Landscapes of the Sacred- Mythic Landscapes- The Mountain that was God

I liked how the author described how he attempted to be mindful and take the time to appreciate nature while traveling to Mount Rainier.  The author said that when he pulled over to "take in" the trees and waterfalls in the forest, the air became "telescoped and intensified".  He said that he did not want to leave Mount Rainier after he got there because he felt as though he had truly entered the spiritual place and he had gotten attached to it. Without realizing it, he had performed the native American ritual of of circling the peak in a sunwise fashion.  This is related to how Lane said earlier in the text how ritual is what makes sacred places extraordinary.  Lane noted that he felt so consumed by the grandeur of the nature around him that he wanted to leave a piece of himself to express his gratitude to the mountain.  This was when he realized how truly insignificant he is compared to the mountain.  There was nothing his frail humanity could offer that would even slightly compare to the bounty of the mountain.  Instead of leaving a material object, he decided to leave a blessing.  He ran around blessing the trees in hope that they would grow to be as tall as their parents.  It seems as though he got so absorbed in nature that he felt as though he owed it something in return.  This is one of the best things that nature does for us- it shows us how small and insignificant we are in comparison to it.  This is why being in nature is so peaceful, and why it is so important for us to take the time to appreciate what it does for us.