O Beautiful For Spacious Skies
In the heart of America, where the sky stretches endlessly and the land breathes with untamed beauty, a sense of freedom exists only in vast, unfenced landscapes. A sanctuary for the soul lies amidst the rolling plains and towering peaks – the National Parks of America.
A Portal to Adventure
For me, these parks are more than just patches of wilderness created by God and preserved by the hands of humanity. They are portals to adventure, gateways to discovery, and reminders of the boundless wonders of America’s natural world. But perhaps what I cherish most about these places is the freedom they afford – the freedom to roam, explore, and connect with the world around me in its purest form.
I remember the first time I stepped foot into one of these parks, the air thick with the scent of forest and earth, the mountains rising like guardians of an ancient realm. Mosses and ferns and dripping water. It was as if the boundaries of civilization had melted away, leaving me with nothing but breathtaking scenery and endless possibilities. I was in the heart of the Great Smokies National Park, enveloped by streams and waterfalls, the rhododendron and mountain laurel elevated me spiritually to realms hitherto not known. Cades Cove and its preserved homestead connected me to a deep, rich history of the land.
Memories of the Great Outdoors
Years later, I spent the summer of 1976 in Colorado. Nestled among the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, The Rocky Mountain National Park is a testament to the power of preservation and the spirit of exploration. The wilderness reigns supreme here, inviting visitors to lose themselves in towering summits, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. I well remember our nine-mile hike one summer day. Nine of us, all summer workers at a conference center, got a lift to the top of the trail and began our descent down. It was there I was first introduced to Aspen trees and the fantastic story of their extensive root system. Seeing the quaking Aspen leaves was mesmerizing, as was hiking across meadows I was in heaven! We arrived at a series of “punch bowls,” as some called them–depressions in the rock filled with icy cold water deep enough to swim in. Edward jumped across and then handed me his hand to help me jump over. Boy, was I a sucker! He pulled me right into the freezing water! By the time it was said and done, all of us were enjoying an arctic swim. We got a big laugh and trudged home with sopping wet clothes and boots. Dinner was so welcome that night.
That same summer, as we drove home to Georgia from Colorado, we spent a couple of days at the Grand Canyon National Park. Oh, my word! What a spectacular sight that is!
Exploring Acadia and Yellowstone
In the summer of 1998, my brother and his family drove up to New Hampshire from Alabama to go camping with us in Acadia National Park in Maine. With bated breath, the children and I awaited his arrival. Was I ready? Was I packed? That’s another story.
The year Duncan, former proprietor of Louis Page, passed, I was invited to come to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and hike in Yellowstone National Park. Besides being a bit afraid of meeting a grizzly (okay, a lot afraid), the time spent was fabulous. We did birdwatching on a guided tour, watched pronghorn (once called antelope) bounding the plains, and saw about a hundred bison grazing a hundred yards away — so many gorgeous scenes.
The Freedom of National Parks
I have many more of the 63 national parks to visit. I’d love to hear where you have been and what you saw. Let me know!
As I reflect on my hikes along the trails that wound through the pristine wilderness of these national parks, I can't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer magnitude of the natural world. Every step was a reminder of the vastness of the earth and the endless possibilities that lay beyond the horizon.
But it wasn't just the grandeur of the scenery that filled me with gratitude – it was the freedom to experience it on my terms. Unlike so much of the world divided by fences and barriers, the National Parks of America remain open and accessible to all who seek to explore them.
Whether gazing out over the expanse of the Great Plains or standing in awe beneath the towering sequoias of Sequoia National Park, America has something truly special – a connection to nature and a heritage that stretches back through the ages.
The Need for Fences
In a world that often feels increasingly confined and constrained, the unfenced horizons of the National Parks of America stand as a symbol of freedom and possibility. They remind us that no matter how far we may roam, there will always be places where we can find solace, inspiration, and the freedom to explore. And for that, I am eternally thankful.
But, back to the land where we live our daily lives, we usually need a fence to keep us or our animals and crops safe from predators and dangers. And Louis Page has the solution to your situation. Visit us here.
Warmest Regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc – Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (Add it up, that's 131 years owned and run by our family!)
