Chronicles of the Moment [3/3]

 

At Samaya, we strongly believe in the power of storytelling. It inspires our choices of outings, ascents, bivouacs, and travels, and ultimately changes our lives. At the end of this atypical year, as the cold sets in and the snow glitters, a whole new relationship with the mountains is emerging. We are keen to share this new vision of the mountains with you through a series of chronicles. Let yourself be guided to reclaim the present moment by looking upward, toward that place we love so much, toward that unique spot where the ground ends to meet the starry sky.

CHAPTER 3: MARVELING & STARTING AGAIN

Time does not pass: only we pass through it. Far too often, our way of grasping it is not the right one.

 
Like a fluid that flows inexorably and that we wish we could hold back, it escapes us. This incessant reminder of the clock is dizzying. It permanently obliterates our relationship with the present moment. At a bivouac, time remains the same, but our relationship to it is very different. When the tumult of life and the hubbub of social media fall silent, a transformation occurs. The return to an ancestral practice, indexed to the history of humanity, puts our relationship with progress into perspective. The city imposes time on us, while nature seems to give us time.

The city imposes time on us, while nature seems to give us time.

With a serene mind, tensions subside as perception sharpens. Sleeping outside means enjoying the most beautiful spectacle that nature has to offer. This connection to the beauty of the world is a reconciliation—that of man with an environment from which he has been disconnected for too long. Getting closer to the stars is a way to gain perspective. A distance from the world that, paradoxically, connects and allows one to find a form of unity. Much like the high mountains, which put us back in our rightful place as humans, the sky and its unfathomable immensity also remind us of the extent of what remains for us to discover.

Allowing yourself to contemplate a starry sky is also returning to childhood. Samaya tents are "grown-up toys" that allow you to connect to the present through the joyful emotions of the past.

This quest for summits is ultimately a quest for meaning on the path of simplicity.

Pitching your tent means building an ephemeral cabin that carries the promise of adventures to come. The bivouac is also the place where future projects are born. Inspired by the surrounding peaks, galvanized by the ambient air, the scenery is nothing but inspiration. Each ascent leads to a new ascent, which itself opens onto a new vertical horizon. This quest for summits is ultimately a quest for meaning on the path of simplicity. As with a mountaineer's equipment, it is when there is nothing left to add or take away that you measure the value of things.

Upon waking, the first rays warm up aching bodies. They are nectar from the heavens, reminding us that the sun cannot be bought. That when you have everything, voluntarily depriving yourself of the superfluous—keeping only a roof, enough to sustain yourself, and a little warmth—adds depth to life. Watching the celestial body rise, we feel rich with what we possess. In that moment, no currency could compete with such a moment. This "state of being" takes precedence over our possessions, but also over action. Satisfied by the effort of the previous day, there is nothing left to do. These moments of eternity gleaned in the heart of timeless places, whose face has remained the same since the dawn of time, are precious. They bring us back to our base and offer us a fresh look at the world.

From these experiences are born inspiring gratitude and another definition of earthly paradise. Wonder is a powerful door to (re)connecting to present happiness. Samaya products are designed as keys to access these timeless experiences. So, what if this were the right time for you to take the time to live and feel the moment?

Epilogue

The Pyrenean motto "ascend, feel, write" perfectly illustrates the fact that there is no adventure without a story. As the holiday season approaches, how could we not share with you the little sparks of light gleaned along the way at the summits? At Samaya, we believe that imagining, practicing, and sharing are the three faces of the same mountain, and that is why we devote all our energy to dreaming, acting, and letting it be known. Now it's your turn to dream, to get started, to elevate yourself, and to marvel, with, no doubt, the desire to do it all again…