Take a Virtual Hike
No, don’t leave.
It has been a while, take a walk with me. If you have hiking boots, you will need them. On this walk tennis shoes or sandals will not be comfortable. Hopefully you don’t need persuading. We’ve gone on virtual walks together previously. Just in case you are doubtful about the value of a walk like this…remember time outside builds your immune system. One more…time outside relieves stress. You pulse rate will slow and your blood pressure will drop. Come with me.
Before we go grab a rain jacket. It rained all day yesterday. This morning you won’t need it to keep rain off, you need it to keep the water dripping from trees from soaking your clothes. Oh, in case you are concerned about wet ground we won’t be sitting down on this walk. There is one more thing. I’ll bring my camera and a tripod chair to sit on to steady myself for photos. You are in charge of finding subjects. You know, things to photograph. Then you can help me find the best light for each subject. Don’t you remember?... two heads are better than one. Sorry, there is one more thing…either we whisper to one another, or we use hand signals. Do you find that strange? It isn’t, not when we are going into a wild place 10,000 acres big. We may see an animal we did not expect.
Think you’ll like the short drive. We’ll park the vehicle off the road at the edge of this wild place, put on our rain gear, then stop and listen. It’s always a good idea before entering a wild place to watch and listen first. You want to know why don’t you. There are two reasons that stand out for me. First, stopping to listen and be still adjusts our minds to what comes next. Our minds have been immersed in technology, sound, distractions, just regular old civilization. If we take a few moments to be still, see what is around us and listen, we begin to pick up the rhythm of life in the wild place. Believe me, it is far different than the civilization we are temporarily leaving. No, I don’t plan to get us lost.
The second reason…ready for it? Two-sometimes standing still at the edge of a wild place reveals one of the residents. It may be as large as a white-tailed deer, even a black bear, or as small as a chickadee just above our heads. Are you worried about the bear? Relax. Yes, there are black bears in this wild place. They are extremely elusive. I’ve never seen one in this place. Black bears are typically furtive…secretive to those of us who walk on two legs. I think we’ve both good with that.
Time for walking. Read on, allow my imagination create a virtual walk for you...
Watch your step! That’s poison ivy at the edge of the forest. Yes, there are things to avoid in wild places…sometimes right away. Look, to the west edge. The poison ivy thins out and stops.That will be a good entry point. You first? Ok, me first…that was my attempt to be polite…come, follow me. Wait, what are you pointing at? I see it, that large dish like circle in the ground. It’s like a bowl. Did I tell you I am pleased with your hand signals-I am. What made it? How long has it been here? With a tree growing at the bottom of the bowl-it is not recent. Do you like forest mysteries? So do I. That bowl has human origins.
Pick a landmark…wait…don’t look at me as though I’ve lost my senses. This will keep us from getting lost. What? You still think I’m crazy? Does the idea of getting lost intrigue you? You say you have a better idea? This I have to hear, go on. You say we can tell the way back by listening to traffic on the highway where our vehicle is? Mmm…ok, forget the landmarks.
Remember, we have a camera? Remember you are in charge of finding subjects?
You hold up your hand, a signal to stop. We both listen. The forest is filled with the sound of falling water. Water splattering on leaves below. It’s not a drip, drip sound, but the random patter of water striking lower leaves. The forest is quiet otherwise. We both feel the peace.
“Wet Branch”
You found the first subject. A tree branch still shiny with rain leaning against a tree. We’ll call this one “Wet Branch.” The photo takes me a few moments. In that time, you find the second subject. It is on the wet, leaf littered forest floor. Perhaps it was the green leaves, more likely it was the water droplets on the leaves of Solomon’s Seal. This one we call “Drops on Solomons.”
Drops on Solomon's
I find the third subject; you picked the best light. Fungus is everywhere in a forest. My eyes are always drawn to it. We decide this one is “Fungus on the Side.” The dry summer we’ve had has reduced the fungus; it needs moist conditions to flourish. Why do I like fungus you ask later? Perhaps it is the recycling of nutrients, or possibly the way it decomposes things. I can’t choose, but I like fungus.
“Fungus on the Side”
Not long after we finish admiring the fungus, I see you silently moving to the east. You point to a fallen log, moss covered, bright green, it leads our eyes to a trio of tree trunks. Moss covers them as well. The emerald green moss is abundant on the decomposing trunk and the three living trees it pointed to. We gave this photo the title “Moss to Basswood.” The living trees were basswood. I noticed the smile on you face as you looked around for our next subject. When your jaw dropped, I knew you’d found it.
"Moss to Basswood"
You didn’t point. There was no need. I followed your gaze. It was easy to pick out the next subject. It was a nearly bark free tree trunk. But it wasn’t the absence of bark that made it our next subject and both of us stare. It was the multitude of woodpecker holes. The photo shows 8 or 9 holes, there were more. We called this one “Birdplex.”
“Birdplex”
I’m still sorry that I had to let you down. You were enjoying time in the wild. Your face fell when I pointed at my wrist and softly whispered, I needed to start for home soon. It made me feel like a traitor.
We turned back toward the road. We could hear the traffic. You were right about not needing landmarks. My spirits lifted when you pointed to a Maple tree covered with moss. Again, the dry summer we had been experiencing, with everything brown and lifeless made the emerald green moss eye catching. You stepped up close to examine its delicate features, your smile returned. Mine followed. It was not hard to decide what to name the photo, “Moss on a Maple.” That’s what it was.
“Moss on Maple”
I thought we were done.
It seemed you were sad.
But you were only looking down. When you pointed, I knew there was another photo. Don’t know about you, but it may be my favorite. You found a single green Maple leaf covered with rain drops. Water on a green back ground framed by dark brown is stunning. Light through a water droplet looks luxurious, beautiful, and causes me to think of the big picture: God is behind it all. “Drops on Maple” is our last photo.
"Drops on Maple"
You don’t say much on the way home.
There is no need.
Our minds are filled with beautiful images.