The View Has Changed

It's been a long time since I've hiked a mountain; the ascend was steep, uneven, narrow, and triggered a few memories. The trail ahead looked familiar, but when I turned around to see where I came from, the view has changed.

Instead of bare earth and rock, I saw cement walls and rooftops. Replacing creeks and lakes were swimming pools, large and small. Scattered trees in place of dense greenery. Nitrogen oxides in the ozone limited my view, and could no longer see as far as my eyes could see. The amount of people present also prevented the feeling of complete solitude. For a time, I felt like I was at an outdoor gym.

The view has changed, indeed. Yet, there was a certain charm to the fact that within a couple of turns out of the parking lot, I was on the main road, minutes away from a hot shower and a good breakfast.

But there is no replacing the raw nakedness and innocence of nature. For now I will be happy with whatever amount of nature am blessed with. Shrubs, dirt, smog. The view has changed, indeed. But only for now.