Crisp, sharp frosty mornings roll into sun bathed yellow-gold birch leaves papering the ground at the Crevasse Moraine hiking trails, a perfect time of year to trek. Bob and I walked up and down the undulating trails sometimes blinded by sunlight streaming through dark woods invigorated by clean air and autumn beauty. Over stimulation to an artists’ senses, something stunning everywhere, quiet forest, sounds of leaves falling onto soft wet ground, we were startled as a grouse flushed from the underbrush to the safety of a tall spruce.
The fireweed is dead brown killed by frost, seeds strewn by last weeks wind planted into the soil by the cover of fallen leaves. Fall in Alaska is fleeting, here today gone tomorrow, and should not be missed from the hum drum duty of daily responsibility. Pause, look, breathe, walk in the woods and soak in the splendor.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist
