The Balance of Beauty and Danger
By the end of summer, many of the hills in Northern California are toasted to a light gold, the parching dry summer bleaching the green hills of spring to a pale beauty. Set against a stark blue sky, there is something other-worldly about the hills, flaxen curves reminiscent of sand dunes or ocean waves made of grass. Like the deadly heat emanating from desert sand or the treacherous undertows of ocean currents, our beautiful golden hills in California belie the perils of fire. “Fire season” should not be added to our standards of spring, summer, fall and winter, but devastating wildfires have become annual phenomena. Nature interweaves danger with powerful beauty, but balancing this paradox is a necessity. We learn to walk through life balancing love and loss, hope and despair, joy and sadness. Waves of grass, rolling dunes, and constantly moving wave patterns are some of nature’s countless gifts, which we learn to appreciate even more as we walk through life’s challenges. The bleached-blonde hills of California came to mind when I saw the photos for this week’s World Walks from England, Sheringham Country Park. Second in a series of World Walks contributions from the Norfolk area of England, Sheringham Country Park features its own golden grass scenery, offering views of the sea as well as woodsy paths. This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Loma Alta-Smith Ridge, a stellar example of the beautiful golden hills that are a visual highlight of California’s dry season. Do you have a favorite walk? Share with readers in World Walks! Two or three sentences and photos allow other readers to share your special hike. See the World Walks link for how to submit your walk to share. It’s easy! This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives: (Original Hike Notes 28): Loma Alta-Smith Ridge Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes and photo galleries via the main Hikes page or the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite walks from readers! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. Check the Home page for the broader background story. Please feel free to share, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
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Lisa LouisSharing insights and hiking highlights (Hikes, Hike Search by Area) from the special needs caregiver front in San Francisco. Archives
February 2025
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