Wild Aurora's Blogspot: Mt Rogers -- A New Perspective

Luckily spring revival is lagging a few weeks behind as cold temperatures and snow have been hitting the high country in SW Virginia since the beginning of April. Because of the delay, I was rewarded yesterday with unobstructed views of Mt Rogers, Whitetop Mtn, and Roan Mtn through the naked stands of hickory and popular yet to sprout leaves and buds. The understory was still dormant too but the Beartree Gap Trail was covered with dry lichen and autumn’s leafy release. There was silence except for the crunch of my feet, and Ember and Buksi’s unsuccessful attempts at chasing down red squirrels before the summit of Iron Mtn.

Roan Mtn from FR 90

Mt Rogers from afar

Yesterday’s hike with the puplers was a sensible effort in getting back to basics – nature and its elements, solitude, challenge, and accomplishment. In none other than one of my favorite, nostalgic landscapes – the woods. The biggest challenge wasn’t the hike; it was trying to let go of the ghosts of previous relationships. Along the 4-hour hike, simplicity washed over me, assisted by day-long rain, and I was reminded that life is not as complicated or unfair as it seems. I need to relax and wait for life to work out its plan, and it WILL be kinder than I fear. Take the paths that are not only right for me, but those that I truly want to follow. That, I'm reminded, is the only way to live.

Buksi Bear “Banjo on his Knee” Pupler and Happy Ember “Watch and Learn” Pupler had a wonderful day on Iron Mountain. The trail outting started off a bit rough and I was thinking we were never going to walk farther than the parking lot. Buksi Bear Banjo’s pace was at first precisely that of a dog with banjos on his knees – he sat like a brick, refusing to walk on the leash. So, I thought, okay, I’ll let Buksi off the leash and he’ll just follow Ember, right? Oh nooo, Buksi books it down the slope, off the trail, and immediately soaks himself in the creek. It is impossible to get to him through the Rhododendron thickets and he is seemingly protesting the command COME. So, Ember and I wait anxiously because we want to put in some miles and get moving before we are soaked by rain. Finally, I release Ember and she retrieves Buksi. Not five minutes down the trail, Buksi wiggles out of his collar and the leash and he is in another creek. This time I let them play for awhile. Then we are off, Ember running freely and Buksi finding his gait at my heels.