9/13/2019 1:53 pm- 3:13 pm
The area I chose for my sit spot is one of my favorite parts of the Carvins Cove trail. It is secluded enough that I don’t have to worry about being interrupted by other hikers but also close enough to civilization that I feel comfortable sitting there for a long period of time. Another reason I chose this spot was because I knew it was a popular crossing point for wildlife such as deer, birds, squirrels, etc.
My spot is a small clearing in the middle of the coniferous area of the Carvins Cove trail. I was facing south, looking back at the direction I came from. The ground in covered in moss and lichen as well as small saplings and this cool fleshly green growth that I have yet to identify. The trees around my sit-spot are some species of pine, roughly 20 feet tall and appear dead and bare at the bottom of their trunks, but at the top have needles and are full of life.
When I got to my sit-spot, it was drizzling a little bit. The sky was overcast and the temperature was nice and cool. There was a calm breeze and everything was calm (except for the sounds of the highway, but that was pretty easy to ignore). When I closed my eyes and tuned in, I could hear the birds just south of me, as well as the breeze moving through the tree branches, causing them to brush together. I saw a few squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree. I also had several groups of deer walk right by where I was sitting, completely unaware I was there (if they were, they didn’t seem bothered by me).
Three objects I will be focusing on is one of the saplings growing in the area, as well as the lichen and moss growing on the ground and on the tree. I realize there are not many large things I can observe at my sit-spot other than the trees, but I think it would be interesting to observe how the lichen and moss change as we shift into fall and winter. Same goes for the sapling.
The feeling I had after my first focused time at my sit-spot was really peaceful and calming. It really did act as a meditation session for me as well as an opportunity to really observe an area I would see on a regular basis, but never really paid attention to the smaller details. I look forward to going back and seeing how the area changes over the course of the semester.
Claudia,
I loved that your post was short and sweet, but none the less descriptive. I’ve always wanted to go to Carvin’s Cove but don’t know exactly how to get there. And that fact that you saw deer up close sounds amazing! The description of that tree reminded me of an Ash tree because of the Emerald Ash Borer, but once you mentioned pine needles it squashed my idea. I look forward to finding out what exactly the tree is!
Regards, Tia