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CynthiaL
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Aug 14, 2009 - 09:55am PT
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Nature,
I haven't been able to post for a few days but my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry for your loss.
I have 3 dogs and one of them is very old, so I'm facing the same situation in the not too distant future.
Hang in there
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2009 - 01:33pm PT
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Over the weekend I ventured to Winslow Wall to pay my final tribute to my girl. I miss her so much. I realized while moving through this weekend that it was time I let go of that piece in me that really makes me hurt - makes me cry. I have to move past the mourning so that I can begin to remember the beautiful years we spent together with a sweetness.
When I picked her ashes up from the cemetery they included this:
I need to find a small urn for what is left of her ashes.
I picked up Sandy in Prescott and kept heading to Winslow. We arrived at dark. I was very surprised to be greeted by three of my best friends. I knew Pensylenvy (Tim) would be there, found out in route that Dave (The Doctor) was also coming, and as I rolled up I saw Rich's (Riotch) rig. Bosco, Snook and Jack greeted our arrival.
After downing a couple beers I stumbled around the rim of the canyon looking for just the right rock. It found me.
After doing the above work Friday night I brought it out to a special place overlooking the canyon and placed it.
her view forever
I returned to the truck and grabbed the ashes and headed back out there. Dave, Rich, and Tim joined me. I drank a cold beer with her before they arrived and then we smoked a summit bowl.
From the rim of the canyon I spread her ashes. The decent gully where she spent so many years in "the hole" is right below her memorial. She'll live on there forever.
I first started going to Winslow in 2002. I can't recall a trip out there when Summit wasn't with us. We spent dozens and dozens of weekends out there while developing routes. As I return there and look around to see our work I recognize that we did a great job in very special place. Summit was a big part of the energy we put in.
Rest in peace my friend. I'll never forget you and will always miss you.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Aug 24, 2009 - 01:45pm PT
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Philo, Nature, beautiful sad stories.
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Denise Umstot
climber
somewhere by the beach
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Aug 24, 2009 - 01:49pm PT
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Nature what a great tribute to Summit. She will always have a special place in your heart! Thanks for sharing your story with us. You done good :)
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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Aug 24, 2009 - 02:04pm PT
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Nice.
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Jobee
Social climber
El Portal
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Aug 24, 2009 - 02:11pm PT
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Weeping.
Find your peace Nature; she is with you.
Jo
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MisterE
Trad climber
Canoga Porn, CA
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Aug 24, 2009 - 02:12pm PT
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Man, that is just such a great story and tribute.
It tears me up I couldn't make this one.
I know the spot - my next trip to Winslow will include a Summit stop.
Erik
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 24, 2009 - 02:18pm PT
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Thanks, Doug - a very proper send off to a dear friend.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Aug 24, 2009 - 03:57pm PT
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that is a beautiful spot... what a wonderful place for Summit.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Aug 24, 2009 - 06:11pm PT
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Someone said to my wife a few weeks ago while walking our dog:
"I have had many good dogs in my life but you only get 1 GREAT one"
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 24, 2009 - 06:16pm PT
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hey there nature, say... thanks for the lovely share for the summit memorial and her ashes... hope you also got your mail okay, since you were gone...
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 24, 2009 - 06:26pm PT
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Your daughter and companion loves you.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Aug 24, 2009 - 06:54pm PT
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Rest in peace girl.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Aug 24, 2009 - 07:00pm PT
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Thanks for sharing with us Doug
Though I don't know how bad you feel,
we've all lost our friends, and I wish it could be
easier for us.
Best wishes.
Steve
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L
climber
a blue ocean full of whales
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Aug 24, 2009 - 07:11pm PT
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Well...here go the tears again...damn...thought I was over this.
Thank you for sharing your Summit with us, Doug.
Blessings to you both for her journey.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Aug 24, 2009 - 07:14pm PT
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it is stunning how poignant and important our relationships with animals can be. It would be easy to propose that we merely bring or merely project most of what we think is there between us and a loved animal and thus are only looking in the mirror. But it turns out they are giving back all they can--- their utmost--- and do infuse the bond with a great deal of their own personage, again, all they can.
The loyalty and deep-seated nature of their ties with us are second to none in the universe, frankly. That all of them, nearly, don’t live long, is of course just horrible but is also just the way things are. I miss my Sokari terribly, my most favorite Ridgeback female ever and I know that your relationship with Summit must have exceeded mine with Sokari even.
It is hard to understand that when they do leave that it has to be okay, that it is actually good given their bodies and the horror of how they must age the way they do, trapped in a body like everbody else. It is often just as sad though, when a much-loved animal partner survives his or her human.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2009 - 07:15pm PT
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yeah, I wasn't expecting it. I had gone to pick up her ashes, told myself to try and keep it together and then she pulled the foot print out of the bag.
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L
climber
a blue ocean full of whales
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Aug 24, 2009 - 07:17pm PT
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That little paw print...has me sobbing.
They're all looking at me here at the Orifice. And I don't care.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2009 - 07:19pm PT
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she told me.... when you look in the the sky the first star you see is Summit looking down at you. I've gone outside a few nights and looked up. And I saw her.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2009 - 07:25pm PT
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This is the sunset from to day of Summit's memorial. Though this is a typical beautiful! sunset, one similar to so many I've enjoyed out there, it's different. It's her last/first one.
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