no.2

no.2
By Sarah Canelas
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument/Wild Rivers, NM

While traveling down to the river, I thought about the relationship between transition and exchange.
With the week before that we had spent at the Headwaters of the Rio Grande, we had lived alongside the river. Some closer, some farther—but we had all been in easy distance of it. I had wandered down at any time of day, only taking minutes to reach it.

That was not the case at Wild Rivers. Our camp was atop of the gorge—and the Rio Grande at the very bottom. In deciding to visit the river, we had to take one of the trails down; it required a larger amount of consideration, planning, and care. It took intention.

Suddenly, what had been an easy trip, had become a sort-of journey. Almost a pilgrimage.
It became important: my purpose for visiting, what I wanted to collect or receive, and what I was taking with me. The whole action could no longer be taken arbitrarily, and because of that those factors became a greater part of the transition. It felt closer to an exchange of sorts—physical, emotional, intentional.

I regret that didn’t get down to the Rio Grande for a second visit.