Outside Reading #1

November 4, 2015

Australian Alps Walking

            I read a trail journal of a woman by the name of Joanne Bell who was walking the Australian Alps Walking track.  I wanted to look outside of the realm of trails that we have been discussing in class and look at another international trail.  I stumbled across this one in Australia that seemed interesting.  This one is not nearly as long as the Appalachian Trail or the Camino de Santiago, but provides a different scenery that is refreshing.

            In Joanne’s journal she describes the scenery in depth about where she has been hiking and how she enjoys the sights and sounds of the outdoors.  She specifically notes the kind-hearted people that she sees along the way and how she appreciates their kind words.  She concludes her journal with the reason why she walks and that is to appreciate the innate details of nature.  She notes that she would otherwise miss these beautiful things and not gain an appreciation for the world we live in.  I feel this is important with the fast paced world that we live in today.  Practically no one slows down to appreciate what nature truly is.  The hustle and bustle of work, family, and many other priorities allows one to remain busy all the time and depriving them the chance to slow down and enjoy the journey of life.  This observation parallels with our own walk on the Noland Trail because we detached ourselves from the busy world on campus and immersed ourselves in nature along the trail. 

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=18503