Field Note: Juneau in October - When the Town Grows Quiet
I thought Juneau had gone quiet. The helicopters were less frequent, the streets less full, and on my walk through the woods I could barely hear the small birds that had been part of summer’s soundtrack. I might still hear a raven now and then, but the little birds I had grown used to hearing were quiet today.
Autumn leaves adorning my path
Then I heard water running beside the path, in a place I don’t remember hearing it this summer. We have had so much rain lately that water seems to have found new ways through the woods. Drops pattered against the leaves. Others clung to the needles of the evergreens, holding there while I walked past.
The wind moved through my hair and across my face and ears. My fingertips were chilly. When I looked toward the mountains, I could see snow reaching farther down certain slopes. Lower in the forest, the color was less settled. Some trees had turned yellow and orange while others were still green. The bushes were losing their yellow leaves, and a few lay scattered along the path. I could see farther between the branches than I could a few weeks ago.
Autumn has begun - yellows, reds and greens with dark gray clouds
The clouds had their own layers. Low white cloud moved among the trees, softening parts of the forest. Beyond it were heavier, darker gray clouds. I picked one and watched it travel from right to left. At first it seemed almost still. Then, as I kept my eyes on it, I could see how fast it was moving. As if Alaska was gifting me an experience, a bald eagle flew overhead, and it was so quiet that I could hear its wings beating. I could actually hear the air moving through its feathers.
The bright yellow leaves (used to be green) of Devils Club
I had been listening for the sounds that were missing. Once I stopped listening for summer, I heard water running through the woods and the beat of an eagle’s wings overhead. A plane was still audible somewhere in the distance. Juneau had not become silent. It was changing its sounds.
One thing I love about this time of year are all the textures that line the trails - the moss hanging from the trees, the pine trees, the deciduous trees with their smooth(er) leaves, devils club, moss, etc. What a great reminder of how beautiful nature is.
So many textures along my path - mother nature’s beauty
If you come here in early October, give yourself a little time outside without rushing to the next thing. The snowline, the water beside the trail, and the shifting clouds may tell you more about this moment in Juneau than a list of things to do. Today, I nearly missed them because I was listening for what used to be there.
