On October 10, 2016, the Piasa Palisades Group, Sierra Club, will feature a dear friend and fellow Sierran, Dr. Rich Keating speaking on "Bhutan, Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon." All are welcome. Rich is a retired professor of botany from SIU-Edwardsville, and currently a research associate at Missouri Botanical Garden. He conducts studies on the anatomical structure of woody plants and enjoys writing field guides. These include one describing the beautiful Spanish Peaks region of Colorado, and a guide to Pere Marquette State Park, currently being produced at MBG Press. In October and November, 2015, he joined a trek in the eastern Himalayas in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, a country a bit smaller than South Carolina. This illustrated talk will cover two distinct aspects of that corner of the world: the trek itself and the nation’s unique culture. Our small guided group hiked up the Paro River Valley in the western edge of the country, ascending for several days to a mountain basecamp at 13,400 feet. We passed through an amazing geology and variety of vegetation zones with a very rich flora. From there we explored a broad alpine valley, with the summit of the nation's highest mountain, Mt. Jomolhari, looming two miles above. Bhutan has a very traditional Buddhist culture that only recently, and partially, opened itself to the outside world. Airports and roads are few. Within the mountainous terrain, freight moves mostly by pack horse on trails. The nation is ruled by a respected constitutional monarchy that blends civil service life and religion. Their approach to modernity is cautious: cell phones are common but there are no western-style stores. Also discussed in the presentation will be some of the unique features of the country’s art, celebrations, and symbolism. Attendees and friends are invited to have dinner and meet the speaker at the Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, Il 62002 starting at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 7:30pm in the event room adjacent to the dining room.
By Chris Krusa