Nature's Stairs

What do you do when nature offers you steps? Do you take them? Do you reason with yourself why or why you shouldn’t take them? Do you play out scenarios that may or may not happen if you take them? Or scenarios that may or may not happen if you don’t take them? Do you tell yourself, “It’s too damn hot”, “I am so freaking tired”, “I need to at least see what’s at the top?”

I did this weekend during a hike on Cedar Creek Trail at Petite Jean State Park. I saw stairs that nature created, and maybe just maybe with a little help from humans. Nevertheless, I decided to take them, just to see what was at the top. I came to the conclusion that there must be something good at the top.

When I made it to the top, there was a small cave tucked behind the trees. It was marvelous and cool. Thank God. I rested in the cave for a moment. Enjoying the cool.

However, this hike was not memorable because of the cave. It was memorable because of a tiny stick that I picked up in the middle of the cave.

Have you ever noticed that trees are encompassed with a layer of bark? I know, basic science.

But, pause for a moment.

Think.

It’s truly magnificent.

The bark hides the very core of a tree. The bark conceals the very depths of a tree. The bark makes the underlying parts of a tree incapable of being seen.

A few years ago, I was at Pigeon Roost sitting on one of the lookouts staring at Beaver Lake. As I was sitting, I noticed that there were tiny branches laying on the rocks that I was sitting on that had broken off from one of the trees nearby. As I sat on the ledge, I picked up a few of the branches and began to slowly peel back the bark from each branch.

I noticed something.

The wood on some of the branches was still good. The wood underneath the bark was beautiful. A rich caramel color. Smooth to the touch. The smell of the naked timber was crisp and ripe. Worth keeping.

Some branches, however, once peeled unveiled rotten wood. Wood that disintegrated once the bark was removed. A dark decaying brown. The smell of the crumbling wood was foul and rotten. Worth throwing.

The bark can hide so much. On the outside, the bark can make the trees look the same. The bark may be there to hide decaying wood. The bark may be there to protect its rich core. Either way, the very depths of a tree, reveal so much about the health of the tree.

I am glad that on this day, I decided to take the stairs. At first, I marveled at the cave tucked high above the trail. Yet, it was what was inside the cave that made the climb worth it.