It's the Little Things...

Today, as we hiked to Cascade, I was able to reflect on the little things that have been woven into the fabric of our adventure so far: the sound of Cascade Lake lapping at the shores, the sound of the Raven's wings as it ascends from our campsite, the tiny purple flower that announces itself along the trail, the hissing from the steam vents that can't be captured in a photo, a fish leaping straight out of the lake, teasing the fly fisherman just 100 yards down stream, a Colombian Spotted frog hiding in the shallows of the lake, a fuzzy caterpillar scurrying across the barren trail to find cover, hearing the banjo music from a few campsites down, discovering that cutthroat trout and graylings are the prize catches in Cascade lake.

Seeing the brilliant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring reflected in the steam rising from its surface, catching the glimpse of a majestic bald eagle perched on a dead tree and wondering how long she was watching me before I spotted her, being able to see the difference between a Golden Mantle squirrel and Least chipmunk up close. When I look back at this partial list, I realize that these are not the little things at all, but important parts of a grand and detailed picture.Read more