Nature's Symphony

Post date: Mar 27, 2016 2:58:20 AM

Today's hike was marked by the eruption of spring ephemerals, the opening sonata of spring. Trilliums, both purple and yellow-green were joined by bloodroot, yellow violets, hepaticas, rue anemones, spring beauties, with a sprinkling of trout lilies, blue cohosh, rattlesnake plantain, and cinquefoil that together formed a symphony that would make Mozart proud. They mesh together like the instruments in an orchestra to form a whole grander than the sum of the individual parts. And there are several movements to go! Yippee!

Today I saw Conundrum and Chena again, who were the couple I met yesterday when I went the wrong way for a short spell. We joked about it, and I assured them that today I wouldn't be absorbed with math and poetry and would keep my bearing north. I also crossed paths with Pop Tart, Just Jeff, and a very fast hiker named Hummingbird. The most clever trail name yet was a guy named Juan Durer, who plays the ukulele during trail breaks.

We're now in Fontana Dam. I'll be taking another rest day tomorrow for Easter and ankle soreness again.

Hike today Stecoah Gap to Fontana, 14.9 miles, now at mile 166.