Wilson Overlook

Here I am, in a place that I call Wilson Overlook. A carpet of grass lies under my dry, warm feet. Only the occasional drift of wind makes a sound. Nestled in between two different meadows is a fort that I stumbled upon last summer. The fort itself is only but a pile of dead logs, yet it is a roof over my head. It is a shelter. A shelter from the wind, a shelter from the rain, and a shelter from the snow. I will often visit this fort after long bike rides. The reason I go here is because it is here, where I find myself in the moment, taking in all of the sights and the sounds. It is here, where I begin to relax, reflect, and reset. And after visiting my special place, I am recharged.

For Butch Cassidy, fleeing from the police after robbing the Telluride bank, it might have been slightly different. Galloping across the valley floor, pockets stuffed with cash, Butch was in trouble. With two sheriffs on his tail, he needed to find a hideout. Instead of following the train tracks into Illium, he cut to the left and started making his way up the mountain, into uncharted territory. He bushwhacked into the high alpine, trying not to let go of his precious load. He soon settled upon a field of meadows that were sheltered by the forest. It was now almost dusk, and he needed to find a safe place to spend the night. These meadows would be perfect. 

He tied up his horse, Buck, and then set up his camp. He gathered an assortment of logs and started creating a temporary shelter. Stacking log on a log, he finished. It was nothing special, but it would suffice. He then watched the sun set behind Wilson Peak. The Alpen glow cascaded along the jagged mountains, as the sunset painted a vibrant orange and pink across the sky. He wondered what the next day would bring. 

Through differing perspectives, we can see how a place like Wilson Overlook, can have such a similar, and yet different impact, on the viewer, through different circumstances, and points of view. But I think we can agree that this place is truly special. With the jagged peaks, the dense, dark forest, and the sun melting into the horizon, this place is surrounded by wilderness and beauty.