The trail provides

A thru hiker would tell you that the trail provides and always miraculously lets you stumble upon exactly what you need. Sometimes it might me in the form of “Trail magic” that could be anything from a left behind ice chest with cold drinks for passerby’s, to people living near the trail providing a home cooked meal or even shelter. Perhaps it can be found in the form of other essential items that are missed while being on a long distance hike, things we often take for granted in our day to day life’s. Never having done a long distance thru hike, I have definitely dreamed about it and my friendship with a thru hiker has fueled my passion to consider such even though it most likely will have to be under my own terms due to rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain. I have a backup plan though and I know that I will have my own story to write in this adventure when the time comes. 

I have backpacked and engage in frequent/weekly day hikes. I have not found any trail magic in the form of ice chests and BBQ’s along the way, but I probably could if I hiked the right section of the PCT (Pacific crest trail) that runs through my neighborhood. Still I have found plenty of magic on the trail and I too would tell you that the trail provides. It has healed me in many ways and has been a place of balance, solitude and where I go to recharge my batteries. It has bestowed me with countless feelings of awe that took my breath away, given me a sense of accomplishment to feel proud about and opened my eyes to what truly matters. It has pushed me and kicked me in the rear at times and I would respond with “No pain, no gain”. You just have to put in the work for some things and nothing in life is free, so if you want the view that you can’t drive up to, well than you need to put in the work. I found love on the trail in too many forms to mention and I’m filled to the rim with an appreciation for all the beauty that I have been allowed to see. The trail provides and I made this little project that has been inspired from the trail providing in a different sense.

“The finished project of what the trail provided”

I found the “L” as the first letter on the trail a few weeks back and a vision came to life. I knew right way what I was looking for and what the trail was trying to tell me. I found the “O” the same day and half of my search was complete. On the next hike in the same area I found the “V” and it is a beautiful fact that I found the letters in the order they find their place in the word “Love”. I knew the “E” would be the most difficult to find and it took three more hikes all to same area to finally find it. I knew the moment I saw it that it was the one and my vision was complete. I’m amazed by the sequence of the letters and the order they were found, as well as their sizes all matching and being a fit within the first attempt. I never found another letter that didn’t match in size and all were the original finds.

“Finding the final letter”

The trail provides and this was a reminder that it has provided me with much love during my journey of peace and finding myself. It’s just a few twigs and parts of branches some would say, yet is has the meaning of some great treasure to me that touches my heart. It’s a part of my journey to nourish my soul, mend the troubles and learn to let go of the things that no longer serve me. And to me it will always have a much higher meaning than just a few pieces of cheap wood. It’s metaphorical and another sign from the universe.