CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST IN AUTUMN
After reading about man’s kinship with nature and struggling with my own depravity in the wilderness, my journey finally reached a national forest. I had searched for connection in nature in San Diego, in the Smoky Mountains, North Caroline, Virginia, and Washington State. None of the places could meet the requirement I needed, as every place seemed too close to people or buildings, the evidence of man’s mark on the earth deeply entrenched in the soil. I was searching for more than just nature; I was seeking the quiet solitude of the wilderness. Even escaping the steady hum of electrical power lines means veering off the urban path to a great extent.
The Cleveland National Forest is the southernmost National Forest in California and is only about 40 minutes from where I live. Covering 460,000 acres, the forest is a haven for wildlife and plants. The shrub- and tree-covered mountains seem untouched and wild compared to the city’s cultivated and designed landscapes. After discovering a trail, my family and I stepped onto it on a warm September day. Despite the holiday, we encountered a few people, which I had hoped for. The landscape was mostly various shades of brown, but some evergreens remained vibrant despite the summer heat. What stood out more were the views and the tranquility. From certain vantage points, we could see for miles, with no sounds of crowds, traffic, or machinery. An occasional plane crossed the otherwise clear blue sky, but it was nothing like the flight path near the city.
For about twenty minutes, I asked each member of my family to choose a spot and an activity where they could spend some time alone. My son decided to pretend he was a captain on a large fallen tree, while my daughter sat cross-legged on a grassy patch, drawing pictures of the lake and cows nearby. My husband spent some time praying before taking on the role of the attentive parent. I climbed up the hill to find a log where I could sit and write, then journaled about what I could see, smell, hear, and feel. With all my heart, I tried to absorb as much solitude and peace as I could in such a short period. It wasn’t enough, but I appreciated the small yet meaningful moment in the wilderness, away from life's worries and cares, surrounded by a natural world that existed long before people arrived.
In the moment of stillness, there was a true sense of kinship with nature, ever so briefly. It was just me and the breeze, the smell of pine surrounded my rich golds, deep browns, crisp greens, and bright blues with a speckling of blacks and whites. I closed my eyes and let my senses take over without the distraction of buzzing, humming, screeching, beeping, or clanging. Just unadulterated peace and serenity.
