Wanderlust, West Coast Style

Many people spend their lives dreaming of the places in this world they would love to see, and they allow themselves to be halted from such opportunities for a myriad of reasons. I was once that person, with my greatest excuse being a lack of time. I’ve since made the realization that time is our greatest possession, which there is a limited amount of, and what matters most are the memories that come with spending it wisely.

The Sequoia National Forest seemed like some sort of land of make believe to me; so far away from the Midwest, with there surely being no way any trees could grow to be that enormous. I wanted to see for myself, so I began planning a solo trip.

Within the Sequoia National Park, the Redwood Saddle Trailhead was my destination. To explore these giant wonders was not something that I wanted to do through an average tourist’s eyes. Safely, I wanted to travel to points within them, to be off the beaten path and be able to roam in solitude without my senses being distracted by the sights, sounds and smells of others. The air in the forest was cleaner than I had ever breathed before and it was as if the trees were providing a warm welcome with their woodsy smell that permeated the air.

Finally having located the narrow gravel road which led into the valley where I would find the trailhead, I felt like I was in another land as I ventured down. I had arrived and took one last look at the trail map. Standing there, I met two women that were also hiking. We chatted for a moment, and as they set off in one direction, I set off in the other. Hiking alone and having promised my mom that I would follow my gut, I ended up turning back and heading in the same direction of the two women.

As I strolled along the gently worn trails, I was in awe of the sheer mass of the trees. I found myself stopping to stare at their fire scars from centuries earlier, marveling at the stories they could tell. The women and I met up again, and as we stopped and overlooked the canyon and all its wonder, we shared our stories. I learned that they had come from my hometown and for the last decade, they have been living the life that I had so very much desired for myself.

That day, the forest awakened every one of my senses and for a brief but lasting moment, I crossed paths with people that were equally impactful. Their wisdom and knowledge came in the most unforgettably perfect of places. Although I returned home a few days later, the adventure has truly just begun.