I feel like it’s been raining for a month, and no, I am not in Seattle but in Western North Carolina. Obviously, I enjoy hiking and I do not necessarily consider myself a fair-weather hiker, but these past few weeks have been a hard transition from the brilliance of fall colors we were bathed in not long ago.
It has been a while since I last blogged. Some of that has just been the business of life and priorities, but I have to admit that I struggle sometimes if I have a spectacular enough vista or wildlife photo or story to share. However, I have been hiking, because that is what hikers do, they hike and writers write…
I set out today because my soul needed to be outside- rain or shine. I longed to hear the crunch of leaves beneath my soles and the assurance of my own breath in the woods. So I strapped on my Hokas and headed to the familiar trails across the street at the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC.
The home (Connemara) belongs to the National Park Service. There is much to do and see: guided house tours and self guided tours of the supporting farm and structures as well as an active goat farm. To me, the beauty of the park lies among the many trails (a total of approx. 4 + miles) that criss-cross the property, eventually peaking on Glassy Mountain (2783′). These trails are easy, with the total climb from the parking lot to the top of about 600′.
This time of year may not have splendid bouquets of spring flowers or the vibrant display of fall leaves, but there is plenty of beauty within the winter forest. Winter is the best time of year to appreciate the timelessness of the evergreens. Rhododendron and mountain laurel line a majority of the trails, especially around the creek and lake. A rare treat is on top of Glassy Mountain where it is possible to see pitch, virginia and eastern white pines all growing within 50 feet of each other.
By far the most impressive evergreens at the Carl Sandburg park are the hemlocks. Hundreds of ancient eastern hemlocks line the drive up to the home and they are prolific throughout the surrounding woods. Sadly, the presence of so many old hemlocks is bittersweet.
All of our hemlocks, the eastern and carolina species, are severely threatened by the wide spread hemlock wooly adelgid. This invasive, non-native aphid like bug was discovered in North Carolina in the 1990’s and since then has completely decimated much of the hemlock population throughout the southern Appalachians.
Thankfully, there are some treatments that are showing some promise. The Hemlock Restorative Initiative (savehemlocksnc.org) is actively working to that end. The Carl Sandburg National Park is one of the sites where they have been engaging in this battle. If you are fortunate to have hemlocks on your property, I urge you to check out their website for information on how to protect these trees.
As I continued on my wet trek under overcast skies, I was continually drawn to a tree that I have always considered my favorite, the sourwood. At this time of year there are no showy flowers to make it stand out, but its characteristic shape makes it obvious. Like all trees, it seeks sunlight, the source of its life.
What makes a sourwood distinct, though, is how after being bent, broken and crushed, it will continue to sprout up a new trunk to seek the sun, to seek life. Some of these may be bent 90 degrees and yet twist and turn to strain for the top of the canopy.
Factors outside of this individual tree’s control effect its path, yet somehow it thrives. Other trees may fall or lean on the sourwood – pushing it almost to the point of breaking, but it bends, taking on the weight of the other and still pushes to the sun. Even though the sourwood is one of the later trees to bud, its leaves are some of the last to persevere to the late autumn with a brilliant display of orange and red as it pierces the canopy surrounded by majestic oaks.
The bark of the sourwood is deeply furrowed like an old soul that has lived through many a travail and has become wiser – those that sought the light – their source of life.
As you may know, my source of life is my faith. As the news of the day and forecasts for the future and distant wars weigh us down, we must seek light. During this season and beyond I hope you continue to seek the source of life.
40 Hike Challenge Blue Ridge Parkway Conserving Carolina Falls Lake Hickory Nut Gorge Hiking Jones Gap State Park Lake Lure Linville Gorge Mountains to Sea Mount Mitchell North Carolina Trails SC Trails
Yes, the weather has been awful, but we have a couple of sunny days for now – miss seeing all of you!
Tom thank you for the lovely post, especially your descriptive words about the sourwood seeking light and life.
May it be so for all of us.