Navigating Light and Shadow

Navigating Light and Shadow
            Leafy shadows flicker on a sunlit pale dirt trail. At a glance, the shadows look like a static pattern. Staring at the same spot for a moment, though, I see shady marks ripple as the breeze moves the leaves. 
            Some of my favorite outdoor moments are walking on dappled shadow trails. I’m interacting with ground that is alive under my feet, ever changing. A bird on a branch flits in a chiaroscuro silhouette. Shapes become longer as the afternoon light gets lower in the sky.
            Dark shadows are traditionally associated with something bad or scary. We see bright sunny spots as positive and happy.
            Life is a mixture of darkness and light. Learning how to walk through both, often mixed together in changing patterns, is an evolving skill we hone through experience.
            May your path be filled with interesting shadow and light to learn from. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week the featured hike from the archives is Pulgas Ridge, an open space preserve near San Carlos featuring shady tree covered trails and ridge top views.
 
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This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
Hike Notes 71: Pulgas Ridge