The Noland Trail on Lake Maury

Matthew Parsons

Professor Redick

Sacred Communications, Sacred Journeys
1 November 2018
The Noland Trail on Lake Maury
At the end of the guided part of the class on the Noland, we ended up parallel to Lake Maury.  On the high bank directly off the trail leading into into the lake, there is a little grouping of particularly tall and skinny pine trees.  I found it peculiar that these pines only had branches and needles covering the top maybe twenty percent of themselves. There are signs of mild soil erosion, as some of these pines have exposed roots.  One pine in particular caught my eye. On the side facing the river, its roots were very much exposed; however, the trail facing side’s roots formed a kind of natural shelf; almost like a little mini terrace.

This tree really managed to draw me in.  I felt as if I could trust this particular tree more than any other I had seen on the trail.  Of course, this tree is not as grand or magnificent as, say, the the enormous pine tree that sits outside my uncle’s cabin in Wrightwood, which is well known among my family to cover the surrounding ten feet in sap, and is easily centuries old.  This little pine on Lake Maury does, however, impress me with its quaint charm. This little pine has shown me just how beautiful a simple little tree can really be. Leaning out about fifteen degrees towards the lake, the tree seems to be trying to show me the inner workings of the Lake Maury and Noland Trail ecosystem.  Opposite the tree, across the lake, a family of what appears to be ducks or geese is enjoying an afternoon swim. There appears to be a series of little rivers leading into the lake, cut off from each other by outcroppings of land. Could this little pine tree be suggesting that I should explore the opposite shore? If so, I must apologize, for I have no way to reach the far bank.  If I were a duck, I could swim there with no repercussions. If I were a bird, I could fly there. As a squirrel, I would be able traverse the thickets and make my way around to the far bank. I am, however, none of these, for I am a human. From the tree, I have learned that, although welcomed into its home, I do not truly belong among its people. We remain friends, but can never truly be family.  My thanks go out to the little pine tree on Lake Maury, for showing me my place in this land.

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