This is part of a network of trails I designed for a 60-acre property
in southwestern Pennsylvania. In this picture, the trail traverses
a boulder-strewn glade that provides an ideal habitat for a sea of
ferns that thrive on the pockets of moist, organic soil tucked between
the stones. My style of path design minimizes intrusion upon the landscape
by following natural contours and allowing for plenty of meanders,
especially around trees and large rocks. This increases the sense
of intimacy between the walker and the forest, by causing the visitor
to slow down and notice more of what lies along the path, rather than
hurrying the walker through the forest to some final destination.A
trail can be a means to an energetic workout, or a means to a meditation
with nature - take your pick.
