Ring of Moss Zazenkai Hike Recap from Sunday, July 13, 2025
Nine stalwart folks showed up at Floss at 7:15 am to meet and carpool to the first ROM Zazenkai Hike at the Welch’s trailhead along the Salmon River. One person met us at the trailhead.
So what is a Zazenkai Hike? It follows a long tradition of Mountains and Rivers sesshins at Ring of Bone and Hale Malie hikes in Hawaii.
And how does it work? First, it requires scouting the area—which Andrew and Lori Mason did. Second, it is not just a hike--It’s Zen Practice. And third, it has a form—periods of zazen, walking in silence, a dharma talk, eating and socializing over a bag lunch, stopping to look at the mountains, rivers, trees, sunlight, and listening to the sounds in the forest.
I believe that each of us benefitted from this experience in ways we don’t even realize. As we sat and listened to Andrew’s dharma talk, I was distracted by all of the moss hanging from the hemlock trees, and couldn’t help blurting out at the end: “We are sitting in a Ring of Moss”.
Enclosed are the reflections of two of the hikers. We are so grateful to Susan Zalkind and Deborah Ball for accepting the invitation to share their personal experience.
And we are grateful to Deborah Ball for leading off our hike with the chant: E Ala E: (Arise, Awaken) It is a chant to awaken the inner wisdom and strength of people....speaks of the sun rising out of deep, deep ocean, climbing to the highest heavens symbolizing rebirth, the power of life.
-Jane Lawson
Impressions By Susan Zalkind, Alabaster Master, M.Ed.
Walking along the Salmon River on the Salmon River Trail with my Ring of Moss Zen Sangha, my first time up on Mt Hood after moving to Portland 6+1/2 years ago, was a revelation. Astonishing beauty at every turn, with every glance. Quiet. Nature. Just Being. Ten of us. The benefits from the experience, thought and consideration that went into the planning and structure of the practice hike were great and still resonate in me a week later and possibly always will. After meditating in circle we were instructed to leave at least 90 seconds to 2 minutes after the previous hiker, to silently pick up our gear and walk singly along the path with the awareness of being separate but a part of the whole. The sense of being alone on the trail in these gorgeous woods by the river sparkling yet knowing that we were all together, supporting each other, elevated and deepened the experience. At our arrival point, feet startled and relieved by the chill of the water, visual system dazzled by dappled light through lemony/green maples leaves and easy breezes, with the smell of the woods penetrating deeply, we meditated together in circle again under a ring of moss hanging from hemlocks. Can we do it again?