It is rare for a traveler to focus on the path that is being traveled, constantly being distracted with thoughts of the future -- thoughts of the destination. One foot in front of another, step by step the journey accompanied by a sidetracked mind becomes more and more monotonous. All too easy it is to effortlessly step over down logs, dodge overhanging trees, and slosh through a freshly formed puddle. Even the path itself is taken for granted by most.

This past summer, one of the participants on a backpacking trip I went on worked as a member of a trail crew. On that trail crew, it was her job to up keep existing and form new trails in one of the largest National Parks. I never really took the time to think about the process of building an entire trail, usually too mesmerized by where the path was leading me and by all the beautiful nature. As the trip continued, my friend Maureen kept pointing out little things along the way, “Look at that,” she would say pointing, “Do you see the way that down tree is cut and placed the way it is? That is so if the trail were to flood, the tree would direct some of the run-off water.” Looking down to where she pointed, I guess I could see what she was talking about, but without her pointing it out, I would have never noticed or appreciated all of the hard work that went into the creation of the very trail I was hiking.

Ever since that trip, I now am so thankful for all of the hard work that others do in order to provide safe, well thought out trails for everyone else. It also made me think about how intimidating, yet magnificent, it would be to, from a clean canvas, to blaze a brand new trail. For those who are brave enough, “There is no trail that they follow, no path that can be seen, only felt.” ( http://noles1128.blogspot.com/)