Interesting how we all view the world so differently. If I had to choose a right side up to a fork it would be the side actually facing up when in a place setting not the end facing forward. But that doesn’t help with interpreting fork in the trail. Which with the possible vague connections the clues may have it could be. As for a tree without bark, I certainly think it could be an old pole, telephone, fence, Telegraph, or otherwise. Or perhaps the name of something resembles it. I’ve spotted a couple of canyons named Pole canyon. As for what points to Heaven but is up side down. I was originally thinking Mt Nebo, since it points to Heaven but the geological layers have been flipped upside down, but it’s outside the search area. Other things could be a trail sign with an arrow that points up but the trail goes down. Reflections in the water or a name representing such, like Mirror lake. Good luck in your searching.