There were some firsts today on this trail that I have hiked so often, but this was only the second time in 2013. I saw a beaver come barreling out of the woods and cross the path behind me, disappearing under a fallen tree.I also caught foliage blooming in stages I'd never noticed before. For such a warm day (86 degrees), there weren't many people on the trail. A couple of young, muscle-bound runners, and a young couple walking off just as I was starting. My favorite first of today was the field covered in yellow flowers. I took at least ten pictures, trying to capture the hopeful feeling it gave me. Heard what I thought were owls calling to one another-- noticed a newly downed tree on the trail--and found the remains of a fire (illegal!) at the first vista. I guess someone was out there on a cold night? Usually, this trail is so crowded, I can't imagine someone getting away with a fire in such an obvious place.
The hike: started hiking at 3:20. Finished around 5:30. I think I do about a 24 minute mile, with stops to photograph and gawk at nature. This time I also monitored my pulse. After climbing steep hills, it was 140 and 160, respectively. Then it went back down to between 80 and 90 while I was hiking on flat ground.
It was so good to hike today. Last year at this time, I had hiked many more times, but weather and life have not been conducive to hiking so far in 2013.
The little stone cairn grows! Did I first see it in the Fall or last year this time?
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| Here's the amazing field. The photograph doesn't do it justice. |
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| Ubiquitous dogwoods! The red buds are just about finished blooming. |
Daffodils and ornamental bushes (below) tell me that this was the site of a homestead at one time, something I wouldn't have considered until last year while exploring the Lost Valley Trail.
On a hike after school on the Lewis Trail, you've just about reached the 3 mile marker when you get to this stream. You have the decision to go on to the Clark Trail for an extra 3 miles or enjoy knowing you'll be finished in two more miles.
So this was the downed tree I saw on the trail, after the 3 mile marker, just before the giant hill. It looked newly fallen. It probably fell during one of the recent storms. I like to think about the night it fell. Was anyone around? Was there wind, rain, lightning, thunder?
One more picture of the gorgeous yellow field under blue skies and billowy white clouds.
This is a video of buzzards or hawks circling above the Katy Trail. I noticed them at the second overlook, right before the second mile marker. Standing on the rock outcropping--one I've stood on so many times--looking down at the river or up into the sky--is so peaceful. But today I couldn't help but to think about death, with the buzzards and with Mom being definitively gone. For a while, while I was hiking, I almost imagined she wasn't dead. It seemed plausible--maybe because the memory of last year's hike, when I spoke to her on the cell phone while I was hiking, was so clear and present. I could almost even entertain the idea of her looking down and watching me hike, although I usually find such notions childish.
I guess this blog has turned entirely personal now. . . since I'm writing thoughts like the ones in the last paragraph.
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