Chinook, as well as many other native tribes, used a “mountain experience” in their rites of passage for youth who were coming-of-age. The young boy, in looking for his inner resources that could “carry” him to manhood, would climb alone up a mountain, like Dog, or nearby Wind Mountain, relying only on himself.The wise elders of the tribe knew that the inexperienced boy would move through feelings in his climb upward, probably similar to those I felt.They foresaw that when he reached the summit and looked out at the magnificence of creation, a wiser and more knowing part of himself would awaken. And the chances of him living out his life’s purpose would be much greater due to that “mountaintop experience”. Perhaps that awe and reverence that he would feel when connecting to the sublime in nature, might even be extended to include himself, as well as, others.

I believe, as the psychologist Keltner does, that an experience of awe, like the stunning vista from the top of Dog Mountain, can become the foundation for a healthier body and a happier mind. It’s the treasure you find on a mountaintop that reveals the true “mountaintop experience” you seek, and it's really within you. That “mountaintop experience”, which can manifest in many different ways, is unique for each of us….. it’s whatever is in your life that challenges you to see beyond your fear to a vision of who you truly are. Yes, Dog Mountain did it for me!
by Carol E. Fairbanks, W. W. W. © 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

The Presence of the Past

When thinking of the past, we usually consider it to be finished and over with. We believe it no longer exists and cannot be seen in today’s world. But even though the past is out of sight, the events leading up to the present are still very much a part of today, continuing to affect our attitudes and choices. The past is present, yet elusive…kind of like Bigfoot, that is rumored to have lurked for many years in forests of the Pacific Northwest. Reports of sightings of these ape-like creatures, also known as Sasquatch (meaning “wild man in the woods”), have been documented in myths by Indians, long before early explorers made their way out west. Explorers of the northwest in the 1800’s reported many sightings of this creature, while others claimed to have only discovered their huge footprints in the woods. And today, the State of Washington, where I did my hike along the Columbia River, is considered a “hot spot” for Bigfoot activity. Even though most people have not seen an actual Bigfoot, the lore and legend of Sasquatch still affects all of us to some degree. So many sightings have been reported in Skamania County’s forested hills that in 1969 the County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance against the slaying of a Bigfoot. Today, after some revision, that county ordinance states that killing a Bigfoot is punishable by up to one year in the county jail and/or $1000 fine.

Like Bigfoot, past historic events, although out of sight, still touch us today in the ways we think, act and talk. So, whether it’s a Bigfoot sighting or a settlement by early explorers, those historic accounts add to the wonderful adventure and mystique of hiking in the Northwest. In this area of quiet and sparsely inhabited land, along a scenic stretch of the Columbia River, many dramatic events have occurred, shaping the settlement and development of the entire Pacific Northwest. Away from the busy urban area, where I live, my walk from North Bonneville Discovery Park through Strawberry Island and Fort Cascades National Historic Site gave me a glimpse of the struggles and drama of the people who explored and made this land their home.

"A historic photo of the military Block House, built for protection, taken from a trail sign at Fort Cascade National Historic Site."

Stories of Indians, explorers, fur traders, soldiers, settlers, railroad workers and fisherman all make up the rich cultural heritage of this area of Columbia Gorge. The trails along the bank of the Columbia River and through the woods of the Ft. Cascades Site are peaceful and quiet, but the informative signs and historic markers along the way were to me a frequent reminder of the important activity that happened there in the past. Lessons from impressive accomplishments, like the Cascade Portage Railroad, to the questionable practices, like the Warren Fishwheel, continue to teach us as we work today to adapt and prosper in our own communities. The one and one half mile interpretive trail through the Ft. Cascades National Historic Site is a stark reminder of the fragility of the structures and businesses we build, while never envisioning a day when they might cease to exist.

After the army abandoned Ft. Cascades in 1861 at the start of the Civil War, civilians began moving into the vacated buildings, using them as residences and other community buildings. So, as Ft. Cascades faded from history, the town of Cascades began to grow and flourish. However, in 1894 the greatest recorded flood on the Columbia River ended that town, as it destroyed and swept away every remaining building. And the town of Cascades was never rebuilt.

"A historc photo of the Cascade Portage Railroad taken from a trail sign at Fort Cascades National Historic Site."

After many years of operating successfully and covering a distance of 6 miles from Hamilton Island to Stevenson in Washington, the Cascade Portage Railroad finally stopped their runs along the Columbia River. The building of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1883, along with the Great Flood of 1894 and the 1896 opening of the Cascades Canal and Locks, created setbacks for the portage railway, and finally, in 1907, the Cascade Portage Railroad was rendered obsolete and quit running altogether.

Even though structures and whole communities of the past fade away, the people of long ago and their achievements continue to “speak” to us yet today. With the repeated floods of the Columbia River destroying nearly all traces of early native people, only a petroglyph still remains here as a reminder of those prehistoric inhabitants, who first made this area their home. While the original petroglyph is now in front of Skamania County Courthouse Annex, a replica of this rock carving can be seen along the interpretive walking trail through the Fort Cascades National Historic Site. Although the meaning of the carving is unknown, it still reminds us of the Cascade Indians that once lived in a village there. Those early native inhabitants were noted in the journal of explorers, Lewis and Clark, who passed through this area in search of a water route to the Pacific in November of 1805 and again returned in April of 1806.

"On the Ft. Cascades trail, the replica of a stone age petroglyph that was discovered here can be seen".
~ photo by Carol E Fairbanks © 2014

"A close up view of the petroglyph seems to have "eyes" from the past looking at you."
~ photo by Carol E Fairbanks

Like Lewis and Clark, I also saw the gorgeous river views and high rocky cliffs of the gorge, as I hiked the 4 mile wildlife walk on Strawberry Island. Lewis and Clark, while on the Corps of Discovery expedition, discovered Strawberry Island, naming it for its profusion of strawberry vines. In hiking past grassy fields and rolling hills, at this Lewis and Clark Heritage Site, I saw at a distance, Beacon Rock, an 848 rock monolith, that is actually a core of an extinct volcano. Originally named by Lewis and Clark on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805, Clark noted in his journal that Beacon Rock was “a remarkable and big detached rock”…. and stated that it “stands as a beacon on the land.”

Walking this scenic path was truly an interesting and informative walk through history. As I followed the historic events of the past on this trail, I realized how the lives of those, who have passed through here before us, affect and influence the present. From their rich experience, they have left a legacy of knowledge and relationship to the land that influence us to the present day. Their vivid memory inspires us to stay committed to our ideals, in spite of any struggles we may encounter. They teach us about the flow of life experience, that continues regardless of any insurmountable obstacles that may happen. Today, we can see how everyone’s achievements in the past weave together a tapestry of human endurance and ingenuity. And this tapestry of remarkable experience, created by those courageous explorers, settlers and native indigenous people of the past, provides us with a foundation upon which we can “walk” into the future.

The Native American saying, “Every step you take is supported by 1000 ancestors” came alive, as I walked along those trails by the Columbia River. The wisdom those people of the past have contributed to the present by their courage and determination now guides us through the ideals we are striving to manifest today. Their legacy has become our treasure, as we keep striving toward a better existence for all. So, just because we can’t see a person or structure any longer, doesn’t mean it’s presence is not here. The essence of the words and deeds of all beings are always available to us, helping us learn and grow… and maybe that even includes the “wild man of the woods”!