Stairway in the green

This past weekend I went to a family reunion in Illinois...and directly across the street from where I was staying was Starved Rock State Park. I spent hours upon hours hiking there; and it was an absolutely fantastic place. I went late in the afternoon on Friday, when only a few people were there...early in the morning (8:00) on Saturday where we hiked three miles and saw very very few people...and even earlier sunday morning, where we didn't see a soul.
Those were the times that I live for- when I can hike through the green lush forests, climb around canyons, explore vast crevices, throw my arms wide and absorb the overwhelming height and scenery after climbing hundreds of stairs.
I accepted long ago that life can be ugly and cruel, but every now and then I'm reminded that it has the potential to be beautiful.

PS SINCE I'VE BEEN ASKED A LOT...I WAS WEARING Pants.
I simply chose a longer shirt to make it seem more natural, and so that the subject seemed a little more isolated/lost.
Also blue jean shorts wouldn't have really worked with the whole color scheme so the shirt REALLY needed to be a little long.
I repeat...pants were used in the making of this photo.