Into the Woods

I have a thing for the woods: its allure, its darkness, its secrecy, its magic. My childhood is a blur of memories from various camping trips, of steam between the trees in the early morning, of hikes through nettles and ferns. It still attracts me--this summer I went on a backpacking trip up on Mt. Ranier and I love that feeling of being a few days out and knowing you're so far from civilization...the animal instinctual feeling that one reverts to in the wilderness is my high.



I remember the first backpacking trip I ever went on was the summer between 6th and 7th grade. It was only a day in, and on some lake up in the Cascades. That night, setting up the tent, breathing in the smoke of the campfire along with the clean mountain air, drinking water filtered directly from the lake we'd made our home from the night--I felt so independent. The sky was spectacular and clear and we counted satellites and memorized the stars.



Its funny that the time of year I most want to run away into the woods is in the winter, when the trees are naked and the air is bitterly cold. It doesn't deter the dream, however. Wouldn't it be wonderful to live like a deer, free to wander the forests forever?



I am in an interesting mood, as the year draws to a close. I want to escape more than ever right now.

outfit deets: dress from Target, jeans from American Eagle, cardigan is thrifted

"Into the Woods."
-watership down richard adams