I dunno. I am torn. Not the same way as others who won't share for fear of their beauty spot being overrun, but differently torn. I find that, if you take nature onm her own terms, any spot that is reasonably undisturbed and healthy is pretty wonderful.

More and more as I grow older I find that I would rather be in a place that doesn't have a calendar photo view, but one that just feels 'right'. This gives me a huge choice of places that I can go and enjoy nature in solitude. Even burned forests can be pleasant, provided the fire wasn't too catastrophic and sad.

I remember hiking a trail on the side of Cascade Head at the Oregon Coast on a rather raw day. As I was sitting by the trail eating a few handfuls of trail mix, another hiker came up the trail and asked me if I knew where the view was. I remember thinking (but was too polite to say), buddy, there's something worth seeing every step of the trail.

Instead I explained that if he kept going another 1.5 miles or so, there was a brief break in the trees where he could look out at the nearest ridge and a bit of the ocean. He seemed unhappy to hear that was it.

So, these days, my favorite place is usually where I am hiking. So much nicer that way. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />