A Sacred Walk
For me every walk outdoors is alive with the possibility of sacred connection to the natural world. A recent late summer walk with a friend was particularly profound for me.
The two of us, each with a hiking pole, started up the steep, wooded trail of South Whidbey State Park on a cool summer morning. My little corgi dog, Vivi, trotted confidently ahead of us. This is a trail she has traversed often.
My friend and I had many things to catch up on—grandchildren, the state of the world, and our gardens. Always our gardens. We were part of an all-women landscape gardening crew in the late 90s on the island. Plants and their care is a big part of our bond.
The 2.5-mile trail wends its way through Douglas fir, western hemlock, red alder, western red cedar and Sitka spruce. It is not technically an old growth forest because it is too small, but it has many of the characteristics of such a forest, including year around springs, a diversity of multi-aged trees, and a few very old trees.
A classic old-growth Douglas fir tree, with its deeply furrowed bark, probably 250 years old.
Two western hemlock trees with a healthy understory of ferns, salmonberry, and deciduous huckleberry.
As we were hiking up the initial steep grade, we stopped to notice things like a late blooming Linnea borealis (twinflower) that is my namesake. We were in an easy back and forth story sharing. Our current life paths on the island require some planning to facilitate these hikes, but I am grateful that we manage the continuity of our friendship. Old friends take years to establish and must be tended or they disappear as mysteriously as the fog that was lurking below us back at the parking lot.
A late blooming Linnea borealis, Ann’s namesake.
Red alder trees come in immediately after a disturbance like logging.; The nodules on their roots add nitrogen back into the soil making it ready for longer lasting conifer trees.
One thing I appreciate about this friendship is that “nature alerts take precedence”. We dropped into some very deep story sharing and at one point paused to notice that we were in a tiny, nearly pristine pocket of old growth forest complete with flowing water, skunk cabbage in its late summer stage, and a density of forest that darkened the light filtering to the forest floor.
The forest floor of an old growth forest contains areas of seepage and plants that have been around since the age of dinosaurs like skunk cabbage and horsetail.
About a half mile later, we stopped to sit on a bench placed to admire the oldest western red cedar in the park. We were again in a place of story sharing when I heard the strangest combination of bird sounds in the otherwise quiet forest. “Excuse me,” I said opening my merlin bird app to identify the sounds. Young great horned owls! They were not old enough to have the distinctive hoots nor wise enough not to “talk” during the day. After about 5 minutes of listening and speculating about what their conversation might “mean”, we saw a couple of ravens fly in.
While we were sitting admiring the old growth western red cedar and listening to the young owls, Vivi was busy sniffing around in the underbrush.
Almost instantly, the young owls went silent. The ravens proceeded to exchange a series of croaks. The owls have been fledged from their nests for many months so they were on their own with no adults around. After a few minutes, one of the young owls bravely resumed its calling. Then another young owl responded. The juvenile owl’s high pitched, irregular calls resumed. They were clearly unafraid of the curious ravens who soon moved on.
To stop everything and attend totally to a moment like this is holy to me. To be able to share it with another person is pure communion. A deep bow of appreciation to my friend. And unbounded appreciation for the wonder of nature which is around us always if we but pause and pay attention.
A new forest grows up around a slowly decaying old growth Douglas fir estimated to have been 750 years old. Life just keeps begetting more life.
I so look forward to your adventures.
Thanks for being a loyal reader, Larry!
I know exactly where you were and could smell the black seep I’ve visited often. How special to hear the young owls. Your description is a delight.
Thank you, oh walker of local trails—and local volunteer for many causes! Ann
Dear Ann,
This has been my most favorite Whidbey hike for 20+ years, but injuries have kept me away for quite some time. Thank you for sharing your walk and photos, a beautiful and sacred remembrance for me.
Love,
Barbara Joy
Dear Barbara Joy, Lovely to hear from you and to be able to bring that special hike back to you through words and photos. Ann
“For me every walk outdoors is alive with the possibility of sacred connection to the natural world.” For me as well, Ann. My river valley comes closest to the beauty you describe, but even amidst the suburban landscapes of my neighborhood, or walking off-season through the local golf course, I have moments of the same, when I see and hear the “shimmer” of the sacred. Beautiful words and images…I hope one day to walk that path with you. Much love and kindest regards, Katharine
Dear Katharine, To you who have hiked all over Europe, a warm welcome to join me anytime at South Whidbey State Park. I know how you hike and the sensitivity we would carry together through the forest would be a blessing to me. Ann
Sounds like a lovely walk. I had occasion recently to listen to a great-horned owl pair calling back and forth. Haunting and beautiful. Several weeks ago when I was staying at Gretchen’s I heard a bird call I had never heard before. Like you, I turned on Merlin for help with an ID. It was a Northern pygmy owl! I never saw it, but I took the opportunity to learn about them. Also like you, I love my time in nature. We are truly kindred spirits ♡
Yes, Bonnie Rae, we are indeed kindred spirits. Often I read your photographic blog and learn so much about wildlife in our region—especially birds. Keep writing and blogging! Ann
Same principles for hiking, old friend!
The call and surprises of nature always takes precedence. Going up to the Bunkhouse end of the month with Ben and his 3 year old son. Ah, memories…
Ah, Marina, wonderful to hear from you. Such a huge reward to make the bunkhouse pilgrimage with the first member of the fourth generation! A beautiful tribute to longevity and family togetherness. So glad I have also had the privilege of visiting the bunkhouse. Ann
How deeply lovely, Ann: you, the friendship, the life you described, your way of telling…….. I feel refreshed….
Hello Fran, thank you for writing in. Always appreciate hearing from readers that my words refresh and enliven them! Ann
Lovely story Ann. Reminds me of my walks and bike rides with my dear friend Linda. Our chats are often paused for plants, trees, and wildlife (and the walks often include Pixie, my Corgi.)
Yes, walks in nature with kindred spirits is an amazing balm for these times—especially when they include a furry friend who is always more tuned into what is happening in the world around them than we are. I am constantly amazed when Vivi lifts up her head, looking around for something coming. Invariably another person shows up and meets us on the trail. I appreciate her extra ears, eyes, and nose. all the best, Ann
always teaching and inspiring and guiding us back to our deep interconnectedness with the earth. Keep it coming, dear Ann. Gratiitude,…..A
Thank you, friend. This connection is one we share deeply. Blessings, Ann
Thank you for this story of nature’s goodness and human goodness. It has touched my day with a sense of the holy. Return, return, return, return …
You are most welcome, Jana. Yes, keep returning always to nature. Ann
Such comforting words in these frightening times. I am just back from a month in southern Ontario meditating on nature in all it’s ancient glory that slowly unveils itself when I take the time to be silent and look. Thank you for reminding me to keep seeking nature now I am home getting too busy thinking of ways to celebrate Sept 21 the International Day for Peace. Nature can reveal new ways for peace not rushing to “do” something. Thank you
May we all continue to cloak ourselves in the beauty that nature surrounds us with. It provides protection for our souls in this truly frightening times. Those of us lucky enough to have calm and peace must never take it for granted. Blessings, Ann
It is always a good day for me when I begin it with a walk in the botanic garden at GGP in San Francisco. Pausing ant the magnificent Ginkgo, whose trunk like the bones of my ancestors speak to me of the essence of life.
I love this look at your botanic gardens! And the Ginkgo tree . . . so ancient and you are tuned into its wisdom. Thank you. Ann
“To stop everything and attend totally to a moment like this is holy to me. To be able to share it with another person is pure communion.”
Through your writing, we, too, are invited to sip from that holiness. Thank you.
Aww, Marjeta, thank you for so fully ingesting my sharing. Ann
I love these walks with you, Ann. And the owl story! You encourage me to spend more time in my own “backyard” woods. And to pay better attention there. xoxo Gretchen
This is a high compliment from someone who traverses many areas of our region Glad you could come along on a walk with me for you have taken me on many an amazing walk. Ann
Thanks for your photos and notes…this made me so lonesome for Whidbey’s beautiful forests and people! May your autumn be a balm…with Love to you and Christina.
We would welcome you back to Whidbey anytime! May your autumn also be a balm. Ann
Your gentle wisdom is a beautiful gift!
Thank you, Sue.
How delightful! I was right there with you every step of the way! Thank you Ann. I also looked up juvenile great horns to hear how they sound. Very surprising. : )
Yes, juvenile great horned owls do make this most surprising, interesting call. Imagine that sound in a completely silent forest. It just stops you in your tracks and raises the curiosity bar inside your heart! Ann
Dear Ann,
Thanks for “taking me on this journey” with you! I love knowing you were named after that plant! I hope some day I can travel those trails with you on Whidbey! I haven’t been there for too long. May the peace of the land be with you and Vivi and Christina always!
Would love to take you for a walk at South Whidbey State Park! We are not far away, yet too far away. Wishing the peace of the land right back to you. Ann
What a wonderful and life giving story you shared, Ann! Oh, the many wonders of nature and the rich gifts it offers us when we are sharing space with her. I felt right there on the land, in my mind’s eye, and it felt so safe.
Seeing the beautiful old cedar, gave me calm, knowing that she has seen so many years of life and she still stands there tall, strong and steady, even with all she knows and what is presently going on. What a teacher she is. I wanted to hug her!!!
I smiled about the young owls – learning by emersion to mind how they go but also not allowing fear to cage them conversations with their own. Wise instincts.
Linnea Borealis – what a great namesake you chose.
I do love your keen noticing and grateful for your sharing of your observations and discoveries. xxx
With appreciation, Jeanne, for your thoughtful comments and reflections. It means a lot to me that people feel inspired and calmed by my sharing of visits to Nature. Ann
On my first to the island around 2000, my frihad a home at Dines Point, took me to South Whidbey State Park and we walked that amazing trail. I told her I am going to inhabit this park someday. In 2000, with our 3 children leading their own adventures, we moved to Whidbey and much to our surprise found our true home just a mile from that wonderful park.
Dear Cynthia, You live close to the northern border of the park and we live close to the southern border of the park. All public spaces need local stewards, visitors, and supporters. Thank you for being an important local supporter of the park! Ann