Over more than two decades, I walked thousands of miles on the mere 10 miles of paths within “Loantaka”.  In that time I came to know the 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 another person. Though not truly alone, the first step in that journey was 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 gave me ground and comfort in times of despair. Peace among the trees is deeply healing.

After the loss of Shanti, I often walked the paths on my own, with only my camera as companion. The process of photographing the beauty and chaos along these paths added to the cathartic nature of this place I’d grown to love.

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