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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Pancho Villa State Park, Columbus NM

Looking up-trail from the line cabin, Dog Canyon Trail, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Alamogordo NM, February 2, 2008
Looking up-trail from the line cabin, Dog Canyon Trail, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico, February 2, 2008

The trail up Dog Canyon is a bit steep above the line cabin

Too steep for me. I don't think I'm in shape to tackle this next section of trail up and out of the canyon. I've come far enough for these old bones today; 2.9 miles according to the trail brochure. It's time to head back down to the campground.

Night camp

Site 29 - Pancho Villa State Park, Columbus NM

Proficiency in Knowledge of the World

There are all degrees of proficiency in knowledge of the world. It is sufficient, to our present purpose, to indicate three. One class lives to the utility of the symbol; esteeming health and wealth a final good. Another class live above this mark to the beauty of the symbol; as the poet, and artist, and the naturalist, and man of science. A third class live above the beauty of the symbol to the beauty of the thing signified; these are the wise men. The first class have common sense; the second, taste; and the third, spiritual perception. Once in a long time, a man traverses the whole scale, and sees and enjoys the symbol solidly; then also has a clear eye for its beauty, and lastly, while he pitches his tent on this sacred volcanic isle of nature, does not offer to build houses and barns thereon, reverencing the splendor of the God which he sees bursting through each chink and cranny.

Essay VII, Prudence Ralph Waldo Emerson

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