I made the choice to write this poem about the wilderness between Red Feather and Walden because I went on a deep woods camping trip there this summer and was captivated by how powerful the woods feel when you are far enough away from other people. I also found the amount of dead trees in the area to be very ominous, considering the beetle kill was likely over 70 percent in the area, not to mention the left behind elk skulls and deer hangs one can come upon hiking through the area add to the stark landscape and emotion that follows. Although the forest in this area had an ominous and solemn feeling, I know the summer fires and controlled burns by park rangers will return the forest to its lush and green state once again. One thing I find very
