In The Woods

We live our lives surrounded by the hustle and bustle of everyday activities, errands, and events. The world seems to constantly move and shift. In the blink of an eye things change, and it's impossible to keep up.

When you visit an isolated forest, time stops. There's no traffic, no sound (except for the wind high in the trees) and change comes slowly. Everywhere you look, the world is teeming with life. It's easy to forget about the chaos when you immerse yourself in such a lovely place, and peace comes naturally.

This past weekend I visited Camano Island, north of Seattle. It had been ages since I went to a forest outside the city, and almost six years since I ventured to this particular spot. The air is fresh, tinged with an aroma of saltwater, moss and rain. The tallest trees closest to the shore are covered in yellow algae nearly the entire length of their trunk, twisted from the blowing western winds. A family of bald eagles hovered in the sky above the trail, singing and chirping to each other. You get lost in this wilderness, and the sense of connection to nature fills your body.

It was a wonderful escape, the kind of adventure everyone should take. It's a photographer's dream and anyone seeking solitude or peace would love it. Despite my overwhelming need to live somewhere where sunshine is abundant, and temperatures are warmer throughout the year, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest is undeniable. When the day finally comes that I move elsewhere, I will miss the lush, green forests.