Trailhead Four: Weathering the journey

Not long after the spring, the trail becomes significantly steeper and rockier. You are about to come out of the woods and onto the rocks! From this point on to the summit, the trail is almost continuously on rocks. At 3.3 miles into the hike, you reach a fantastic view to the northwest and begin to take into account everything around you. This is a point that has time and time again caused me to reflect on the mountain scenery and break in my path. The branches of the Eastern pine in front of me grow away from the prevailing winds and guide my eye line to the breathtaking view in front of me.

Undoubtedly this is my favorite part of this hike as I find that it holds an unmatched history that was easy for an individual like myself to realize. I find that every time I walk past this area and note on the rocks in front of me the weathered patterns of hiking boots that have worn this stone I harken back to the cyclical nature of my time in this place. I have walked this route many times and every time my boots have trailed along this stone wearing it down like those who walked this route before me. As such, my memories of this place all align with the idea that my experiences here have all built on each other and will continue to accumulate. Every tree blossoming and stone weathering is merely another ascension within the land that I can appreciate as an observer of place.