Fifth Journey Day 6: Gathered Fragments
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: Banff, Canada
I walked the forest trail near Tunnel Mountain this morning. The air felt very cold. The trees stood tall and silent, their dark trunks rising in uneven intervals like guards. I moved slowly, not to disturb the quiet, running my hand across the rough bark of a tree and letting the pine needles brush against my sleeve.
There was still snow in the deeper parts of the ground. It melted in uneven pieces, making the edges of the fallen branches and pine cones less sharp. The sound of the water was soft and steady — small streams going down between roots and stones. I crouched down to look at the textures closely: the soft green of moss against the dark wood of the bark, the way melting ice made soft white lines over brown pine needles.
I sketched without pressure. Loose movements and quick impressions: a spiral of bark peeling away, the shadows cast by the sun filtering through the branches, the shapes made by fallen twigs. The pages feel unfinished, but they are honest.
The mountains were there behind the trees. They were always there, but they seemed to be waiting. I wasn't prepared for how big they were. Today, I felt better when I thought about the small things. The simple parts of forest life made the size of Banff feel smaller and easier to enjoy.
When I got back to the trailhead, the wind had changed and it was getting darker. I stood for a moment longer, my boots leaving shallow prints in the soft mud. I didn't want to go back to the world of streets and voices.
Sometimes, it's enough to collect pieces of information.
