"Senderos encontrados"...

South of Kyōto City, the major Shintō shrine closest our house is Nagaoka Tenman-gū (長岡天満宮), associated with the presence of the statesman-scholar Fujiwara Michizane (菅原道真) over a thousand years ago in the Heian Period. He was not the only case of being exiled wrongly by the Imperial court, followed by natural disasters, interpreted as the work of his angry ghost, then being deified as the Shintō kami Tenjin (天神) to supplicate his spirit. Thus the shrine is also called Nagaoka Tenjin (長岡天神). Students facing high-stakes exams have traditionally prayed at the many Tenjin shrines to this god of learning. Today, the large shrine grounds provide a place to walk and commune with nature as well as to worship and to hold hopeful events. Now is peak cherry blossom season, so here are four scenes where I often go for contemplative hikes.

Publications on Japan: https://japanned.hcommons.org/japanology

#Japan #Kyoto #Shinto #shrine #spring #cherry #blossoms #nature #hiking #photos #photography

@religion

My son hiked 26 miles today in a drizzly fog on the Appalachian Trail. Tomorrow the plan is 28. He’s getting warmed up. #hiking

Went on a hike with friends from the San Diego Natural History Museum on the Agua Dulce Chico Spur loop trail this morning. Beautiful day, beautiful hike. We'll be going out next Sunday if anybody's looking for a good hike. Bring your binoculars or you camera.

https://www.sdnhm.org/education/canyoneer-hikes/

#SilentSunday

Darby Creek, PA

The PA trout season just opened yesterday, but it was quiet when I arrived here today—no one else around
Only less than half a mile downstream from a popular spot

In the late afternoon

Klamme Fragen am Stein

https://lomartistic.blogspot.com/2025/04/klamme-fragen-am-stein.html

Federal cuts disrupt repairs to iconic U.S. trails
https://apnews.com/article/pacific-crest-appalachian-trail-federal-layoffs-934a5526570569b625f5d854ec339a04
#ycombinator #Donald_Trump #Hiking #California #Washington #Oregon #Europe #General_news #ME_State_Wire #GA_State_Wire #CA_State_Wire #OR_State_Wire #NC_State_Wire #AP_Top_News #WA_State_Wire #Megan_Wargo #Climate_and_environment #United_States_government #Justin_Kooyman #Washington_news #Joshua_Suran #Crocs #Inc #Eric_Kipperman #Plants #Politics #U_S_news #National_Park_Service #Washington_News #Climate

It’s so green right now from the winter rains. #lakelife #hiking #trees #oak #spring #trail #SilentSunday

4 The Wainstones, North Yorkshire UK
https://www.trailspotting.com/2025/04/the-wainstones-north-york-moors-uk.html
Three great walks to The Wainstones; a rocky sandstone outcropping that juts out of the wild grasslands & heather of the North York Moors.

Endless creek crossings and endless steep climbing bring my positive mood to a screeching halt during Day 2. But as ever, there are valuable lessons, and beauty all around me.
https://seasonsofjason.com/backpacking-henry-coe-state-park-day-2-2/
#Hiking #Backpacking

Darby Creek, PA

Had an hour to fish a local creek, caught trout for dinner, shared tips with another fisherman, he caught some too and was thrilled
We forget life’s hardships, we are just kids, enjoying the moment

I managed to compile a #video from yesterday's hike! I admit it was a bit tough for me. 1000m elevation & #snowshoes on the backpack (hoping that I could make some good use of them).

The views yesterday were really top! At the summit I had a nice chat with a dude who was here for holidays.

Join me on my 6h tour (7min for you ) for a mountain experience. (BTW the video even has subtitles!)

https://video.franzgraf.de/w/92EQgxzYfemdrNniq5Qx34

European #hikers, looking for a recommendation for the Alps in June. Looking to spend 4-5 days on the trails, non technical, but pretty. Refuges or camping both fine

Bergischer Panoramasteig
#photography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #DronePhotography #Hiking #BergischerPanoramasteig #OberbergischerKreis
https://youtu.be/xa5yxM23afY?si=tnfoE4MYkgxfu9tg