Last week I had the chance to hike up to the Elphin Lakes.  There had been a few days of heavy rain, and the clouds were still thick. 

But, I had a willing partner and had been waiting and wanting to do this particular hike for the last 2 years.
The weather wasn't great, but the opportunity was, and I know that a cloudy sky can turn sunny, if I get my energy up.

The picture above is a view back down to the estuary at Squamish, the head of Howe Sound in the coastal mountains of SouthWest British Columbia. Up at the Red Heather cabin we passed another couple, but didn't see anyone else until just after the 5km to the lakes sign.

There we came upon a single soul with a blue trim around the top of his knee high hiking boots. He asked if either of us was a doctor or paramedic.

His group was just ahead a km or so, one had had a heart attack.  They had been trying to give him cpr, but he wasn't responding.  This man was acting sentinel, positioned on a high point of level ground, to guide the rescue helicopter which had already been summoned.

My first response was almost one of joy...what an incredible, beautiful, inspirational place to transition between worlds!

We turned the corner, and saw the group on the path ahead.
A soft woman with a few tears sat with him.  She tenderly applied a moistened cloth to his forehead, and gently asked him please to come back if he could.
Dez decided to sprint the remaining 3km to the rangers cabin, just in case he was there, and could help. 

I asked if I could stay and pray a while, and help bless the passing, for I didn't feel any life left in the body.

There was a large white stone, just above, so I went up there and sat, hands together for a while.  It was most peaceful and serene.

It felt like a grand celebration really.  I had overheard one of the party saying that they had been walking and talking, and he had been saying that everything was pretty good, that his son had finally gotten his life together, and that everything was good.

And there it felt the perfect ending...complete, satisfying, peaceful and very, very beautiful.

We can only hope to go in such a way, well maybe not all of us, but myself for sure.