A map would give the formal, Forest Service name for the trail where we were hiking Sunday, but as far as we are concerned, we were on “Our Trail.” A map would also indicate that we were in the Olympic Mountains, though we refer to them as “Our Home Mountains.”An easy 45-minute car trip from our house, Our Trail, thankfully, is not one of those areas overused and loved-to-death by hikers. We walked seven hours without seeing another soul. That was wonderful, but a bit unusual. We began to wonder whether there was some calamity in the world that was keeping humans indoors, glued to television sets. Leah wisecracked that, even as we hiked, maybe CNN was breaking-in on coverage of the Iraq War to breathlessly report that Paris Hilton was (again!) being released from jail. That story would certainly keep America occupied.
You might notice that I’m being vague about the specific location of our hike, and this is quite intentional. One day soon, Leah and I will return to hike Our Trail in Our Home Mountains. We’ll both be seeking solitude. Though it’s my hope, Dear Reader, that you too will be out enjoying the peace of some wonderful place in nature, it’s best if you find your own Special Place. You needn’t tell me your Secret Spot, because I’m not going to tell you mine.
If, however, you happen to be a photographer, I will tell you this one thing: Four seconds at f 32 worked for me. Maybe it'll be good for you too.
