The Tree On The Trail

The Tree On The Trail
“I admire that old tree. There is every reason in the world that that tree should have
shrunk up to the pressure it faces and died. There are plenty of trees on this
mountain that have not survived from much less.” He then touched one of the
exposed roots of the tree and said, “Look at these roots. The force of one root was
so wanting for depth, that it split this mountain rock in half. Its goal was to find
deep ground to anchor itself against the forces of its existence.”
Cairn the Load | Blog | July 12, 2020 | Author Mark Anderson

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The Tree On The Trail
Each morning at 6:30 a.m., you can find me a short 10-minute drive from my home as I begin a three mile hike on
some of the most beautiful mountain trails you will ever experience . The Timpanogos Cave trail in the mountains
just above Highland, Utah create a beautiful landscape and perfect place to collect my thoughts as I prepare for each
new day. The trail covers one and a half miles up a steep 1,100 foot elevation climb. Inhaling the wisdom of the
mountain and exhaling the stresses of the day is great therapy. Each day, I run into the “regulars.” At 58 years old, I
am often passed by younger hikers that have more energy and most likely have not had two knee replacements like
me. Sometimes it bothers me that I can’t be as fast as some of the other hikers. Each morning, I see Roger walking up
the trail slowly and deliberately. He makes it to the top in about an hour. It takes me half an hour. Roger was on the
trail this morning. We exchanged our typical hello’s and I asked Roger “what’s new?” The answer to my two-word
question has ha
“This afternoon, I’m getting married” Roger said.
This took me back. Not because Roger isn’t an
eligible bachelor or wonderful human being, but
because, Roger is 87 years old. My question sparked
an opportunity for Roger to share some incredible
life perspective, and for me, the chance to be a
willing listener.
After my congratulations, Roger told me how
lonely he had been over the last year and a half since
his wife had passed away. We talked about how
difficult life can sometimes be when we face hard
things. As we were walking up the trail, Roger
pointed out a tree that I had somehow missed the
hundreds of times I had made this climb.
The tree was standing just above the trail. He
pointed out that the tree was just like the other
pine trees on the mountain, but its existence had
obviously been more difficult than most.
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Roger pointed out the exposed roots that would make its survival more difficult than that of other trees. He pointed
out that the tree was short in comparison to the other majestic trees that reached to the heavens, and then he
pointed out something else. There at the base of the tree was a two-ton boulder pushing its force against the base. It
appeared that at one time, the boulder came crashing down the mountain side but was stopped from going further
by the strength of the tree. The boulder continues day and night to add pressure to the tree’s foundation.
Then the lesson came. Roger said, “Mark, don’t
you think that sometimes we are like this
tree?” He went on to say that, “I admire that
old tree. There is every reason in the world that
that tree should have shrunk up to the pressure
it faces and died. There are plenty of trees on
this mountain that have not survived from
much less.” He then touched one of the exposed
roots of the tree and said, “Look at these roots.
The force of one root was so wanting for depth,
that it split this mountain rock in half. Its goal
was to find deep ground to anchor itself
against the forces of its existence.”
I had never noticed the roots before, let alone
consider the difficulty of its existence.
As I thanked Roger for his pointing the lessons
of the tree out to me, I congratulated him once
again, and continued my pace up the
mountain. I thought a lot about deep roots and
the pressures I feel in life that sometimes feel
that they are pushing on me from every
direction. I thought about goals and firm
foundations. I thought about the number of
years that it took for that tree to have the strength to withstand the pressures placed upon it. I realized that its
strength didn’t come overnight. There were many seasons of freezing cold and blistering heat that made that tree
the force that it is today. On the way down, I ran into Roger again. He was still climbing to the top. He said, “one
more thing Mark, you know what matters most?” I listened. “It doesn’t matter that I make it to the top in record
time. I know my limitations. What matters most is that I make it to the top.”
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Wise counsel from a man that probably had other thoughts about the day on his mind. I made a decision that I will
look for that tree each day as I walk past it. I will remember my conversation with Roger. I will look up and around
and not down at my shoes. I will be present and more attentive of what is happening all around me. I will remember
the importance of deep roots and a firm foundation. I will consider the pressures of the day and determine what I
need to do to find strength. I will remember that the journey itself is as important as the destination, but to not be in
such a hurry that I don’t see those around me that might be suffering with their own pressures and difficulties. I will
try to be like the tree on the trail (and like Roger.)
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