A walk in the woods. Renewing. The path snow covered but accessible. Winding our way deeper into the woods while the sun sent us warm reminders through the branches. The shadows cast from the trees distinctly appeared on the snow. Perfect reflection. A perfect time to reflect. The snow pure. The sky cobalt blue. Nature.
We traveled without much thought. I needed to escape my thoughts. Lively conversation was our hiking companion for the afternoon. The snowy path was reliable underfoot as it was packed firm from those before us. A step either to the left or right was a number of feet deep. Important to stay on the path. To stay on track is challenging.
We freely navigated the forest seeking out a few notable spots. A pristine snow-covered lake surrounded by large birch trees and evergreens left our small group speechless in the serenity of the moment. We rested. A Chamber of Commerce image for our eyes only. The afternoon sun began to wane. A slight detour down a ravine on our hike back was agreed upon. A waterfall stories high frozen currently but the promise of spring is not far off. The hike downhill was youthful. Running a few quick steps felt gravitationally simpler. Play was the want of the day.
In the heart of the ravine with the steep banks surrounding us we discovered the fresh kill of a deer and its half-eaten remains. Respectfully we quietly observed and speculated about this beautiful animal’s demise. A pack of coyotes? A fall down the ravine rendering it helpless? Nature and its inhabitants gave us pause. The fundamental reality of all nature…
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” Mary Davis
