Sunday, January 26, 2014

"We Might Wonder..."

 
"Yet another burned area presents itself further along the trail with many a scorched tree still standing, very likely to live on through many more thunderstorms. But one dead tree... seems to have stood in the ground through many revolutions of the earth... Its bark peeling away exposing its wood to the elements. While the sides of the dead fir are charred, its upper urface is smooth, bleached to a uniform grey, and as inviting to an artist as a chalkboard. He takes a piece of charcoal in hand and sketches a woman's face, not in bold outline, but subtly, with shadings and blurred features, so that an unsuspecting hiker coming upon it later might wonder if Mother Nature hadn't drawn the image herself...".  M. Mardon

2 comments:

Jeff said...

One of my favorite places to hike in Western North Carolina suffered a 4,000 acre forest fire this past fall. I'm squeamish going back, worried what I might find.

Mother Nature does a remarkable job at recovery though. I shouldn't deprive myself of the overall beauty just because some of it is charred.

Unknown said...

I have had very similar experiences Jeff. Many areas in our Kananaskis and the Bow Valley have such areas burned through from both natural and planned forest fires. It is hard to see favorite places that way, but your are so very right, in that the new growth and recovery makes for yet another kind of adventure. I'm sure you will enjoy wandering there soon my friend!
D