Exploring the forest

We’ve got a bit of a forest up behind our house here in Altwis and since today was one of the warmest and sunniest yet we decided to go for a walk and check it out.

It’s an easy, steady, climb up from the end of our little street along a well-maintained Waldstraße, with stacks of firewood at intervals, alongside  sections of freshly-planted saplings.

About a kilometre into the forest, we came upon a clearing with a fireplace and grill, benches and tables, a stack of fresh firewood, a Swiss flag on a pole, and a view through the trees to the Halwillersee.
Such a wonderful spot to grill wurst and spend time with friends; we must make use of it some time soon!

We continued for a few more kilometres, past a lovely Bauernhof, and looped back into town, where we got a first look at the local school.

Everything around here seems so open and unsecured; I’d hazard that there’s a strong community sense of care and respect.

And there are no fun-sucking, oppressive safety measures. Just enough, with a nod to one’s common sense.

I’ve been reading a book recently; it talks about children skateboarding. Here’s a quote:

Of course it was dangerous. Danger was the point. They wanted to triumph over danger. They would have been safer in protective equipment, but that would have ruined it. They weren’t trying to be safe. They were trying to become competent—and it’s competence that makes people as safe as they can truly be.

Jordan Peterson – 12 Rules for Life

I think we can all-too-often err on the side of safety, at the expense of competence.

So, it was a lovely afternoon walk in the Wald. And, coincidentally, today was the 11th Swiss Nationalen Wandertag (National hiking day).