Sunday, April 22, 2012

NEW HAMPSHIRE SCENES: Along the Trail

New Hampshire Scenes: Along the Trail
Finally, April 13 and 20, time to hike,  and the choices were Mt. Stanton Trail to Mt Stanton and Mt. Pickering, a shorter hike with two possible low summits because I've been recuperating from a skiing injury, and second one, Mt Chocorua because my foot is evidently fine! Halalulah!  In time for the start of early wild flowers.


First treat was the Trailing Arbutus. To really appreciate it, you need to lie flat on the ground, practically, and lift the leathery leaves to expose the often hiding flowers.
Then put your nose bumble bee close. The reward is a scent sweeter than honeysuckle and hyacinth combined.


 


Second treat was yellow violets, first singly, and then a hillside.  
Beech leaves, last year's left overs, add the contrast.

Glad to be back on the mountain trails,
I continue to wonder at at what I call
the "macadam" paths...
They look so planned, 
so "officially landscaped!
In fact,
the "macadam" paths
are exposed bedrock
looking so tame!
Amazing,
to look at the sides of those paths 
to think how little soil 
above that bedrock
and to think how long and arduous
the task of making
 the soil we see 
and 
the life it supports!

Though these are not examples of the typical  trail, 
when they appear they seem like old friends, 
user friendly,
always welcome,
and likely to appear 
on some of the toughest hikes.








Check my website for paintings of "less tame" paths and trails.