Over more than two decades, I have walked thousands of miles on the mere 10 miles of paths within “Loantaka”.  In that time, I have come to know this area intimately, with each step progressively deepening my connection.

Beginning the journey when my son was an infant, this was a place to spend time with others. Over the years, I began to long for the solitude the woods offered. Before I could have that alone time, I had to work through a deep-rooted fear of being here without someone. Though not truly being alone, the first step in that journey turned out to be the adoption of our family dog, Shanti. With her as my constant companion, the walking became meditation, and the environment a restoration from life’s trials. Shanti’s soul rests here now, and her spirit is with me always. The heartache of losing Shanti made me face other grief and loss I’d not processed. Loantaka’s paths have given me ground and comfort in times of despair. Peace among the trees has been deeply healing.

These days, I often walk here on my own, though my camera now comes along. The process of photographing the beauty and chaos along these paths has added to the cathartic nature of this place I have grown to love.

“Sometimes you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right.” ~Robert Hunter