Sentences to Astonish!: Spring Hiking

“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for.”

― Louis L'Amour

Hiking a well worn trail is meditative. Don't worry so much about the direction you're walking, let the trail decide. Get swept away from worries and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. The water trickling down the creek and the birds singing their songs in the boughs overhead accompany you as you wander away from your concerns for a bit. It's therapeutic, and for me things always seem to be a little less stressful after a few hours on the trail. And you might even meet some friendly faces on the trail, an unexpected surprise!

Spring and fall are the best times of the year for hiking. The weather is just right, with a cool breeze and warm sun shining down. The colors of the spring wildflowers or autumn leaves enhance the scenery of the trail. This year, there was a late freeze that might have had an impact on flowers this spring, but last year they were beautiful. This hike was on March 27, 2020 at Raven Run, just before the park began restricting access due to the pandemic. I hope we can go back soon to see how things look a year later!