Multi-Modal Final (Part 2)

Reflection through Pictures-

I took a series of pictures during the hike that I believed 1) allowed me to connect with nature and remove myself from the worries of finals week or 2) inspired me to be especially reflective

I love this picture. After being "trapped" on campus for 10 weeks it was so pleasant to escape to the less industrialized mountain landscape. The picture shows a peaceful open meadow with a variety of grasses, shrubs and pine trees all thriving!

This picture is very beautiful. It shows quite a few trees have burnt down but in the presence of chaos decomposers allow for a regrowth and for new species to awaken from the ashes. This is a good example of the ecological subject of succession with invader species propping up after late succession species have been removed. Over time, I'd expect for the landscape to transition to later successional species, unless there is another disturbance, allowing a great cycle of life to occur.

The ruins of this house caused me to be reflective and investigative. First off I was particularly interested in how the house came to be built upon the top of the mountain. It was obviously a pretty big house, and there weren't exactly roads that would have allowed cars to transport the tons of bricks up the steep incline. Either they used countless trips up with mules and wagons or they had the material shipped in via planes. I also pondered on how the house burnt down. I noticed the chimney and wondered if the fire they used as heating, as there isn't any signs of modern electricity, possibly caused the house fire. But then I remembered the sign that said fire danger, and all of the burnt trees, and concluded that it was most likely a natural wildfire rather than one of anthropogenic origin that caused this unfortunate burning.

As you can see from this picture, nature knows no limits. Well that is if you ignore the quarry that we accidentally went to on our way to Mt. Falcon Park West. Regardless, I am very happy that wasn't the actual site we were hiking because it was clearly eroded by human activities, muddy and with a very altered landscape, visibly with a lower biodiversity. This brought me to thought, why are humans so destructive. I understand our population is big and ever-expanding, and that we have needs that require resources. HOWEVER, just because we have the ability to dominant the environment does not mean we should. With great power comes great responsibility and we owe it to ourselves and future generations to live sustainable lifestyles and to preserve natural beauty of this world.

This sunset is super pretty. All of the colors in layers in the sky. It may come EVERY single day but it is something that I take for granted. With the closure of each day comes the great surprise of the unknown that will happen in the following one. It reminded me to live each day to the fullest and to take notice of the small things because they can make you happy :)

I have seen plenty of deer before but this one was different. He seemed to walk along with us, even stopping to graze when we momentarily stopped walking. This young buck was just going along, minding his own business, and unconcerned that there was a mass of people in the close vicinity. It brings up the point that we can coexist!!