The Lonely Pine with a View

I’m a lonely pine tree, eking out my life atop a dry, rocky promontory. Nothing, except for an occasional bird or a deer or an elk or a bear or a bobcat or a mountain lion, ever visits me, because I’m a long way from anywhere. But my life is good because I’m blessed with wonderful views–scenic vistas surround me, in every direction. I see and notice everything from my superb vantage, so even though I’m barely eking out an existence, it’s a rich existence because of my diverse surroundings. It’s beautiful where I live!

Recently I watched a guy with a yellow dog approaching me from the south. They were a long distance off, but from my position I could watch their every step. The yellow dog was bouncing around having a marvelous time. The guy was simply plodding along using his trekking poles. They came nearer and nearer, and I suddenly realized that I’d indeed have visitors! Yes! They came directly toward my rocky promontory, admired my appearance (the guy referred to me as “scraggly”, whatever that means), and sat down. The guy took his day pack off and they ate food and the guy petted the yellow dog, many times. The yellow dog rolled on her back and wanted her chest rubbed. The guy obliged. They were there for quite a while admiring the views. I didn’t mind sharing them, because I have them all the time, and these stunning views were new to my visitors. The guy even had names for some of the things that I’ve looked out on for years and years, ignorant that those distant objects had special designations. It seems that there are lots of “named things” visible from where I eke out my existence.

Well, after 15 or 20 minutes the guy took something out of his pack. It was a small jar-like thing that appeared to be wrapped in black tape. He scrambled up on the rocks right to my base, and shook a few of my lower limbs with his hand. Apparently they were too “scraggly” for what he had in mind, because eventually he got down on his hands and knees and put that black item under some rocks. I couldn’t complain about this infringement on my privacy, because I can’t talk. I had to simply “take” this invasion of my space without reacting. Then the guy got out some electronic do-dad and took some measurements and wrote them down. And then he took some pictures of me! Perhaps this lonely pine with a view (ME!) will become famous after his visit!

THE LONELY PINE WITH A VIEW

Well, after a while the guy and the cute yellow dog headed south again in the direction of what he had pointed toward and called the Red Feather Lakes Road. He mumbled something about an option of going north to the Cherokee Park Road, but that would involve several stream crossings, he exclaimed. By going south the guy and the yellow dog would only need to cross one stream, he said–he called it Lone Pine Creek. Hey, I am famous now. I’m a lone pine, and they have named a creek after me!

Now perhaps if this black jar that was hidden near me attracts some others, this lone pine won’t be so lonely in the future. If others come here, perhaps I’ll learn what some of these other objects in my view are called. My rocky promontory might become my school class room...

Well, if some of you come here to see me, have fun. It’s a pretty nice hike, from what the guy remarked.

Note: the cache is legally located in a State Wildlife Area that has seasonal access restrictions. The area is open to public uses (hiking, climbing, camping, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, geocache hunting, etc.) from May 2nd through August 31st each year. Between September 1st and May 1st each year, individuals entering the area are to be either hunting (deer, elk, rabbits, doves, dusky grouse) or fishing. So if you plan to find this cache during the period that’s restricted to hunting or fishing, be certain that you have an appropriate license and that you are also hunting or fishing. Hunting just for a geocache is probably not enough!