I'm back.

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

This week I returned to the trails and I needed it.  Nature provided me the release I was seeking and I took full advantage.

I arrived early Friday morning to my favorite spot, Mt. St. Francis.  The temperature was around 40 degrees and provided me an instant jolt of energy.  I parked, grabbed my backpack, camera and started down the path toward the lake.  From the parking lot, I could see the fog rising from the lake and it provided me an eerie yet cozy feeling.  The sun was just breaking the horizon and cutting through the fog.  All adding to the splendor of this wonderful place.

As I approached the lake out of the fog rose a tree that was gentle being kissed by the morning sun rays with a backdrop of a light fog rising from the lake.  I paused for a moment, captured the shot and thought of the irony that this scene provided.  The fog represented my anxiety and stress slowly floating away, and the rays of the sun were warming my soul.  It was a wonderful moment for me.

I made my way down a familiar path by the lake and across to the first bridge on the back of the lake.  I soon saw a woman approaching from the other side and we exchange greetings.  I made my way past her on to the other side of the lake and captures the image above through the fog.  Again the irony of how my brain feels in the day to day life.

Continuing on I could hear large machinery humming in the distance as some logging was being done nearby.  This low hmm, though muffled by the trees still echoed and drown out all other noises other than my feet rustling through the leaves.  I crossed another bridge and headed uphill.  At the top of the hill, I paused for a moment to see the sun cutting through the woods causing the shadows to dance, and the woods to come alive with the warmth of the sun.  I reflected the last time I was here and the fact that I was stung twice on the path that I decided to take today.  This is my area and nothing will take this joy from me.

I moved along the path, past the house and soon arrived at the home of the yellow jackets.  Cautiously I move past the whole and gladly can say I saw none and was not attacked.  My focus had been on that hive and the potential of a reoccurrence that when I had had not realized that the humming of the machines was now gone.  I drew deeper inside my mind and concentrated on breathing and listening to almost silence.  Again the rustling of the leaves beneath, and an occasional squirrel running in the distance and a slight breeze was all that accompanied me now.

A familiar creek and bridge were soon within sight and I again paused to stop and listen.  The babbling brook provided a true melody that cleansed my mind and soul.  With the rolling fog, water flowing, smell of the leaves and the cool faint breeze, I lived in that moment.  Once again nature and God did its thing.  I was at peace.  I stayed there for a few minutes in silence then moved on.  We just don’t recognize life’s most precious moments while they are happening.  Today I did. I once heard ‘this is my most special place in the world.  Once a place like this touches you like that, the wind never blows so cold.’  I can say Mt. St. Francis in the fall and winter is my special place.

Moving deeper into the woods I felt that I was not alone.  I continued you look behind me and to the sides for about a half-mile, then I decided that if I was not alone, it didn’t matter.  I had a feeling but let it lapse.  I became hyper-focused on the area, not out of fear or stress, but out of wonder.  I noticed trees I had not seen before, noticed changes in the landscape due to storms, and once again I was relaxed.  Though I was hiking my breathing slowed and as weird as it sounds I felt a tingle throughout my body.  I found myself next in a field with the sun’s rays hitting my face.  A warmth that cannot be felt any other way.  I proceeded back into the woods headed toward the rear of the property.

As I reached the furthest point I again stopped to look around.  This time I noticed I was being watched.  About 25 yards from me was three deer.  Two babies and one adult (mom I assumed).  I stood there motionless, as did they.  We stared at each other for what seemed like five minutes.  I smiled thinking how this would look to any other person, and also though in our fast-paced world who other than hunters would stay this long in silence watching a deer.  Yet another magical moment nature provided.  I was certainly glad I was alone.  I would have not gotten this experience with anyone else.  Soon they moved on and so did I.

I arrived at my favorite wooden bridge and snapped another shot before crossing the creek, smiling as I always think of trolls as I do.  Don’t judge me.  The path on the other side of the bridge had changed.  Last time I was here it had deep ruts from large machinery and was constantly muddy and unstable.  It was now a wide and flat path covered in a blanket of fallen leaves.

I headed back toward the lake, past the dame, and across an open field.  I saw a young man taking pictures by the lake, and being me I stopped to say hello.  We chatted about the wonders of this place, photography and I think I convinced him to switch camera gear to what I own.  We shared Instagram account names and I moved along.

As I reached the concrete path I headed uphill toward my car.  My brain was clear, my body relaxed and my soul was calm.  I needed this more than I realized.  I plan to return on Sunday with my camera and capture what I can.  The chaos and noise of my life were crushed and flowed away like the fog I saw today.  Nature is my sun that cuts through the fog.

Until the next time,

Tim