Leave No Trace

A common term used for all outdoor enthusiast. Leave no trace or evidence you have been in the wilderness. After all, we want to maintain the prestine beauty, so we remind others and ourselves to "pack it out", and leave no trace that you have been there. Leave the woods as you found it. Like your mother told you when you borrowed something, return it better than and cleaner than when you got it.

Today, "leave no trace" sunk deep in my heart, as feeling very alone in the wilderness. Starting off a crisp Autumn early morning adventure. Deciding better off to head out to higher altitudes with future weather predictions of snow levels dropping as low as 2000 feet. These trails might be gone for months and some areas unattainable. I truly love the peaceful sounds of nature, the birds, the winds, the trees it all has a story. Today's story set well for October, "creepy Halloween themes". The absence of sound, watching deep into the forest behind trees for a shadow or sign of not being alone.

"The Forest and I was all there was. In the deep still silence, I could feel the Earth's beating heart." Unknown

Headed down the trail as soon as the daylight brightened the skies, above 4500 foot elevation, a nippy Fall morning of 38 degrees. The beautiful display of colors gave an energizing feeling and the peacefulness warmed the soul. Getting deep into the woods the trail was damp from previous rains a couple days earlier, and making tracks of the first one in. Listening to the trees talk to me, realizing the stillness with no wind or even a light breeze, the trees had nothing to say. Then realizing this is one of the quietest hikes I have ever encountered; no chirping birds, no wrestling leaves, not a peep from chipmunks scurrying around the forest floor. The woods were truly silent, the only sounds were of my own boots hitting the dirt, my lungs breathing in and out and a stillness enough to hear my own heartbeat. Certainly gives time for the mind to clear itself with absolute no noise distractions.

"May your time in Nature, lead you to yourself." Shikoba

Always keeping the senses aware for signs of wildlife, definite a lack of even a trace of wildlife. 8 miles round trip, no deer or elk tracks, no impressions in the soft dirt or mud of a coyote or cougar, not a trace of animal scat, not even a slight sound. The elusive Sasquatch could have been present here, since he is a master at leave no trace. The only tracks I saw, were my own on the way out, those too will disappear in a day with the light rains.

The area traveled today is still recovering from a forest fire in 2013. Life is slowly coming back, this past Spring it was decorated with wildflowers and now the leaves have changed for an Autumn show of brilliant reds, yellow and orange. There is some life returning under the abandoned burnt timber. Many of the trees tell a story that are left standing with the charred naked trees and almost a silver shining skin. Has the Winter warned the few birds and small animals it is time to retreat? Or have they not returned yet to this once incinerated wilderness? Wildlife leaves a trace and sign of its presence, today the only sign of animal life were my own boot prints in the dirt.

"Keep close to Natures' heart......

and break clear away once in a while.

Climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.

Wash your spirit clean." John Muir