From The Top Of Fox Creek Meadow, Looking Over Fox Creek Canyon, Storm Clouds and Threat of Rain Are Seen.

…. “I’m ready for a nap, but clouds have formed in the canyon that appear ready to drop rain. They’ve filled in the canyon so that we can’t see the bottom and can just barely see the ridge on the other side. .. I break open the packs and get the tent halves out, “

Continued At A Higher Up Flat Spot Knoll, On Side Of A Smaller Canyon Of Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. The /\ Above /\ Photo shows =>
..A) The clouds I observed when I hiked up to in Summer 06. These clouds did actually produce light rain about an hour earlier.
..B) Fox Creek Meadow has been mostly grass, for a very long time. No reason gas been found for why and how this meadow does not grow to dense forest, as is seen all around
..C) As shown on my Hypothetical Climbing Trail Topo Map, the Narrator's Hypothetical Camping Spot, N+C 12, locates in the lowest green trees, at left side of /\ Above /\ Photo.
..****************..
….On My Visits Here In Summer2002, And Summer2006, the locations I explored are (also) marked on my previous mentioned Hypothetical Climbing Trail Topo Maps. =>. These are at Way Points 215 thru 226, where I observed a few very small trees, but mostly lots of open grass places, which in turn is consistent with logging, and thus not candidates for Narrator's camp sites.
….This in in contrast to what I saw at WayPts 407 thru 507, which were not very far away from Fox Creek Meadow, but had dense forests. (NOTE: Not all WayPt numbers in these ranges were used!)
….These latter forests looked like the Narrator's forest at his "flat spot, = a large knoll protruding from the side of the mountain.“, as shown in his 1968 Photo, discussed previous photo. ….

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(Photo = September2006 0063 ...... ZMM Page = 201 ...... Photo simulate area near WayPt = N+C 12cont2 7080ft)

The Next Morning’s Climb Is Now Easier.

….“We still have a lot of climbing to do, but on the trail we discover it’s easier than yesterday.“

Easier Climbing Up The Mountainside, Gallatin National Forest, MT I have "spread out" the WayPts on my Hypothetical Climbing Trail so as to fit the relative difficulty described by the Narrator as they approach, and then move up to the upper part of the ridge to “the summit“ and the Narrator’s “Blue Sky” Climax. I have included a “come back at an upward angle along to the ridge,.“ This is WayPt = N+C 18 thru 23.

NEW TOPIC For Photo Captions Of This Album => How Elevations For N+C WayPoints (Caption Bottom Line) Are Determined. With Thanks to TopoZone.com
…. I have shown N+C WayPoint elevations according to the Topo Map Contour Lines as labeled on my .. "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail" Topo Maps.=> Click here for instructions and links to ZMM Bozeman Mountain Hypothetical Climb Trail Topo Maps, which opens new browser. If you are looking at my Topo Maps in This Album => Plz remember to Click Map Photo several times to get largest version, AND THEN hold CTRL and press the + Plus Key, to Make Topp Map Even larger.

..****************..
….When at first I was finding the elevations for the WayPts, I mistakenly read the darker brown contours as every 100ft. Later I realized these are every 200ft. Please be alert that => I may not have corrected all residual errors.
..****************..

You May Wish To Do Your OWN Study the Gallatin National Forest Trails & Road & Terrane, Using => These Excellent Topo Maps by TopoZone.com …. This Topographical (Topo) Map Opens Showing Gallatin National Forest’s => Mount Blackmore & Elephant Mountain, At Lower Left. Click Here.. AFTER Map Come Up > Immediately Click U Left > Symbol For FULL SCREEN. (Then=> A) Wait about 30 seconds for the load of the Topo Map to fill your whole screen, AND B) A lot of annoying advertisements, will be gone.

SIDE NOTE: When viewing any of the TopoZone Maps => The URL line at your Browser Top, (often) shows the GPS Coordinate Numbers. By carefully changing these Coordinate Numbers, you can view a Topo Map of some other area
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(Photo = September2006 0075 ...... ZMM Page = 203 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 13 7800ft = 7.45 mi fm DeWeese.)
….AND if you have any other trail suggestions, some actual climb experience of these NF Mountains, or any other information => Please Email => HenryG__USCA.edu
….***********

The Narrator and Chris Experience Heavy Forest Where There Is No Brush and Few Low Branches Due To Lack of Sun.

…. “We’re getting to the rounded upper portion of the ridge and the slope isn’t as steep. It looks as though the pines have never been cut here. All direct light is shut out from the forest floor and there’s no underbrush at all. Just a springy floor of needles that’s open and spacious and easy hiking . . . . .. Time to get on with the Chautauqua and the second wave of crystallization, the metaphysical one. .. “

Heavily Forested Mountainside Leading Up To A Ridge, Gallatin National Forest, MT. Here is another important clue on how to find the Narrator's probable route into these mountains: Look for pine forests that have not been cut for a long time prior to 1968. This should be in the Forest Service records.
….Places good for "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail " will have the absence of logging roads in general area. Stay away from the numerous logging access roads marked on the topo map. In fact one of these rough and ready logging roads was how I drove my car up to WayPt 500.
….Logging roads are marked with double dashed lines. Well traveled foot & bicycle trails, are a single dashed line. You will see both various places, on my Hypothetical Climbing Trail Topo Map.
….Some of my photos used to illustrate this climb, show relatively open forest with only small trees. This likely shows the re-growth after logging, since such photos were taken near the upper reach of a logging road. By contrast, some of these photos show wonderful high pines and dense dark forest. These were on steep slopes and a greater distance from the logging road. You may see an example of these great trees in previous photo 0070.
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(Photo = September2006 0048 ...... ZMM Page = 203 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 13i ~7800ft = 7.45+0.3 mi fm DeWeese.)

Deeper Into the Forest, the Dense Upper Branches Shut Out Sun Light. Thus Between the Trees It Is Open For Spacious Parklike Steady Climbing.

….“I see a deer move about two hundred yards ahead and above us through the pines. I try to point it out to Chris, but by the time he looks it’s gone." “

Moving Along A Wide Forested Valley, Toward A Ridge, Gallatin National Forest, MT. Trail clues for field checks: Due to the dense forest canopy and resulting openness between the trees at vision level, the Narrator can easily see a deer at 200 yards.
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In Order To More Clearly See The Separate WayPts (And Contour Lines)For N+C 14 thru 28, Right Click & Open In New Tab, to View a Close Up Topo Map.
..****************..
DATE-LINE: May 17, 2021. by Henry Gurr.
….AN EXPLANATION OF CAPTION EDIT REVISIONS FOR THE NEXT FOUR PHOTOS.
….As originally posted (2003 to 2010), this Album’s Photos & Captions were planned around the original trail conclusion that the "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail" should have 11 separate photos & captions, one for each WayPt = N+C 14 thru 24.
…However, further study revealed, that the ZMM Narrative fits into 3 photos.
……Of course this new conclusion, calls for revisions in the specified WayPt N+C##’s => Thus it was it was decided Re--Define the following WayPt Series => N+C 14, N+C 15 with field study to determine a good route to N+C 23, N+C 24.
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(Photo = 108 0895c2 ...... ZMM Page = 207 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 14 8840ft = 8.16 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Climb Is Steep Enough To Require Special Foot Work.
….And Here Is The Start Of The Upward & Gradual Building of the Narrator’s Chautauqua, As To The Nature of Quality

….“ Chris shouts, "When are we going to get to the top?" .. "Probably quite a way yet," I reply. .. "Will we see a lot?" .. "I think so. Look for blue sky between the trees. As long as we can’t see sky we know it’s a way yet. The light will come through the trees when we round the top." .. Last night’s rain has soaked this soft duff of needles sufficiently to make them good walking. Sometimes when it’s really dry on a slope like this they become slippery and you have to dig your feet into them edgewise or you’ll slide down. .. I say to Chris, "Isn’t it great when there’s no underbrush like this?" .. "Why isn’t there any?" he asks. .. "I think this area must never have been logged. When a forest is left alone like this for centuries, the trees shut out all the underbrush." .. "It’s like a park," Chris says. "You can sure see all around." His mood seems much better than yesterday. I think he’ll be a good traveler from here on. This forest silence improves anyone. .. “
….[Here the Narrator tells us of Phaedrus’ earlier conclusions on the Nature of Quality, then the story starts a build to more & more clarity => ]
.....“He noted that although normally you associate Quality with objects, feelings of Quality sometimes occur without any object at all. This is what led him at first to think that maybe Quality is all subjective. But subjective pleasure wasn’t what he meant by Quality either. Quality decreases subjectivity. Quality takes you out of yourself, makes you aware of the world around you. Quality is opposed to subjectivity.
....I don’t know how much thought passed before he arrived at this, but eventually he saw that Quality couldn’t be independently related with either the subject or the object but could be found only in the relationship of the two with each other. It is the point at which subject and object meet.
....That sounded warm.
....Quality is not a thing. It is an event.
....Warmer.
....It is the event at which the subject becomes aware of the object.
....And because without objects there can be no subject—because the objects create the subject’s awareness of himself—Quality is the event at which awareness of both subjects and objects is made possible.
....Hot. . “....

Upward, Moving Towards To A Climax Ridge, Gallatin National Forest, MT. Another trail clue => This slope is quiet and steep enough to require “dig your feet into them edgewise“ This tells us that perhaps they are following a sideways slant up the slope? Since this was not mentioned previously, it may mean this kind of steepness did not happen previously, or is such an angle of approach not needed previously
….Of course the Narrator may be merely looking for a new way to tell the story. Or perhaps we should not read too much into this.
….Similar analysis could be applied to the Narrator's "Isn’t it great when there’s no underbrush like this?" Did this not happen previously, or we reading too much into this? Either way, these are possible field consistency check for the correct trail hypothesis.
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(Photo = September2006 0047 ...... ZMM Page = 213 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 15 9000ft = 8.30 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Continued Gradual Building of the Narrator’s Chautauqua, Until They Will Reach a Dramatic Climax!
….Correspondingly Chris Joyously Reaches The Top Of The Ridge. This Turns Out To Be The Highest Point in His Mountain Climb

.....[ “ …. Eventually he saw that Quality couldn’t be independently related with either the subject or the object but could be found only in the relationship of the two with each other. It is the point at which subject and object meet.
....That sounded warm.
....Quality is not a thing. It is an event.
....Warmer.
....It is the event at which the subject becomes aware of the object.
....And because without objects there can be no subject—because the objects create the subject’s awareness of himself—Quality is the event at which awareness of both subjects and objects is made possible.
....Hot. . “ ]... …..
….“ Now he knew it was coming.
.....“ This means Quality is not just the result of a collision between subject and object. The very existence of subject and object themselves is deduced from the Quality event. The Quality event is the cause of the subjects and objects, which are then mistakenly presumed to be the cause of the Quality!
....Now he had that whole damned evil dilemma by the throat. The dilemma all the time had this unseen vile presumption in it, for which there was no logical justification, that Quality was the effect of subjects and objects. It was not! He brought out his knife.
...."The sun of quality," he wrote, "does not revolve around the subjects and objects of our existence. It does not just passively illuminate them. It is not subordinate to them in any way. It has created them. They are subordinate to it! .. And at that point, when he wrote that, he knew he had reached some kind of culmination of thought he had been unconsciously striving for over a long period of time.
.... "Blue sky!" shouts Chris.
.... There it is, way above us, a narrow patch of blue through the trunks of the trees.
.... We move faster and the patches of blue become larger and larger through the trees …. ."

Near Mountain Ridge Crest, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT.
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(Photo = September2006 0074 ...... ZMM Page = 215 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 23 9080ft = 9.25 mi fm DeWeese.)
NOTE: As previously mentioned => A complete field study is needed, to determine a good route from WayPt N+C 15, to N+C 23 & N+C 24. Thus the final decided "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail”, may or may not use the Narrator’s “Double Back" included in => WayPt N+C 16 thru N+C 22.
***********

They Break Into the Open and Make A Run For the Top of a Ridge!

….[“We move faster and the patches of blue become larger and larger through the trees.” ] ”and soon we see that the trees thin out to a bare spot at the summit. When the summit is about fifty yards away I say, "Let’s go!" and start to dash for it, throwing into the effort all the reserves of energy I’ve been saving. I give it everything I have, but Chris gains on me. Then he passes me, giggling. With the heavy load and high altitude we’re not setting any records but now we’re just charging up with all we have. .. Chris gets there first, while I just break out of the trees. He raises his arms and shouts, "The Winner!"
.... Egotist.
.... I’m breathing so hard when I arrive I can’t speak.

The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. If you search the internet for information Concerning Hiking Trails, in these mountains of Gallatin National Forest, you will find many sites that describe the Gallatin National Forest Trails into mountains that have Summer snow, such as Mount Blackmore and Elephant Mountain. One such site said Mt. Blackmore was an old volcano.
….Well, the rock shown in the next photo, certainly looks like ancient lava volcanic rock!

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(Photo = September2006 0064 ...... ZMM Page =215 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 24 9220ft = 9.39 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Rock At The Mountain Top, Where Chris & Narrator Fall Asleep =>
…. After This Triple Climax: 1) The Narrator Has Achieved His Long Sought Key To Quality! 2) Chris, After His Long Struggle, Finally Achieves Joyous Triumph At the Ridge Top! AND 3) The ZMM Narrative, correspondingly, Brings Us As Readers To a Dramatic High Point Of The Climb Narrative!

….[He raises his arms and shouts, "The Winner!" .. Egotist. .. I’m breathing so hard when I arrive I can’t speak. ] We just drop our packs from our shoulders and lie down against some rocks. The crust of the ground is dry from the sun, but underneath is mud from last night’s rain.

The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of, Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. According to more than one WebSite, Mt. Blackmore is an old volcano. The presence of volcanic activity in the Mt Blackmore area, confirmed by the rock shown in the /\ Above /\ Photo. It certainly looks like ancient volcanic lava!
…. Click Here To View Panorama Photo With This Ancient Volcanic Rock, Proof Enough, That These Mountains, Have Volcanic Activity Beneath: Volcanic here, for the same reason as Yellowstone National Park, a mere 60 miles away.
….Click above for discussion (and further links) for IDEA that there is a Deep “HotSpot” now apparently under Yellowstone National Park, and eventually will create a spectacular super blast, making a much deeper and much larger caldera, than the ~45 Mile Diameter Caldera (from a 640,000 year ago), which formed the Ring of Mountains and Lake now there in central YNP.

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(Photo = September2006 0002 ...... ZMM Page =216 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 24cont1 9220ft = 9.39 mi fm DeWeese.)

From The High Areas Around Mount Blackmore, You Can See The Narrator’s . Gallatin Valley. At One Corner Of The Valley Is Bozeman. ..

….. Below us and miles away beyond the forested slopes and the fields beyond them is the Gallatin Valley. At one corner of the valley is Bozeman. A grasshopper jumps up from the rock and soars down and away from us over the trees. .. "We made it," Chris says. He is very happy. I am still too winded to answer. I take off my boots and socks which are soggy with sweat and set them out to dry on a rock. I stare at them meditatively as vapors from them rise up toward the sun. [End Chapter 20.]

The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. Yes! As can be seen in /\ Above /\ Photo, from the high areas around Mount Blackmore, you can see the Narrator’s . Gallatin Valley. At one corner of the valley is Bozeman. ..
…And also according to a GoogleEarth, a view of Bozeman, and the valley, is indeed possible from a ridge, at flank of, snow covered Mt. Blackmore.
….Note another Narrator's trail location clue => Evidently they can see the Gallatin Valley plus Bozeman from the high place where they rest, or at least see in that direction.
..****************..
For /\ Above /\ Photo, Our Thanks Go To SumitPost.org. Click Here For Photos & Info Re Mount Blackmore. :This page says =>
…. Mount Blackmore, located in the Gallatin National Forest, is a beautiful, volcanic peak located just south of Bozeman, Montana. Located just below the peak is Hyalite Canyon, a hang out for local climbers. Also, located at the base of Mount Blackmore is Hyalite Reservoir. The trail to Mount Blackmore is well used by locals from Bozeman.
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DATE-LINE: May 19, 2021. by Henry Gurr.
…REMEMBERING THAT => THERE ARE NO USELESS WASTED WORDS IN ZMM, WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF => " A Grasshopper Jumps Up From The Rock And Soars Down And Away From Us Over The Trees.." .
....….In Photo Album for ZMM Part II., you may remember assertion => “There are NO Useless Wasted Words in ZMM.” This was concerning Narrator saying => "A transparent-winged bug sets down from the heat on a stalk of grass by Chris’s foot. “.
…. The ZMM Book Enthusiast, reading either of the above, should go on to think HARD about this next sentence =>
....…. "We made it," Chris says. He is very happy. I am still too winded to answer. " .
...." => Chris is supper happy with his accomplishment, but Narrator can only call this "The Winner!" Egotist., AND in no way support or join Chris in his feeling of joy!
.... ..****************..
Is This Like These Other Bird Master Motifs? In which => Chris Needs Fatherly Support, Tries Repeatedly To Reach His Dad. But None Ever Comes. :-(( ..A) . “In the distance a single bird cries plaintively.”
..B) “... back up the logging road. As we climb it I get a sudden depressed feeling I’ve been walking up this logging road all my life.
...."Dad?"
...."What?" A small bird rises from a tree in front of us.
...."What should I be when I grow up?"
....The bird disappears over a far ridge. I don’t know what to say. "Honest," I finally say.
...."I mean what kind of a job?"
...."Any kind."
...."Why do you get mad when I ask that?"
...."I’m not mad . . . I just think . . . I don’t know . . . I’m just too tired to think . . . . It doesn’t matter what you do."
....Roads like this one get smaller and smaller and then quit.
....Later I notice he’s not keeping up.
....The sun is below the horizon now and twilight is on us. We walk separately back up the logging road and when we reach the cycle we climb into the sleeping bags and without a word go to sleep. ” [[The way Author Pirsig has written this, apparently the Narrator couldn’t do differently if wanted to. }}
..****************..
At the Start of Chapter 23.
….The Same happens EVEN The Narrators Bad Dreams of “The Glass Door”. :-(( ….... “There it is at the end of the corridor: a glass door. And behind it are Chris and on one side of him his younger brother and on the other side his mother. Chris has his hand against the glass. He recognizes me and waves. I wave back and approach the door.
....How silent everything is. Like watching a motion picture when the sound has failed.
....Chris looks up at his mother and smiles. She smiles down at him but I see she is only covering her grief. She’s very distressed about something but she doesn’t want them to see.
....And now I see what the glass door is. It is the door of a coffin—mine. ”
....
.... SUMMARY:
....….The above => " A Grasshopper Jumps Up From The Rock And Soars Down And Away From Us Over The Trees.." .
..A) of course is good story-telling ,and even might have actually happened.
..B) But in addition this should be taken as a telegram =>
..C) Telling us that => Important Momentous Events are here-abouts, AND Author Robert Pirsig uses this telegraph method to tell us, that he KNOWS this is an example of Narrator bad treatment, and father, to Chris!
....Is this such a Telegram? Is This Again, Author Pirsig’s method, to alert the reader => That Metaphorically, just as the Grasshopper goes down and away, so does any hope of help from the Narrator to Chris! =>
….A Powerful Unforgettable Series of Events. With the poignant, agony, RESULT, in this case =>
.... “..Later I notice he’s not keeping up.
....The sun is below the horizon now and twilight is on us. We walk separately back up the logging road and when we reach the cycle we climb into the sleeping bags and without a word go to sleep. ”
..****************..

....….If You Are Aware Of Other Similar Examples, Please Send Email To HenryG__USCA.edu

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(Photo = FmSummitPost.org AtTopOfMtBlackmore ViewOfGallatinValley&BozeanMT = 73854.jpg ...... ZMM Page =216 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 24cont2 9220ft = 9.39 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Narrator Studies the Route to the Snow. But Suddenly He the Sounds Of a Rock Slide, And Gradually becomes Badly Frightened

…. [Start Chapter 20]“ Evidently I’ve slept. The sun is hot. …
…. I look over the rock I’m leaning against and see Chris sound asleep on the other side. Way up above him the forest stops and barren grey rock leads into patches of snow. We can climb the back of this ridge straight up there, but it would be dangerous toward the top. I look up at the top of the mountain for a while.
…. A sound of falling rock draws my attention over to one side of the mountain. Nothing moves. Completely still. .. It’s all right. You hear little rockslides like this all the time.
.... Not so little sometimes, though. Avalanches start with little slides like that. If you’re above them or beside them, they’re interesting to watch. But if they’re above you...no help then. You just have to watch it come. .. “

The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT.
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(Photo = Summer2006 0062 ...... ZMM Page = 216 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 24cont3 9220ft = 9.39 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Mountains Look Peaceful, But the Narrator's Accelerating Bad Dreams and Imagined Threat of Avalanches Warn of Imminent Danger!

…. “As we walk along the summit toward the beginning of a ravine we hear another clattering sound of falling rock, much louder than the first one I heard just a while ago. I look up to see where it is. Still nothing.
.... "What was that?" Chris asks.
.... "Rockslide." .
…. We both stand still for a moment, listening. Chris asks, "Is there somebody up there?"
.... "No, I think it’s just melting snow that’s loosening stones. When it’s really hot like this in the early part of the summer you hear a lot of small rockslides. Sometimes big ones. It’s part of the wearing down of the mountains."
...."I didn’t know mountains wore out."
...."Not wore out, wore down. They get rounded and gentle. These mountains are still unworn."
.... Everywhere around us now, except above, the sides of the mountain are covered with blackish green of the forest. In the distance the forest looks like velvet.
....I say, "You look at these mountains now, and they look so permanent and peaceful, but they’re changing all the time and the changes aren’t always peaceful. Underneath us, beneath us here right now, there are forces that can tear this whole mountain apart."
...."Do they ever?"
...."Ever what?"
.... "Tear the whole mountain apart?"
.... "Yes," I say. Then I remember: "Not far from here there are nineteen people lying dead under millions of tons of rock. Everyone was amazed there were only nineteen." .. “

Leaving The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail " location clue, along a ridge that leads to snow => “ … we walk along the summit toward the beginning of a ravine . “

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(Photo = September2006 0069 ...... ZMM Page = 218 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 25 9200ft = 9.47 mi fm DeWeese.)

Better Not Climb to the Snow Today.
….Much To Chris’ Great Dismay, They Start Their Way Down.

….“Chris stares at the top of the mountain before us. "Didn’t they get any warning?" .. "I don’t know." .. "You’d think there’d be a warning."
.... "Maybe there was."
.... We walk to where the ridge we are on creases inward to the start of a ravine. I see that we can follow this ravine down and eventually find water in it. I start angling down now.
.... Some more rocks clatter up above. Suddenly I’m frightened.
.... "Chris," I say.
.... "What?" .. "You know what I think?"
.... "No, what?"
.... "I think we’d be very smart if we let that mountaintop go for now and try it another summer." …. “He’s silent. Then he says, "Why?"
...."I have bad feelings about it."
....He doesn’t say anything for a long time. Finally he says, "Like what?"
...."Oh, I just think that we could get caught up there in a storm or a slide or something and we’d be in real trouble."
....More silence. I look up and see real disappointment in his face. I think he knows I’m leaving something out. "Why don’t you think about it," I say, "and then when we get to some water and have lunch we’ll decide."
....We continue walking down. "Okay?" I say.
....He finally says, "Okay," in a noncommittal voice.
....The descent is easy now but I see it will be steeper soon. It’s still open and sunny here but soon we’ll be in trees again.
....I don’t know what to make of all this weird talk at night except that it’s not good. For either of us. It sounds like all the strain of this cycling and camping and Chautauqua and all these old places has a bad effect on me that appears at night. I want to clear out of here as fast as possible “. “

On The Way Down From The Top Of A Ridge Crest, On Flank Of Mountain With Snow, Above Upper Fox Creek, Off Of Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. The Narrator is frightened, because he remembers the 1959 Earthquake near Hebgen Lake which is on the main road, just west of Yellowstone NP, only ~40 miles away from where Chris & Narrator are.
….This earthquake caused a major landslide that killed nineteen people. By happenstance this Earthquake happened the same day Robert Pirsig (with his family) left his home in Minneapolis MN, to take up his teaching at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

In The ZMM Passage Above Note Several Trail Location Clues =>
….Chris has struggled all this way, to the top of a ridge that leads directly to snow. Here he is very close to the snow and can see it in all it’s grandeur, all the way to the very top of the big mountain, just up the slope. No wonder he will be disappointed and resist the idea on going down!!
….This is because Chris has no way to really understand the possible danger, and no way to feel the same frightening danger of his Dad’s bad dreams, or threat of his Dad’s mental instability. …ALL of these FEARS are VERY MUCH on the mind of the Narrator!! But Chris doesn’t have any way to know this.
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(Photo = September2006 0034 ...... ZMM Page = 219 & 229 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 25cont 9200ft = 9.47+0.2 mi fm DeWeese)

They Must Struggle Their Way Down Through Dense Underbrush!

….“ I don’t suppose that sounds like the old days to Chris either. I spook very easily these days, and am not ashamed to admit it. He never spooked at anything. Never. That’s the difference between us. That’s why I’m alive and he’s not. If he’s up there, some psychic entity, some ghost, some Doppelgänger waiting up there for us in God knows what fashion . . . well, he’s going to have to wait a long time. A very long time.
…..These damned heights get eerie after a while. I want to go down, way down; far, far down.
….To the ocean. That sounds right. Where the waves roll in slowly and there’s always a roar and you can’t fall anywhere. You’re already there.
…. Now we enter the trees again, and the sight of the mountaintop is obscured by their branches and I’m glad. “ …[skiping ahead seven pages to where Narrator says he is now finished with Phaedrus’ high level ideal ideas, and starts on his own development of low level, down-to-earth Quality. …. ]
“ …. From here on it looks like a slow descent. This slope has evidently been logged and there’s a lot of underbrush higher than our heads that makes it slow going. We’ll have to work our way around it.“

On The Way Down To Hyalite Creek, Gallatin National Forest, MT. In ZMM Passage above => Note several more trail location clues.
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(Photo = September2006 00147 ...... ZMM Page = 230 & 231 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 26 9200ft = 10.02 mi fm DeWeese.)

The Narrator and Chris Continue On An Extremely Difficult Way Down.

….“We’re on steep mucky soil now that’s hard to keep a footing in. We grab branches and shrubs to steady ourselves. I take a step, then figure where my next step will be, then take this step, then look again. Soon the brush becomes so thick I see we will have to hack through it. I sit down while Chris gets the machete from the pack on my back. He hands it to me, then, hacking and chopping, I head into the brush. It’s slow going. Two or three branches must be cut for every step. It may go on like this for a long time. For the remainder of the afternoon we climb down over grey weathered trunks of deadfalls and angle back and forth on the steep slope.“

Moving Down Mucky Soil In Heavy Underbrush On Way Towards Hyalite Creek, Gallatin National Forest, MT. Note several additional trail location clues.

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DATE-LINE: May 19, 2021 by Henry Gurr.
…REMEMBERING THAT THERE ARE NO USELESS, WASTED WORDS IN ZMM, WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF
….SO MUCH VERY DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE NARRATOR’S AND CHRIS’ EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WAY DOWN?
..A) Of course. this is good story-telling ,and even might have actually happened.
..B) But, in addition, this should perhaps be taken as a Telegram, Metaphorically getting us, as readers, ready for =>
..C): The forthcoming “Tangled Underbrush Pile Of Words” necessary for the Narrator to tell us of =>
…A) The Come-Down From Phaedrus’ High Level Ideal Ideas, and
…B) Start on his own development of his Low Level, Down-To-Earth, Quality.
….For example =>
“It’s in the area of Science that I want to focus attention in the immediate future, for this is the area that most badly needs the relationship established. The dictum that Science and its offspring, technology, are "value free," that is, "quality free," has got to go. It’s that "value freedom" that underlines the death-force effect to which attention was brought early in the Chautauqua. Tomorrow I intend to start on that.”
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(Photo = September2006 0137 ...... ZMM Page = 230 & 231 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 27 8900ft = 10.02 mi fm DeWeese.)

Rocky Crevice, Just Above Hyalite Creek, Gallatin National Forest, MT. In the ZMM Passage above => Note many location clues as to where this route may have been. The Narrator says they reach a cliff and it is bad enough that they must move along it in search for a way down.
….Although the previous WayPts N+C (I have shown on my "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail" Map), fit very well to the ZMM Narrative, the “route down … in a rocky crevice”, from the Cliff, to Hyalite Creek, offers many reasonable routes down to the nearest roads.. Thus there may be much easier "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trails", than the one I have shown.

As Previously Mentioned => A Complete Field Study Is Needed, to determine a good route here from WayPt N+C 26 to N+C 29, and then a decision as to the final "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail”,
….An inexperienced person, not having a topo map, might well stumble onto a very difficult cliff, like the Narrator. There are plenty over this way. But with a Topo Map, the Narrator, even in his emotional condition, should have been able avoid such a disaster!
….My Hypothetical Climbing Trail Map (discussed in these photos) essentially shows a bumbling idiot’s way down. This does have a rugged cliff that is close enough to a major mountain stream to hear its roar. This is of course upper Hyalite Creek.

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(Photo = September2006 00159 ...... ZMM Page = 230 & 231 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 28 8200ft = 10.89 mi fm DeWeese.)

Hyalite Creek; Also The Canyon Road Back To Bozeman Can Be Seen Above the Dry Grass At Far Left.

….“We cross the creek using a rope, which we leave behind, then on the road beyond find some other campers who give us a ride into town.
.. .. In Bozeman it’s dark and late. Rather than wake up the DeWeeses and ask them to drive in, we check in at the main downtown hotel. Some tourists in the lobby stare at us. With my old Army clothes, walking stick, two-day beard and black beret I must look like some old-time Cuban revolutionary, in for a raid.
... In the hotel room we exhaustedly dump everything on the floor. I empty into a waste basket the stones picked up by my boots from the rushing water of the stream, then set the boots by a cold window to dry slowly. We collapse into the beds without a word. “(End Chapter 22.)

Upper Hyalite Creek At A Road, Gallatin National Forest, MT.

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Here ENDS The ~34 Photos Illustrating The "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail "
..1) The Next 5 Photos Are Topo Maps Showing Various N+C Trails, Which Are To Help The Reader To See Where Various WayPt N+C ## Are Located In Gallatin National Forest. These are the Topo Maps mentioned at the beginning of this Photo Album.
..2) The remaining ~202 Photos in this Album show the continuing ZMM Part III Narrative => Leaving Hyalite Canyon, continuing through Bozeman, and on West thru to Prineville Junction, Oregon, now a suburb of Redmond, OR, and finally their campsite, in loose spongy volcanic dust, just North of La Pine, OR.
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..A) To View 7 More Photos of Cottonwood Canyon, Starting At DeWeese Home August 3, 2019. These Were Taken During A ZMM Enthusiasts Hike ~2 Miles On Cottonwood Canyon Trail, Into Gallatin National Forest.
...B) Following The Above 7 Photos, You Will See 6 Photos of My (Henry Gurr) Day Hike From Hyalite Canyon To Upper Fox Creek Meadow, Gallatin National Forest, South Of Bozeman, MT.
Right Click & Open In New Tab to View Series of 7 Photos of => August 3, 2019, ZMM Enthusiasts Hike ~2 Miles On Gallatin National Forest Trail into Cottonwood Canyon.

….PHOTO VIEWING NOTE: To Best See Panoramas and Other H. Gurr Photos, Click Photo Several Times to Get Largest View. Then ClickDrag Sliders to See Parts Off Screen.
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(Photo = September2006 0081 ...... ZMM Page = 232 ...... Photo simulate WayPt = N+C 29 6920ft = 11.84 mi fm DeWeese.)

A Topo Map Of The Approximate Route Climbed By Robert Pirsig & Son Chris, On or around July 17, 1968.
….This Hike Trail Map Was Sent To Me Henry Gurr, By Author Robert Pirsig In Response To My =>
….Many, Many Questions About Various Hypothetical Mountain Hiking Routes, That Fit the Descriptions Given By the Narrator In the Book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM).

….I Henry Gurr, have long wondered what actual mountain Climbing Route was followed by Robert Pirsig and son Chris. And wondered how close this was to the ZMM Narrator’s descriptions of their “mountain climb” after they left the DeWeess's at the Start of Chapter 16.
….This topic was included in a long series of letters between Robert Pirsig and myself in Dec 2006 & early 2007.

Here Is A Detailed Synopsis Of => Author Robert Pirsig’s Discussions Of His Actual Mountain Climbing Route With His Son Chris.
…A) In my letter to Mr Pirsig Dec 12, 2006, I asked =>
…..”What was your mountain climb route in the Gallatin National Forest? See Link below for WebMaps showing my Hypothetical Climb Route (WayPts N+C 01 thru N+C 33). Note that the 4th map is a "zoom in" enlarged portion for the climax climb to "the ridge". Two alternate climb routes are also shown on the map. (These have numbers N+C 34 and higher.) Could you comment on the probable accuracy of this route, as relates to what might have happened in 1968?”
…B) In his reply Dec 27, 2006 Mr Pirsig said =>
…..I'm attaching maps of the route from Prineville Junction back to Minneapolis and also the route climbed from Cottonwood Canyon. “((<\ Above/\.))
…C) In answer to my questions, Mr Pirsig Jan 4, 2007, stated =>
….."Your guess is as good as mine about the mountain route we took. I remember that the descent to the Hyalite canyon was extremely steep. Also Chris left his jacket behind. If anyone finds a brown cloth jacket with darker brown imitation leather sleeves that looks 38 years old he will have found our route. If it is still there it is probably down lower than the route you took. The ridge was dry then too.. We took our water with us. All this research into the ZMM route makes me feel prehistoric, but I suppose it helps the book move along."
…D) In my reply letter to Mr Pirsig Feb 7, 2007, in part, I said =>
……”To help you I have included six [paper] printed photos made by GoogleEarth. These images show views of Cottonwood Canyon which are consistent with the ZMM Narrative climb route to "snow". A cover page attached to the photos has a full caption, with relevant ZMM passage, for each photo. These descriptions include why I think the trail shown fits the ZMM Narrative. …. After you study the printed photos, could you comment on the general adequacy of this route shown in the six photos. Does the route fit the ZMM Narrative? “
…E) In my continuation letter to Mr Pirsig Feb 21, 2007, with more concerns I said =>
……” I guess am a bit disappointed to hear that you and Chris only went about 1/2 mile into the forest. This is because the ZMM Narrative would lead us to believe your trail really made a lot of progress up to that snow. Am I to conclude that there is a considerable difference between the ZMM Mountain Climb Narrative and the route you and Chris used to cross over to Hyalite Canyon from Cottonwood Canyon? Are we to conclude that certain portions [especially physical scenes] of the ZMM Mountain Climb Narrative, like the Bad Storm of Chapter 3, were fictional parts of the book?” RP REPLY: "YES".
….”All this leaves a residual question: How well does my hypothetical mountain route fit with the ZMM Mountain Climb Narrative? Would you care to comment on this? “
RP REPLY: "IT DOESN'T FIT".
….”Any way I hope you enjoyed the photos and re-acquaintance with Cottonwood Canyon, Fox Creek, and Mt. Blackmore. Did you use Google Earth to "fly" up the canyon to the mountain? “
RP REPLY: "YES". ((<< Mr. Pirsig’s replies were written on paper copy of my letter, and sent back to me.))
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From all this, I began to understand that the route actually followed by Mr. Pirsig and Chris on or about July 17, 1968 was considerably different from that we read into the ZMM Narrative. To repeat above sentence: Mr. Pirsig says "YES" to my question => Were the physical scenery descriptions of the Narrator and Chris’s Mountain Climb (in Chapter 16 thru 21) largely fictional?

. Click Here => AFTER This Link Comes Up => You May Read, In Full, My Correspondence With Author Robert Pirsig, 2006 thru 2008.
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You may study my "Narrator and Chris (N+C) Hypothetical Climbing Trail Topo Maps" chosen to fit the ZMM Narrative in the NEXT FIVE photos.

/\ Above /\ Topo Map Photo Shows => A Ridge between Cottonwood and Hyalite Canyons, ~ Two Miles Into Gallatin National Forest, MT.

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(Photo = ScanRobertPirsigColorMapMtClimbGalatinNF ...... ZMM Page = 227 ...... Photo at WayPt = NA)

Finding "A Narrator And Chris Hypothetical Mountain Climbing Trail" In The Gallatin National Forest
....That Fits The “Mountain Climb” Descriptions Given By The Narrator, In The Book Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. (ZMM)

…. The NEXT FOUR PHOTOS are a series of Topographical (Topo) Maps that show my (Henry Gurr’s) best attempt to find "A ZMM Narrator and Chris Hypothetical Mountain Climbing Trail" which -=>
…A) Is so chosen to well fit The Narrator + Chris “Mountain Climb” Descriptions given by the ZMM Narrator, In the Book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. (ZMM)
…B) Is a Hiking Route that actually can be climbed by a man and 11 year old boy.
…C) A route that also fits ZMM Narrative as to mountain climb time duration, physical distance, and climb steepness, that will be at the limit of strength of 11 year old boy,.

You Will See Marked On These Above Mentioned 4 Topo Maps => .
…A) Paved roads that you can drive (South of Bozeman, MT.) to the Gallatin National Forest Areas, of the above mentioned "A Narrator and Chris Hypothetical Mountain Climbing Trail".
…B) These roads lead to Parking Areas, from where you can then hike along official Hiking Trails, in The Gallatin National Forest. ALSO =>
…C) The above-mentioned, “Four Topo Maps” altogether show => A collection of Five different possible "Narrator + Chris (N+C) Hypothetical Mountain Climbing Trails". ….
…D). These Trails are so chosen to fit the ZMM Narrator’s words (hypothetically assumed factual), along with knowledge of the forest to construct a reasonable, "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail”.
…E). On these “Four Topo Maps” => These Trails are marked by WayPoints N+C ##. Which respectively mark a trail that a Trail Ready Person, might follow to “experience” The Narrator + Chris “Mountain Climb” Descriptions, in the ZMM Book.
…F) NOTE1: The “Mountain Climb” Descriptions given by the Narrator in the ZMM Book, are clearly quite different from Robert Pirsig’s actual Mountain Climbing Route with his son Chris, which took place historically on, or around, 17 July 1968. This Route is shows Previous photo.
…G) NOTE2: Each Topo Map can be double clicked to enlarge & print. Or you can "Right Click > Save-As" these Topo Maps > Into your computer, for later transfer to your Computer, Laptop, OR Cell Phone, for subsequent viewing.
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In A Search For The Best "N+C Hypothetical Climb Trail”, We Must Remember => The Stated Goal Of The ZMM Narrator Is SNOW COVERED MOUNTAINS, Where Mt. Blackmore (10,154 ft), And Elephant Mountain (10,085 ft) Are Most Likely Candidates.
….These snowcapped peaks, among the highest (and closest) that would be approachable for a hike starting from the Cottonwood Canyon Trail Head, are in turn, the best fit to the ZMM “Mountain Climb” Narrative..
….Please be aware => The FOURTH AND LAST Topo Map is a “Magnified Close-Up”, that shows in detail => Mt Blackmore Mountain Ridge Crest, which is North of and above Upper Fox Creek:
And On This Ridge, Where Are Marked =>
..1) A climb continue along Fox Creek to WayPt = N+C 14, which marks a steeper climb.
..2) Then after a zig-zag, the climb turns Southeast going by WayPt = N+C 15.
..3) Then Double back & come to a ridge top WayPt = N+C 23 & 24,. where Chris shouts “Blue Sky!”
..4) Follow ridge South towards .Mount Blackmore (further South off Map), where Google Earth shows patches of snow.
.5) Then, after frightened by “Clatter Of Falling Rocks”, WayPt = N+C 25, 26, etc, show Narrator & Chris on their way down to the nearest road. .

Also Marked On These Maps Are A) Two Possible Alternate Trails, AND B) All My Gallatin National Forest Photo Location GPS WayPts 198 Up To 215 And Then 407 Up To 507.
….These two groupings of Topo Map WayPoints => Indicate all my photo locations in the Gallatin National Forest, respectively on 27 June and 10 September 2006. Not all numbers used.
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/\ Above /\ Photo Shows a View From My Own Campground Summer 2002, which Is near Hyalite Creek, which was shown the SECOND Previous Photo.
….Langhor Campground, Hyalite Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT.

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(Photo = 108-0895 ...... ZMM Page = 227 ...... Photo at WayPt = 222w ~6200ft)