Curtis Pittman-Noland Trail

Class on the Nolan Trail was awesome. I’m from a small town called Surry and the woods are what I grew up around. The scenery on the Noland is very similar to that at my home. I enjoy hunting and during the fall and winter seasons I will spend the majority of my free time in trees and blinds taking in the great outdoors. Hunting, to some people, is a grisly sport that incorporates the killing of innocent animals, but to me, it’s a time to relax, reflect, and bring home dinner for the family. One of the interesting things that I found while on the Noland was bayberry. Dr. Redick pointed this out and told us that it has a very strong scent and can be used for hunting. In the world of hunting today, there are odor eliminating sprays, soaps, pants and jackets that protect human odor and keep it out of the air. Animals that are usually hunted, such as deer, have a very keen sense of smell and can sense a human from a mile away. From the Noland class, I learned that I can use natural smells to hide myself in the woods. Thank Dr. Redick, you just saved me a bunch of money! Another highlight of the nature walk was seeing an eagle soar across the water and land in a nearby tree. Watching this bird majestically fly through the sky was remarkable. This overall experience gave me relaxing feeling and a sense of being home, I thoroughly enjoyed in this outdoor classroom.