This is a poetic capture of a real-time experience of one of my many 3.5 mile hikes over the years, around beautiful Lost Lake, situated in the high mountain Oregon forests, on the western slope of Mt Hood, in the Cascade Mountains. Truly paradise! I would give everything to be able to make that trek again just once more. But it’s wilderness, and my failed health prevents it from ever happening again. So, when I am blue, I go there still in wonderful memories.
Mt. Hood peak, seen across Lost Lake, in Oregon Cascade range
drum the root chambers
of the old growth
each step
cushioned by centuries of needle-drop
in this ancient forest
enjoying the rise and fall
twist and turn of the trail
I amble dreamlike
my walking stick is smooth
clutched comfortably
in my right hand
tensions dissipate
soothed
by the audible stir of the wind
in the treetops
wafting down the western Cascade slopes
it invigorates
the steady rhythm of my footsteps
hypnotize
rounding a bend in the trail
brushing through waist-high fern
I crest a knoll
and stop
mesmerized
filtered by the towering woodland canopy
light drifts down dreamlike
settles golden
into the natural cathedral before me
a presence is tangible
a breeze enfolds me
filled with the intoxicating scent
of living earth
an addictive bouquet
of cascade red cedar
douglas fir
ponderosa pine
moss
bark
loam
and ionized mountain air
my spirit rises
my being grows weightless
any sense of self floats away
lifted into oneness
wholeness
bliss
suddenly
I’m startled from my reverie
a young doe
bounds onto the trail ahead
stands proud
pauses in the golden light
she considers me briefly
then disappears
quick as a stolen glance
quiet as passing time
darting my eyes
here then there
in a vain attempt to follow her
I catch a glimpse of silver-blue
reflecting resplendent
where massive tree trunks part
this is the reason for my trek
into this mighty wilderness
I step through the opening
and climb a huge boulder
I sit
pull my legs under me
and lean forward
arms folded
elbows on knees
basking in the energy
just below me
an enchanting tangle of driftwood
floats sculpture-like
unmoving
across the magical mirrored lake
rising spectacular
a chiseled mountain peak
coppered
in the evening sun
I grow very still
listen
gaze
rapt
I become this moment
in touch with my soul
with the eternal
transcendent
alone in pristine
old growth paradise
Huge old growth, Lost Lake Trail, Oregon
rob kistner © 2019
Poetry at: earthweal
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, I was rob’s shih tzu. He misses me every day.
I like the way the footfalls drum the opening lines of your poem, Rob, as if you’re catching up with me, coming to guide me through the ancient forest, and the way they echo through the poem, accompanied by ‘the audible stir of the wind in the treetops’. The single separated word ‘mesmerized’ is powerful in forcing me to stop and take in the description of the ‘natural cathedral’. I love how you appeal to the sense of smell in the lines:
‘an addictive bouquet
of cascade red cedar
douglas fir
ponderosa pine
moss
bark
loam
and ionized mountain air’,
which is almost overpowering,
and the view of the lake is magical.
I am glad this touched you Kim. This is my special place on earth. I have asked to have my ashes sprinkled here, when that time comes. The natural intimacy of this beautiful place spoke to my soul the first time I laid eyes on it in September of 1990, 1 month after we moved west to Oregon.
I love that detailed capturing of the scent of the forest. This is a beautiful journey – I feel like you took me into a myth.
That 3.5 miles around Lost Lake is myth-like. So beautiful, and the power of the 1.25 mile stretch of ancient forest that you walk through half way around is absolutely breathtaking. I am pleased you enjoyed this Sarah!
This walk has certainly been a transcendental experience for you Rob, absorbing you into so much scent sound and sensing
Thanks for sharing
Much??????????????????love
You are welcome Gillena. I have just now posted with “Walking In Paradise”, a photo of the massive old growth encountered along the Lost Lake Trail.
AH! This walk is almost overwhelming in its sights and smells and sounds. Kudos to you for evoking all these senses effectively through your words — I love this transcendental experience. All the details and scenes are so well captured.
Thank you Anmol! If you want a better sense of the magic of this hike — I have just now posted with “Walking In Paradise”, a photo of the massive old growth encountered along the Lost Lake Trail.
What an incredible tale of your walk Rob. Stunning.
Thank you Linda! It is an amazing experience, especially the 1.25 mile section of ancient forest, with trees over 220 feet tall and 9 foot in diameter!
I was totally there with you, the serenity, the oneness, the startle and the satisfaction 🙂
Glad this drew you along Kate! It is an incredible environment…
Paradise indeed. I love the startled moment with the deer, and the transcendent moment at the end.
Thank you Sherry!
Oh my–this left me breathless, Rob. Thank you for taking us along on your hike to this special place.
So glad you could come along Merril!
I love the sense of how a familiar walk is always blended with surprises… maybe you will only see those thing if they are seen against a familiar backdrop.
Yes Björn! It is the n the space of the fsmilisr that the unfamiliar grabs attention.
It does sound like a paradise! I like the “bouquet” of various types of trees.
The wonders of nature RW… 🙂
This is incredibly beautiful, Rob 🙂
Thank uou Sanaa, very much!
Love the drumming of the root-chambers! truly a cathedral
Thank you erbiage.
Your words created the world so well, I relaxed into it as I read along. Beautiful.
Thank you so much Kerfe! 🙂
There is nothing like being one with nature to soothe the soul! A lovely account of your walk and vistas beyond words!
Thank you Dwight! I am by far at my most intune with my spirit in nature, and that amazing 3.5 miles around Lost lake is, and has been paradise fir me for 30 years mow!
I can feel it
Hear it
Smell it.
Sounds like nature at it’s best. You do have a little piece of paradise there. I really enjoyed this read, you captured it all so well.
Thank you Pat, glad you liked this. Love my PacNW!
This really does look like paradise, Rob. I had a postcard of Mt Hood as a child, and I was fascinated by it!
I would give everything to be able to make that trek again Ingrid, just once more. But it’s wilderness, and my failed health prevents it from ever happening again — and we ain’t got no stinkin’ time machines. So I go there again again and again in memory-enriched photographs. My soul would fly Ingrid just anticipating this particular hike. And just a mile ahead from this viewpoint pictured here, across a wonderful hand-hewn cedar wooden walking bridge, you entered an overwhelmingly magical 1/2 mile stand of take-your-breath-away, intoxicating, GIANT old growth. It was shiver-in-your-shoes orgasmic. I never ever wanted to leave when I finally got there. I would hang for the rest of the day, and walk back by flashlight, turning it off from time to time to watch the moon as it rose over the Lost Lake! And the stars, so so many glorious stars, would explode in the pristine night sky, no city light pollution. And we’d watch the shooting stars. It truly was time traveling. It was a fucking dream — and I will never see it again. I am crying right now.
Lost Lake – there is a story behind that name. Intriguing. I walked with you through this forest, since we share similar old growth forests here in the Pacific North West. I loved the golden glimpse of the deer….so lovely. A beautiful poem, which took us with you through the trees.
Thank you Sherry, I enjoyed the company! 🙂
You will see it again when it is time. Meanwhile enjoy your treasured memories of your beautiful spiritual place which will sustain you and give you inspiration to continue writing
Thank you so much Rall. I enjoy when you visit. If I never get to go there again in my life, i have vivid memories that I frequently visit. And my son, with whom my wife and I share his home, with our stepdaughter and granbson. Justin has promised he will scatter my ashes discretely, at Lost Lake
I briefly walked old growth Canadian forest near Tofino twenty years ago. Your poem, with its evocation of scents, took me back there. Thank you.
Pleased you enjoyed this reminder Kim.
I believed every minute of this. Lucky you. Thanks for making a poem about your walks.
You are most welcome Susan! Now I can only go walkin’ in my words.
Rob, I could feel myself relaxing as I read through your walk. Is there is a way you can record yourself reading this? It would be great to listen to this as a meditation session. That last picture is so amazing. The trees around here look like toothpicks in comparison to those beauties. I love this section:
“a breeze enfolds me
filled with the intoxicating scent
of living earth
an addictive bouquet
of cascade red cedar
douglas fir
ponderosa pine
moss
bark
loam
and ionized mountain air”
Glad you enjoyed this Lisa. I fully intended for it to be both an emotional and tactile, visceral experience. I have made video recordings in the past and placed them on my site — only to have people comment that they wouldn’t play back for them — while I had no trouble. The negative feedback about inconsistent playback discouraged me. I will investigate more fully, because if I could post only recordings, it would be a blessing for mu arthritic hands!!! 🙂
correction. should be here not her
Gotcha covered Lisa… 😉