Man Verses Nature

By David Appleton

A collection of poems and pictures compiled from a lifetime of the author's outdoor adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Appleton
• Release date: Jun 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005368173

David Appleton

David Appleton was born and raised in Denton, Texas and fell in love with the enchantment of wild places as a toddler and ultimately went on to work as a professional outdoor guide, leader and adventure company owner for some 30 years. Through the years, he traveled to and led groups into a wide array of places doing all sorts of outdoor sports and activities. From climbing on Huayna Potosi and Sajama in Bolivia, Mt. Hunter in Alaska and Argentina’s Aconcagua; to mapping lost trails and trekking the remote reaches of Copper Canyon; mountain biking Porcupine Rim, Slick Rock and Poison Spider in Moab along with Colorado’s Monarch Crest and more than just a few rocky, obscure trails in the Texas Hill Country; exploring jungles in the Oriente of Ecuador and on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and to backpacking the Wind River Range, Mexico’s Maderas del Carmen and all over the Colorado Rockies- he was ultimately able to experience an astounding array of some of the world’s greatest adventure destinations. And on top of it all, he got to do it with a wide array of compelling characters.He ultimately based his business, Outpost Wilderness Adventure (OWA), in the wilds of the Tarryall Mountains of Colorado. Currently, he resides in the Texas Hill Country.

Book preview

Mystery

Watching a mountain sunset

Walking somewhere

And not knowing why.

To lands unknown

With limitless sky.

Step into a world

Without any walls.

The possibilities are endless

And mystery calls.

Climb the mountain

Because it’s there.

Sit on a summit

Where you’re free to stare.

Savor the moments

When discomforts befall,

And you figure it out

To answer the call.

Consider tomorrow,

Yet today’s cold and wet.

Because a place warm and dry,

Waits for you yet.

Clear rivers roar onward,

Canyons bleed blues,

Caves full of darkness,

Countless colors and hues.

Its magic surrounds us

Wherever we go.

To bolster our moments

And add to the show.

New people and places-

The unknown awaits.

Move ever onward

And pass through those gates.

Dancing to Beyond

Wander with intent

And dance with the winds.

They’ll lead you down the trail

To a place where life transcends.

Feel the ground beneath your feet

As you twirl and whirl and swirl.

Move into unknown spaces,

See nature’s light unfurl.

Hear the heartbeat as it rumbles,

Feel the rhythm throbbing sweetly.

Smell the roses in their glory,

Pass the moments indiscreetly.

Go where the breezes take you,

Let your limits fall behind.

Be a whirlwind marching onward

Full of pureness unrefined.

Turn loose of what constrains you

As you enter what’s ahead,

Then marvel at where you’ve gone

And at the place your path has led.

Outdoor Adventure Is…

Unexpected suspension bridge- Copper Canyon, Mexico

The goal chosen wisely

And the journey planned well.

The unknown awaits

With stories to tell.

The first step is telling,

Confirms the intent.

And each one that follows

Is sure to augment.

Calm and smooth sailing

Is widely perceived.

The plan moves on forward,

Just as conceived.

Cloudless skies and well-marked trails,

Stoves that work and wind-filled sails.

Cars that run and sturdy shoes,

And healthy heals and happy news.

But then,

A storm looms to the west

And the trail sign is gone.

There’s no way to cook food,

And good breezes elude.

The engine won’t start

And your boots come apart.

Big blisters have formed,

And the news has transformed.

When plans go awry

And you wonder why.

Don’t cry for what’s not,

Think of all that you’ve got.

Be excited when curveballs

Come your way.

Because then is when,

Real adventures begin.

The Incessant Wind

The road to Batopilas- Copper Canyon, Mexico

Turn and face the wind

And feel the voice

Touch your skin.

Close your eyes

And drink it in.

To your past

You are akin.

An unknown something

Makes you stir.

What’s behind you

Is a blur.

Some people, paths, and places

Are familiar yet unknown.

You see no one with you on your journey,

Yet you never feel alone.

Yesterday is always there

Standing quietly by your side.

Forever it is with you,

As your mentor and your guide.

Whether it slaps you in the face

Or nudges at your back,

The wind is your friend

And helps you down the track.

No matter if it roars

Or sings a lullaby,

It always blows around you

And will never say goodbye.

So, rejoice that it’s there.

Know the power of your yore.

Seize the moments of your day

And treasure