On Sunday, July 8th, ten hikers met in still quiet fog at the Forks of Cranberry Trailhead on the Highlands Scenic Highway. After introductions, we set out through the drenched low growth in a comfortable silence. We tried to be attentive to all sounds and sights, walking mindfully and gently. The 2-1/2 mile walk on Black Mountain to Elephant Rocks is fairly stony at first, still recovering from a 1937 fire that burned down through the soil. Spruce, birch, cherry and other hardwood trees are far from mature, but provide habitat for many birds and bears.

Elephant Rocks presented themselves mysteriously in the fog. Exploring the weathered and intriguing forms for a good lunch spot, we found a bowl- shaped formation where we sat in a circle so close together it might be better described as a teacup. Four hikers, natives of Korea, ate beautifully-prepared rice and seaweed dishes with chopsticks. Exotic pickles and fresh fruits were passed around. My peanut butter sandwich on homemade wheat bread seemed very ordinary!

After lunch we found a more expansive area for our period of sitting meditation. First, each of us quietly looked closely at our surroundings and found something to bring to a central place. As each person found a suitable spot for sitting, a prayer of thanksgiving in the Native American tradition was spoken. Then we meditated.

Sitting meditation experiences vary widely, and meditators come to expect thoughts to rise up and float across one’s consciousness. Our youngest hiker, a 15-year-old girl from Bethesda, Maryland, wearing new boots, had been meditating on her painful blister! I used the Highlands Conservancy’s first aid kit to clean and band-aid the blister, and Larry Kaeser. fashioned moleskin to prevent further injury. The spirit AND the flesh were attended to on this hike!

Following our meditation, we had tea. Chung Moon mixed Chinese and Vietnamese green tea in two tiny Chinese teapots. We drank three rounds as we spoke of ancient ceremonies and philosophies surrounding tea.

As we started back, the sun broke through the fog and our mood became more expansive. The smooth stimulation of green tea prompted conversation and we all got to know each other better. In addition to the Bethesda hikers, folks from Elkins, Huttonsville, Charleston, Lewis County, and southern Upshur County participated in this Mountain Odyssey event.