Taking in The Outdoors (Entry 1)

     Knowing that we would be facing rain in the area for the next few days, I decided to go for a short hike at Eagle Mountain Park late Monday evening. I had no time or distance goals in mind, and I wanted to ignore all trail maps so I could follow whatever plant or animal caught my interest the most. Shortly after starting my hike, however, I found a scenic overlook that provided a beautiful view of the lake beyond the trees. After that, I knew I had to make it to the water.

    About half a mile from the trail entrance, I heard rustling in the trees nearly fifty yards away. As I turned around, I saw a sizable doe staring back at me. I slowly approached her in the hopes of getting a better look, and I was surprised to find that she was not startled by the sound of my steps. She looked entirely comfortable with my presence and did not show any fear, and it reminded me that I was the creature out of my normal element, not her. 

    After a few minutes, I walked away to ensure that she did not grow fearful of hikers and so I could continue down the trail. There were a few species of cacti that I spotted along the trail, and there was one variant that sprouted beautiful fruit bulbs. This plant was both dangerous and beautiful which I felt was a perfect encapsulation of each extreme of nature's character.

    Next, I came across a pine tree that was a deeper hue of green than any of the surrounding foliage, and I was drawn closer to it by the enticing smell of its thin needles. I plucked a recently fallen branch off the ground to keep the aroma with me throughout the rest of my hike, and I continued on down the trail. This tree was home to several different types of insects that were buzzing about it, so I knew my great attraction to the smell was something natural.

Finally, as I reached my destination along the northeast shore of the lake, I was able to sit back and listen as small raindrops bounced off of the lake's surface and the nightlife - especially the vocal owls of the forest - began to emerge from their slumber. Overall, the hike down was exemplary of the great variety and vibrancy within nature, and I feel a great sense of joy in having finally given it the attention it deserves.