I just returned from a three-day backpacking trip in my all-time favorite wilderness area. The weather was absolutely stellar, I got to hike with a dear, old friend, and I had some new, cool gear to test. You think I would have been on cloud-nine, whatever the hell that means, but this trip had some serious challenges to it!
There had been widespread wildfires in the area 5 years prior, and they had left an indelible and truly disturbing mark upon this sacred and delicate ecosystem. This was my first time exploring two of the five trails in our itinerary since the fires. The total decimation took me by surprise. A bright, hot, sunny sadness came over me as we clambered deeper into the scorched chaos.
Many species thrive, and some actually require fire for their seeds to open and propagate successfully. I understand that wildfires are a regular and much-needed part of nature. Nothing ever stays the same; change is a constant. But this land that I have grown to love dearly over the span of my nearly fifty years felt so foreign and unknown! It felt like Mars. As if I had any clue what hiking on Mars was like, but I digress.
All the beautiful evergreen foliage of the Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron was thoroughly burned to a crisp. And there were so many trees down, primarily across the trail, of course. It was a veritable obstacle course- climbing over and under an endless path of disorder- for what seemed like an eternity. Where once stood a lush, deciduous forest was now a sapling garden of predominantly Eastern White Pine.
All that being said, the trip was still so wonderful in so many ways. We enjoyed two delightful campsites with awe-inspiring views, crystal-clear mountain streams, a gorgeous river to play in, and a whole lot of fun and laughter. And, of course, it is still one of my favorite places for all the beauty and wonder that will always abide in those enchanted woods.
Once again, I am reminded of the deep peace and happiness that inevitably arise with acceptance. The illusion of having control, over anything really, still haunts me fairly frequently. When our expectations are not met, we can often feel disappointed or unsatisfied. Looking for the order in chaos can help us feel better about the things that don’t live up to our ideals. Having had a few days to process this adventure full of mixed emotions, I trust that this beloved forest will return to a (new-and-improved…in the eyes of the Universe) verdant beauty.
And I will be there to witness and appreciate it all the more!
Namaste
