Climbing for a Better View Didn’t Help

I thought if I scrambled up the shale, I’d see the chipmunks. Maybe I’d see anything. The forest was so green it almost hurt, and the silence pressed in like a dare. I crouched on the ridge, knees gritty, phone camera ready—nothing. No movement, no tiny paws, just the wind and the sound of my own breathing. I’d told myself I came here for the wildlife, for the peace, but mostly I just wanted proof I was really here. That I could still feel wonder. Instead, I watched the empty rocks and wondered if the chipmunks were hiding from me, or if I was the one hiding from something. #Travel #SoloHikingTruth #TravelExpectations