Western Mass

Enjoying the rays and the rolling sea of green trees from atop Mt. Norwottuck. 

After escaping Chicago city life, today along with my friends Sasha and Mark (shown above), I explored a sweeping deciduous forest in Amherst.  The sense of off the beaten track adventure we added to our hike sent my mind anticipating great trips to come. Especially since this was the first glimpse of nature I've hiked since conquering the hills of South Dakota. Snacking on Mountain Trail Mix reminded me of that week spend wandering the Great Plains eating nothing but ChexMix, NutriGrain Bars, and Pepperoni Sticks. Expectedly, while summating Mount Norwottuck, my mind perpetually raced from Western Mass to every corner of the planet as we trekked up and down the rocky paths. 

On a more local level, I'm sorrowfully amazed at what has become of America's north east. The surrounding woods once engulfed the entire land. For most of history, the country as we know it -- our cities, suburbs, and small towns -- remained untouched forests. Now, only small pockets survive.  

Today, we were thankfully still able to experience the age-old, weathered rocks of the "Horse Caves."  The stunningly suspended boulders overhead announce nature's presence along the White Trail. Two layers of rock appear to have eroded unusually, with the lower bedrock weathering faster than the stronger stone on top, resulting in an overhanging cliff. It almost felt like we were walking across the set of the Lion King in the sacred place where Rafiki holds a newborn Simba high in the air. 

After passing by these prominent boulders, we half heartedly attempted to contribute to one of the trail's decrepit log bridges/passages crossing over a stream. There is an amount of responsibility to maintain the trails so that other can grow an affinity towards Mother Nature and continue to enjoy her fruits. Next time, more aware and comfortable with my surroundings, I hope to contribute more when encountering the opportunity.

The most magnificent display Mount Norwottuck offers is its view from its highest peak. As stated and pictured above, no other sight screams "nature" as well as the crawling ocean of green. And no other place before has sent my sights straight towards the peaks of the Andean Mountains in Peru, my next great mountains to tackle.

Western Mass