And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir

Self-portrait
Gambrill State Park

As a regular reader of this blog - you are a regular reader, right? - you know that I collect quotes and frequently use them as inspiration for my posts. This is one of many John Muir quotes that I have collected.

I love being in the woods, if I could, I would spend a good part of every day hiking along a wooded trail. There is no other place where I can get totally lost in my thoughts, or lack thereof. You will never see me with headphones on or playing music, the only sounds I am looking for are the singing of the birds or the leaves rustling. It's all about nature and recharging my soul.

A few years ago I was interviewed by a fellow blogger, one of the questions he asked was "What do you think about when you’re by yourself?". My answer, in part, was "When I am out for a hike in the woods I try not to think but to listen." My hearing is very poor but I am fortunate that the "sounds of nature" are of such a pitch that I can hear much of it. I can hear the birds, I can hear the leaves or a twig snap under foot. This is the Earth's music and nothing is more soothing.

Self-portrait
Shark River Park

Autumn is, for me, the best time to lose myself in the stillness that is the forest. The beauty of the changing leaves is just a part of the allure - during the fall, deer go into rut and are far more visible while out on the trail - including the elusive buck. If you pay attention you will also find squirrels and chipmunks busily preparing for the cold winter months but it is the smell of autumn that is the biggest draw. There is something wonderful about the smell of the woods when the ground is covered in leaves; this is when the urge to go camping becomes almost unbearable. You know the smell, don't you? That "earthy" smell of dirt, mixed in with wet, decaying leaves. I've also recently learned that things smell differently when the temperature lowers so maybe the smell is there year round but only noticeable in the cooler weather. Eh, who cares? If I could bottle it and use it as cologne I would.

November 17^th is National Take a Hike Day and I usually try to find a way to spend time in the woods somewhere but this year it came and went without a hike. This year I simply forgot. It's been that kind of year, especially the last couple months; it seems that I have been focused on other things lately. I am going to have to try harder to make time to get out and visit my favorite trails.

I'm going to keep this post short, I wanted to share this quote with you along with a couple of my favorite self-portraits shot along the trail. Do you enjoy the forest as much as I do? What time of year do you like best? Why? Where is your favorite woodland hike? I'm always looking for somewhere new to explore. I would love to hear from you - leave a comment below.

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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There Is Pleasure In The Pathless Woods

There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more. - Lord Byron

I am not one who is attracted to poetry and don't know much about it outside of Ogden Nash but I came across this quote a while back. I tucked it away thinking it would be a good subject for a blog post and now, here it is!

If you have been following me for a while you know how fond I am of wandering around in the woods. If I had to spend the rest of my life in just one environment, this is what I would choose and so when I saw this poem it immediately went into my "inspiration" list.

I would miss the ocean - the sound of the crashing waves and smell of the salt - but I derive far more pleasure hearing the sound of a babbling brook and the smell of the forest floor. There is nothing like the smell of the woods in autumn - except for maybe the smell of a baby.... :-)

Where else are you going to get this close to something as beautiful and graceful as this deer? I can, and have, sat for long periods just watching them walk through the woods, occasionally stopping to eat. If you listen closely you may hear the sound of a woodpecker looking for insects in a nearby tree. I found this hairy woodpecker only a few yards off a trail I was hiking behind my home. The was no noise but for his tapping on the tree, it took a few seconds to find him.

If you are lucky you may get to see a chipmunk or two scurrying around collecting acorns, like this little guy. I had been periodically seeing a few chipmunks on my afternoon hikes but was never able to get a decent shot - not only are they tiny but they never seem to stop moving. I was quite fortunate to get the opportunity to get the shot below.

I don't want you to go away thinking you can only go into the woods during temperate conditions - there is nothing quite like being out during, or just after, a snowfall. It is so pure and unbelievably quiet.

And with that I will bring this post to a close. I hope I have inspired you to go out and explore the “pathless woods” and have your own adventure. Please remember – Leave No Trace. Please obey all rules and regulations of the park you are hiking in and obey all signs along the way. Do not encroach on sensitive areas or leave the trail unless it is allowed.

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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