Autumn in Shining Rock Wilderness

Morning on the Forest Floor

There is something special about night hiking. The focus is only as large and as intense as your headlamp allows.  Directly in front of your feet and only about 1-2 sq ft. Cool calm September nights filled only with the sounds of the breeze rattling the early autumn leaves, the night birds and the occasionally close run in with a skunk. When I got tired I found a flat enough spot to throw my sleeping pad and crash out. 

The sun breaking through the mostly green trees wakes me.  The trees block out the show in the sky, but sleeping out on the ground gives me the gift of the sunrise at ground level. 

Get on the ground and smell the dirt. See the world contained in a spot smaller than a single foot print. 

All photographs taken less than 24 inches (60 cm) off the ground. 

Over the River and Through the Woods

I returned to the same place a few days after my last short trip with friends. This time a little further and a little faster. Alone with the solitude of my self and accompanied by the richness of the mountains, rivers, trails and fields I was moving through.

Morning in Laurel Fork

I haven't been out in several weeks. Its been killing me, but I've been recovering from some health issues and getting my strength back before I hit the mountains too hard too fast.  Luckily John has been getting out quite a bit and making up for my lack of mountain time. He's got a few photos up on his Tumblr.  I'm feeling much stronger so I tested my legs on a morning walk with John and Rebecca.  We're having a serious drought here so the river was way down which made for easy crossing and dry feet for much of our trip. Its just a good feeling to get back out to where you feel you belong. Maybe I'll try to push it a bit more soon...