Today I returned to my spot one last time. It was a rainy spring day, and for the first time in the forest I could see clear signs of spring. My tree finally budded leaves and little plants were sprouting out of the forest floor. There were hardly any people out, so I had the trails to myself and I the only sounds I could hear were the birds chirping and and raindrops falling. I find the forest to be even more zen in the rain, and I did not mind that fact that I was sopping wet.
I have enjoyed coming back to this spot time and again throughout all of the seasons. I have observed phenological changes like the leaves changing and falling, then regrowing in the spring. I have observed the ground freezing and accumulating snow, then thawing and melting streams of water into the lake. I have noticed driftwood accumulating on the shore of the lake, as well as major erosion on the banks and sediment deposition into the lake. I have observed the silence of winter with the lack of birds, and then the return of their happy songs in the spring. This project has helped me be very present and aware of my surroundings.
I have become familiar with various “landmarks” at my spot like this sideways tree or the little pools of water that form in the rocks when the lake is high. I have become familiar with the trails at Rock Point in general, and the areas where the forest composition changes from coniferous to hardwoods. I think Rock Point has done a great job of fostering a culture of appreciation and stewardship of the land. The trails are open to the public, yet they are well maintained and clean. They have signs reminding people to stay on the trail where habitat restoration is taking place. The human footprint on the land is minimal, which highlights the natural elements. Every interaction I have had with people on the trails has been friendly and people seem to just be extremely content to be out in nature. The more I came to the place the more I considered myself a part of it. Especially on days when I would come alone and the trails were empty I felt a strong connection as I walked through the woods and observed my surroundings.
