Frasier Firs at the Beach

Mid-way through my 6-mile run yesterday, I circled through the Fort Macon State Park Picnic Area, which is about one mile from where we are staying.  As noted yesterday, it was so warm that I had removed my shirt and tied it around my waist, and I was enjoying the sunshine and the light breeze on my bare skin and the sand dunes all around.  As I circled through the picnic area, I had a sudden sensation that I had not expected - the scent of Frasier Fir on the air.  I had already read about this program - locals are encouraged to dump their Christmas trees in certain areas, and then they are piled up in a compact little ridge of greenery and used to help stabilize the sand dunes.  But I had not expected this sharp, pungent, piney aroma suddenly all around me!  It made me suddenly remember Mt. LeConte and the many times we have climbed that mountain, ascending higher and higher on the Alum Cave trail until deciduous trees were left behind and on both sides of the trail Frasier Firs perfuming the air, as sweet as frankincense and myrrh - 6500 feet higher and touching the clouds, far, far from this place where I was running without a shirt at sea level.  Interesting contrast!