Oregon Shoe Tree

I found two shoe trees in Oregon. The second more decorated than the first. A shoe tree is older and often times isolated, with a collection of shoes, laces tied, high up in its branches. The shoes pile on top of one another, sagging the branches under their weight. Most people assume passersby discard their old shoes there in the tree, an underhand toss towards the highest branches. I've never put my own shoes in a tree nor have I ever seen anyone else do it. Without this direct evidence I like to think that the tree itself travels the land, collecting the shoes, hanging them in its branches.

I've been fascinated by these trees ever since I was little. An article in Outside Magazine about shoe trees planted a seed of wonder many years ago. I've seen them before and I like them every time. The most decorated Oregon tree was old. It was alive but many of its large branches had given up the fight. Shoes lay scattered around the base, the laces having rotted through, releasing the shoes from their lofty position back to the ground which they know so well. In the branches they were stacked on top of one another, hanging from each other, wrapped around twigs, tied together in knots. Hundreds of them. Boots, running shoes, wedding shoes, sandals, high heals, loafers, flip flops.

Standing under the tree and looking up inspires the easy word play of looking to the heavens at so many soles (souls?). As brother Bob put it, "Shoes have soles and souls wear shoes". It made me smile, but I did feel something too. All the miles walked in those shoes, the places they've been, the people that wore them until they were old, which ones were ignored in a closet, which ones have walked the world. Each of those shoes has a story to tell but of course they only tell them to each other, when no person is around to hear. It is beautiful too. A work of art created by hundreds. It is chaotic and colorful, subtly dynamic as the shoes sway in the wind. It is alive as the tree continues to grow and ever evolving as shoes fall away and more shoes are added.

The best part may be that shoe trees need to be found. They are rare and few could tell you where one is. Those that know, if they are like me, may just conveniently forget where they are as to not ruin the surprise. Coming across a shoe tree completely unexpectedly, because really shoe trees are never expecting, is like finding treasure. It is a treasure. Go find a shoe tree.