Not all who wander are lost
It’s a famous quote we’ve all read before, especially those of us who love to travel, hike, and explore nature. It can be found printed everywhere novelty quotes are attached to everyday items. Yet this one line, which is actually a part of a larger poetic work, is often singled out, misquoted, or at the very least extrapolated and “repurposed” by those who themselves are deemed “lost” by society, or even as an excuse to forsake one’s own responsibilities or duties in life. Or even a justification to live a nomadic life.
But, if you take the line for what it is in its original context, in its larger piece of work, it actually has a different meaning that the author was intending:
All that is gold does not glitter,
J.R.R. Tolkien
Not all those who wander are lost
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
This stanza is from The Lord of the Rings, and is part of a bigger poem in the story. I don’t think Tolkien is praising wandering for wandering’s sake, but instead something more. Wandering can be fun and exciting and adventurous, although aimless at times. But, if you’re not careful, wandering can lead you places you may not want to go, or ought not to be. When we look at the poem in it’s larger context of the Lord of the Rings story, I think you’ll see that the characters of the story knew that they must wander with purpose, with direction, with intent. An end goal in mind. The last two lines I think reflect this…
the old that is strong does not wither / deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Wandering, at times, is good for the soul, just as is adventure. But, we should wander with purpose, with intent. It’s true that not all those who wander are lost, but just because you’re wandering doesn’t mean you’re not lost. There are many who are.
When wandering, still keep a sense of direction about yourself, a goal in mind, a destination, purpose.
That’s exactly what my wife, Jennifer, and I set out to do this past weekend down in Arkansas along the North Sylamore Creek of the Ozark National Forest.
She had hiked a section of this trail several years before, but I had never been on this trail. So, we decided to head down there and hike a section that neither of us had been on.
Wandering goal #1 – Explore somewhere New to both of us, together
After a busy summer and fall of many, many activities and hard work, it was time to get out and away for a weekend and escape and relax and refresh the mind, body and soul. Jennifer usually picks the first weekend of November as her “reward” weekend to get out and backpack and enjoy some down time. The weather has typically always been good for her that weekend, and there’s usually still some pretty good fall color to be found in the Ozarks.
Wandering goal #2 – R&R
We began our journey by taking the slightly longer, more scenic route from our house to the Peel Ferry on Hwy 125 that crosses Bull Shoals Lake. It was a pretty and warm day for a ferry ride across the lake, and the gentleman working the deck really enjoyed petting our dog Emmit as we crosssed the lake.
Making our way thru Yellville and down Hwy 14, we soon got close to our destination as we passed the first trailhead turnoff for the trail at Barkshed Recreation Area. Continuing on, we arrived and the next trail aceess and parked at the Gunner Pool Recreation Area trailhead on Saturday afternoon. Hiking southeast along the trail, following North Sylamore Creek downstream, the trail immediately begins climbing a few hundred feet up into the woods and soon along the top of a bluff with the creek down below just off the trail. It continues to climb some more, then eventually leveling off on the ridge tops for a while, offering a few sneak peaks at the valley below as the trees were becoming more and more bare with the progression of fall.
After a few miles, the trail then began to descend back down into the creek valley, and eventually made its way right alongside the creek. It was beautiful down in the bottoms, and good easy hiking, too. Before long, the trail began snaking its way back up the hillsides and up on top again for a while, before descending once more between miles 4 and 5 as it leads down into the Blanchard Springs area and trailhead.
It was just starting to get into the early evening hours, so instead of wandering around Blanchard for an hour or two like we had originally planned, we instead decided to continue downstream along the trail for about a mile or so until we could find a good little camping spot to spend the night. We found a great litle spot next to the creek, with a small spring trickling from a small bluff/ledge on the other side of the trail. It was nice to have the sound of water on both side of our campsite for the night!
We soon set camp and got a nice fire going to relax around and cook dinner nearby. It was soon dark, and we enjoyed the peaceful evening and crackling campfire, plus knowing we had an extra hour of sleep that night with the time change!!
It was such a good night’s sleep, and we slept in and took our time getting up and around for the day. It was just the wandering relaxation we needed. We enjoyed each other’s company and conversation the evening before and that morning, and it was a great opportunity to spend some much needed time together, connecting and laughing and lifting each other up, and renewing and rekindling our relationship. It was our first time backpacking together, just the two of us, and was most definitely welcome. We can’t wait to get back out in the woods again!!
Wandering goal #3 – Renewed Relationship/Friendship
After some breakfast and coffee, and enjoying a little more campfire time, it was time to hit the trail once again, hiking back the same way we came in the day before. Even though it was the same trail, you always notice things you never noticed before while traveling in the opposite direction. It’s a good exercise in seeing things from a different perspective.
Wandering goal #4 – A New/Fresh Perspective
It always seems that the trip back is quicker than the trip out, but it doesn’t make the climbing any easier LOL! We did take some time to stop along the creek about half way back and enjoy a lunch break. And maybe a little skinny dipping, too! (Or chunky dunking in my case LOL!!)
After arriving back at Gunner Pool, we explored the small dammed creek/pool in the late afternoon sun and remaining fall colors. We then drove on back down to Blanchard Springs and looked around for a bit. We had both been thru the cave in years past, and didn’t have time this trip to take a cave tour, but we did explore the visitor center for a minute, then headed on over and checked out the spring and Mirror Lake, both absolutely beautiful if you’ve never been.
Our last quick stop was to head down to check out the Allison Trailhead for this hiking trail near the White River, and see what it looked like, parking situation, camping situation, etc… for a possible return trip this next spring with a group for a multi-night backpacking trip.
It was soon past sundown, and we had several hours to make it back home in the dark. We made it back to Yellville just in time to check out & eat at Razorback Ribs bbq joint. It was pretty good, and we’d probably stop there again someday… Before long, we had made our way back into Missouri and on to home for the night.
It was a great trip of purposely wandering around in the woods, together, reconnecting with nature and each other. Best hiking/backpacking partner I’ve EVER had! 🙂 And Emmit the Wonder Dog was a fantastic hiking companion as well!
Not all those who wander are lost; yes this is true. But, it’s not if you will wander, but rather, how or why you wander.
And, having a partner to wander with, to journey with, makes the adventure all the more worth it. 😉
Explore the Ozarks 