And just like that, the leaves were gone.

Gusty winds, dry weather, and all of a sudden the trees are stripped bare seemingly overnight. Which can be disheartening, unless you embrace the beauty that is revealed in this uncovered forest. It’s amazing to see what old paths, ridges, and hollows are now exposed in plainer view.

Giant gray hornet’s nests dangle like papier-mâché balloons from alarmingly low branches. Clumps of mistletoe cling to oak limbs and preview us with Christmas carols and traditions of the upcoming season. Leafy squirrel homes, stuffed in forks of branches, are no longer hidden from the keen eyes of a hawk, and the delicate nests of songbirds, empty of the summer's broods, sit cradled in the treetops. If you find a native American persimmon tree, it's deep orange fruits hanging like ornaments on a bare frame, you may be rewarded with a taste of the soft, squishy sugarplums.

Aside from these adornments, the trees themselves showcase subtle beauties of the season. In the wintertime, it’s fun to arm yourself with a dichotomous tree key and go out in the woods for an identification contest. Many of us can recognize the leaf shapes of the most common trees, but what to do when those leaves are gone? The intricate beauty and distinction of bark, twigs, buds, and leaf scars of different types of trees are an often-overlooked wonder of creation. Learning to identify trees by these special clues can be very rewarding and functional. Of course you can always search the ground below for a leaf or two to help with the puzzle.

Today in the woods those leaves were very dry and crunchy, the trails and gravel roads dusty from the continued dry spell. Posted signs at trailheads urge campers to practice safe campfire use, including completely dousing coals with water. That water you may need to bring in yourself; another thing to be prepared for is the potential lack of springs or other water sources near campsites and along the trail.

So, enjoy the unveiling of November and the revelations it provides. As you are camping or hiking in the backcountry, please be careful and do your part to protect the forest and those who live in it by acting mindfully and responsibly, especially during this season of wildfire danger. And, join me in praying for rain!

See you on the trail!