Jared Free - Noland Trail

On the class trip to the Noland trail I learned something about myself in how I experience and interact with Nature. I've always known that I like to experience nature in my own way, alone, but on the trail I realized that that's the only way I can have a significant interaction with nature. Complete solitude has become essential for me to be truly pensive in nature. I hear things, see things, and think about things so much better when I am alone in nature that I've begun to prefer solitude no matter what the outdoor occasion. During our class trip to the trail, to gather research for a response to Annie Dillard, I was unable to focus on the landscape itself. Instead I was stuck critiquing the way others were interacting, instead of worrying about my own experience. Alone on the trail a few days later I was overcome by the sights and sounds. In just a short time I had experienced more on the trail by myself than I ever could have with a group or even just another individual.