Chelsea Ottaviani- Natural Setting of the Noland Trail

Walking the Noland Trail was something that I had been waiting to do all semester. I absolutely love walking through the woods and taking in all of my surroundinds. Seeing all of the differnt shades of leaves in the trees, listening to the crack of twigs under people's feet, watching the wind ripple across the water, smelling the scent of the surrounding trees- all of these things make me feel centered and comfortable. There is something about the red in the leaves that makes my unable to stare at anything else- if the leaves could remain this color all year long I would not be complaining. Fall is by far my favorite time of the year and having such a beautiful peice of the wilderness right off campus is truly a wonderful thing to have to take in the change of the season. Though all the leaves have fallen now the beauty of the season is only just beginning. Now that all the branches are bare, I love to see the trees and see how all the branches wrap around each other and grow together as one- something you cannot see by the blanket of trees usually covering their labrynth. I cannot wait for the spring bloom to come where I can walk the path of the Noland Trail again and see the trees in yet another light.