Tracing the Paper Trail

I edged closer to a stiff paper brochure resting in the warm glow of the desk lamp. Reaching forward, my soft fingertips nudged the accordion fold until one section slid open. Tiny concentric lines rippled across the page, winding past miniature evergreen symbols and a bright red dashed trail. I pressed my palm gently over the stiff crease to keep the paper from snapping shut. Step by step, I traced the red markings with my thumb, following its winding path all the way up to a printed lookout symbol at the ridge.