wow

I can't even begin to describe today's hike. First, I met several people who had backpacked this weekend and had passed sights that I had seen this week. Since the weather was so much different it was as if we had been at different places. That is so awesome.

Then today the forest seemed to take on a different personality every hundred yards or so. There was one area that was so overgrown that the path was barely a line. Another place had an acre of dead trees with their trunks burned, probably from lightening. Since there was no canopy the ground was like a lawn, lush and green. And there were hundreds of new growth trees, taking the place of the burned ones.

Another place had this majestic oak, enormous and presiding over its domain. No other trees would dare to challenge its dominion, even though it was dead and decaying. It still held court.

Every hike has its own personality. The contact that I have with fellow travelers, and with the forest, keeps me sane.