Journal #5: The Long Road Home

This past weekend, I spent 12 hours driving from northern Colorado to Fort Worth, Texas to finish out the last semester of my college career. While not the typical nature experience, I did find myself interacting with nature quite a bit on this journey. When you’re alone in the car for 12 hours, you can’t help but notice your surroundings. It also helps that for a good portion of this drive there is no cell phone service available. Free from most distractions, I was able to absorb the natural scenery on my multi-state tour.

I have completed this drive, in both directions, a multitude of times. I have driven these roads in the dead of winter, when the temperature changed about 20 degrees in between rest stops and states.  I have driven these roads in the peak of summer, when the pavement radiated heat and the earth begged for moisture. Arguably, the best part of this drive is the constantly-changing scenery, as even the most mundane of landmarks change with the years and seasons.

My route

There are several routes from Colorado to Texas, each offering different views and cultures. I have driven through the hills of New Mexico, sticking to backgrounds and witnessing colorful canyons and perplexing rock structures. I have driven through the fields of Kansas, viewing miles of plains and highway with little of humanity’s touch. This journey I decide to weave my way through southern Colorado, skirt through Oklahoma, and finish the bulk of the drive in Texas.

This route weaves through the tiniest of towns, some scarcely populated, some mere reduced to mere remnants of the past. The majority of the route offers a view of wide open farm land, with little disturbance by civilization. The most striking thing about this view is the sky. It seems to go on forever, in a giant stretch of brilliant blue. On this day, with temperate weather and plenty of sunshine, the sky was at its finest. It was the most perfect of blues, emulating the exact notion of “sky blue”. Save for few wispy clouds dotting the horizon, the sky was uninterrupted. Its vastness both humbled and relaxed me. When the sun set, the sky erupted in beautiful pinks and oranges, bidding farewell to my day on the road.

Road trips are one of my favorite activities. They allow us to break free of normal comforts, to experience life in a smaller space with mostly our own thoughts. This trip allowed me to appreciate the beauty of nature, even in places that are often seen as wholly mundane. I was able to see the sky in all its brilliance, from sunrise to sunset. I was also able to appreciate the vastness of the farm fields, filled with a variety of plants, from pumpkins to cotton. This experience provided me a glimpse into a life I so often forget, right in the middle of America.   

A piece of Highway 287 in southern Colorado 

Journal #4: Fall Break Adventures in Colorado

Over the short semester recess, I had the opportunity to travel to Colorado and experience nature in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. I have lived in northern Colorado for almost my entire life, save for a few years in Texas on the bookends. My deep appreciation for nature finds its roots in Colorado. The breathtaking mountain views, plentiful sunshine, and endless blue skies make going outside not just an option, but a necessity. There is a bounty of truth in the common reference to Colorado as “God’s country”.

I was excited to return to Colorado in mid-October, as the state was experiencing the peak of its Fall season. The view from the airplane revealed dots of brilliant yellows and oranges among the vibrant green of the state’s classis evergreens. As I drove home, I specifically noticed the bright reds of the maple leaves, perhaps the most breathtaking change of the Fall. The mountains in the distance were snow-capped, marking the most dramatic shift from summer to winter. The air also had a crisp bite to it, a long cry from the sweet taste of the summer heat. The season change brings excitement and a sense of profound newness to the entire area.

My trip to Colorado included two direct interactions with nature. The first was a drive up a winding mountain road to a popular lookout above Boulder. This was a spontaneous solo trip. While the weather was warm, I  did notice small mounds of snow from a recent storm in the shade of the trees. At the top of the mountain, I climbed out of the car and over a small stretch of rocky terrain to reach my final destination. The wind was strong and cold from the higher elevation, but the sun provided a welcoming warmth. The view, as always, was spectacular. The long valley that stretched before me reminded me of just how small I really am. Nature has a funny way of grounding us, reminding us that we are simply one piece of this big, beautiful world. I have included a picture of this lookout that I snapped a few years ago. 

                     

Flagstaff Mountain 

My second interaction with nature was much more extensive. On my final day in Colorado, my dad and I drove to Rocky Mountain National Park. We then embarked on a five-mile hike to Alberta Falls. The hike, which I have completed before, winds through the forest, culminating in a grand waterfall. The weather was quite pleasant for mid-October. As I hiked, I noticed various aspects of the nature in my surroundings. I remember hearing the rush of the falls long before I could see it, a reminder of the great strength of nature. I also remember seeing a variety of animals, including deer, blue jays, and chipmunks. At the end of the hike, we even heard the roar of a bear somewhere in the mountains. This hike gave me a chance to note the intricate details of the natural surroundings, deepening my appreciation.

Alberta Falls 

Journal #3: More Progress on the Trail!

Week six of the fall semester has come and gone, marking the term as more than a third complete. We have now traveled to the Fort Worth Nature Center three times, continuing to work on our trails each visit. This week we met directly at our trail head, giving our group more time to work during the class session. Our trail has a few major maintenance issues, including trail erosion and overgrowth. The main issue is the mass invasion of privet, especially in the areas bordering the fence. This is the problem we tackled this week, with our group working together in a small area to remove a bulk of the privet. In our time, we removed several large and dead branches. By the end, the fence was visible, providing users with a clearer view of the areas off-trail. Our work made a noticeable difference in the look of trail. It was very rewarding to feel like we were having a real impact through our work. It also gives me a deeper appreciation for the work the Fort Worth Nature Center employees, and all trail maintenance officials, do daily. Maintaining our outdoor spaces is of high importance and assures that future generations will be able to enjoy this nature too. On our trail, the invasion of privet threatens to kill off many native and beautiful plant species. I am glad I can play a part in preserving these unique plants.

An after photo our trail! 

This week we were accompanied by a FWNC employee during our time on the trail. He provided us with some unique information on the plant species growing at the center. We learned about the difference between Red and White Oaks, and how to recognize the leaf of each tree. We also learned about the White Locus, a plant with some rather dangerous-looking thorns. I will be on the lookout for this plant as I continue to work on the trail to avoid any mishaps! It was great to learn more about the foliage on our trail, especially to identify a clear difference between the desire plants and the invasive weeds. This will aid us as we continue to maintain the integrity of the trail.

Red Oak leaves with "arrowhead" shape

White Oak leaves with "bullet" shape 

I am excited to continue our work at the Nature Center in the coming weeks, hopefully seeing even more progress on our trail. My goal is to leave the Nature Center better than it was when we drove in this August. Hopefully we will be able to accomplish this goal as individual groups and a class to help keep Fort Worth beautiful!