Sunday. A March day in the 50s (F). We forego our Zazen sit to hike an 8-mile loop in Fahnestock State Park.
Dormant Maples and Birches greet us as we traverse the opening leg of the first trail. We skirt the edge of the first of multiple marshes we encounter. A winding ascent brings us to the Cairn of stones marking the intersection of our blue-blazer trail with the Appalachian Trail. Bearing right, we remain on our original trail.
Soon, we pass Hidden Lake. Then, further up, John Allen Pond. A rain-fed cascade from the pond crosses our path. Mira removes her boots to cross it, while I manage without soaking mine.
Sometime later, we reach the Appalachian trail, and our long return route. Traversing up and down a variety of root-infested, rocky slopes, we eventually come to another washout. This time, we both remove our boots. She makes it across this one as easily as the last. I somehow manage it without falling into the stream.
After nearly 8 miles, we arrive at the state road from which we began. A drenched, thornbush-flanked outlet trail leads us from the Appalachian to close to our starting point.
I return to the car strutting like a cowboy too long astride.
early March
wintering insects awake
and find me
for Colleen Chesebro’s latest #TankaTuesday Challenge
Frank J. Tassone 
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