Rexroth's Mountain Camping Guide
 

Poet, painter, essayist, translator, and anarchist social critic, Kenneth
Rexroth was also a highly experienced camper and mountaineer. In 1939 he
wrote a guidebook, "CAMPING IN THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS",
which was never published. The complete text of this book is now being
reproduced for the first time at the Bureau of Public Secrets website:
http://www.bopsecrets.org/rexroth/camping .

Despite the passage of time, a remarkable proportion of Rexroth's advice
remains valid and useful. Newer campers will find good general guidelines;
experienced ones will pick up some fine points while no doubt fervently
disagreeing with one or another of Rexroth's opinions; and even
stay-at-homes should enjoy the wry comments that are sprinkled throughout
the book.

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"The ideal camp is a miniature anarchist community, straight out of
Kropotkin. Each goes about his appointed task quietly and efficiently, the
functions of the group are shared with spontaneous equality, problems are
settled by consultation rather than controversy, and whatever leadership
exists is based solely on experience and ability. . . . Each group that
hikes or rides along the trail by day contented and alert, and makes camp at
night 'decently and in order' is a sort of test tube or kindergarten of the
good life. So don't forget, when it's your turn to wash the dishes, the
centuries are watching you."

"In the city the geometrical lines of streets and buildings are only
interrupted with the stale surprises of advertising posters, and the faces
one encounters reveal biographies less eventful than most rocks. The
mountain landscape is infinitely varied and constantly changing. Movement is
free, easy, relaxed; the streams are full of fish, the trees are full of
birds, flowers grow by the trail, deer jump from their coverts, even the air
is intoxicating. It is the fact that we are on our way that is important,
where we are going is a minor detail."



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BUREAU OF PUBLIC SECRETS
http://www.bopsecrets.org

"Making petrified conditions dance by singing them their own tune."