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"mountains are calling and i must go"

See how this famous John Muir quote keeps KAVU lifstyler/photographer, Max Seigal and his partner in crime (and writer) Helen Smith, inspired to find adventure.....and peace, in the mountains

By KAVU

August 7^th, 2018

I opened my heavy eyes to find the night was still upon us.

We had spent the whole day driving to arrive at the Wind River Range....an unfamiliar place to us.

Before finding a camping spot we decided to make a quick stop in the nearest town to refuel the car, collect provisions and plan our route. As we walked around the quaint town of Pinedale, we took it upon ourselves to ask the locals about the best camping and fishing spots. Determined to find the right location, we wanted to catch our dinner fresh from the river. Little did we know, fly fishing is not as easy as we thought.

After chatting with the locals and scanning the map for our "ideal" location, we decided upon Green River.

The night was bitterly cold...

.....but we were warm and cozy in our double sleeping bag. I turned around and noticed Max was still sleeping and didn’t want to wake him, so I laid still and stared up through our open tent, gazing at the magnificent display of stars. The Milky Way was more clear than I had ever seen. I peered across the river, my eyes adjusting to the darkness of night, and was completely captivated by the mountains that seemed to be glistening in the starlight.

as morning approached....

.....we woke to sounds of birds chirping and the first rays of sun peeking over the mountain tops. The mist slowly crept into the valley and we watched it flow across the rive - over the grassy banks. There was still a chill in the air so, we made hot chai tea and huddled in our sleeping bag to keep warm until the sun crested over the peaks.

Green River is absolutely stunning

– by far, one of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes in the lower 48. There was a calmness in the air, and no rush to leave. We had no plan of what was next or where to go. It felt amazing.....as though time had slowed down.

We were able to relax at camp and appreciate the splendor of the outdoors. I couldn’t help but feel I belong out here... in nature…It takes me out of the ordinary, frees me from the fast pace of society, and relieves me of worries and stress.

When we go camping, we embrace the relaxed pace. There is no anxiety, no rush. Time becomes a long-lost construct of society and simply fades away.

When I find myself in a location with no people, I feel a sense of solitude and loneliness. But at the same time, I feel incredibly connected with the animals, the landscape, and have the mountains for company. I can’t help but feel a strong relationship with the outside world....

....like this is where I belong.

john muir said it best-

"The mountains are calling, and I must go".

His words are, in a way, an invitation to explore the wild world around us. It is a call to journey to mountains near and far and seek out mystery within them. The mountains will always provide stories to tell -- some days they hide away in the clouds and other days they tower menacingly over us. They are dangerous yet beautiful, and reveal endless discoveries.

It is this grace and magnificence of the mountains that keeps me coming back.

Footnotes

Max Seigal and Helen Smith are KAVU lifestylers to the core! It’s all about adventure and making the choice to be happy and love life. We think they're on the right path!

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FootNotes

Max Seigal and Helen Smith are KAVU lifestylers to the core! It’s all about adventure and making the choice to be happy and love life. We think they're on the right path!

Havasupai 2025

"mountains are calling and i must go"

See how this famous John Muir quote keeps KAVU lifstyler/photographer, Max Seigal and his partner in crime (and writer) Helen Smith, inspired to find adventure.....and peace, in the mountains

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