Interaction

In mid-October a friend and I decided to hike along the Cub Lake trail one afternoon. The day was a cold one and it was overcast and snowing. We hiked at a leisurely pace for just over a mile and came to a small pond that was still and quiet. With the days growing shorter and the late start on the trail we were content to situate ourselves on some rocks and relax for a while before heading back. As we sat there on the cold rocks with the wind and snow swirling around us we sipped some water and ate some trail mix while enjoying idle conversation. In this moment I was struck by the beautiful simplicity of the moment. Two men were sitting in a cold wild place with no other signs of life around and were relaxing. What an interesting picture this would have made with the pond next to us and the peaks behind it while we sat there as the snow accumulated in our hair and beards. In that moment I believe we were socializing as people were originally meant to.

In today’s culture much of the social interaction between people seems to happen in loud crowded places that are not of nature’s design. We meet up in restaurants, movie theaters, malls, and so on. We buy things while we socialize such as food, drinks, and other trinkets. All of this seems to be a distraction for what we truly set out to do, spend quality time with good friends and family. There are certainly some exceptions to this such as inviting people over for cookouts and such but it would seem to me that most socializing is done in a money spending distraction rich environment. Do we secretly worry about awkward moments of silence? Do we fear our companions may grow bored in our company? Out here in the wild it seems conversation flows naturally and when there are breaks in the chitchat they are agreeable as well. Out there away from civilization you simply enjoy the companionship of who you’re with and the relaxing feeling that comes from sitting on the side of a mountain, the bank of a river, or a log in the forest. Time slows till you lose track of it all together. Troubles are forgotten as they seem a million miles away. Your laughter is deeper and smile wider as you come to realize that this is the peace you were meant to enjoy while in the company of good people. Out here the only distractions are the birds calling from their perches in the trees. Out here money is worthless as there is nothing to spend it on nor anyone to give it to. No calls or texts can detract from conversation for the nearest cell phone tower is miles away. With this knowledge I invite you to ask a friend or family member to take a walk in the woods with you. Find yourselves a peaceful unassuming spot and relax for a bit. Have a good chat about whatever comes to mind but don’t force conversation. When those moments of silence do creep up then just enjoy the natural world around you and the companionship of the person beside you. Friendships can be forged and even strengthened in a wild place.

As I stood and stretched before returning to the trail I thought of those mountain men that came here long before me. I think of how every now and then they would cross paths and stop to trade stories while smoking a pipe or sharing some jerky. On this day I feel yet another step closer to those brave souls I so much admire. We started trekking through the snow but I was warm inside nonetheless.

Peace of Mind

On a cool breezy night in early October I found myself sitting on my porch in a somewhat flustered mood. The whole week I waited for inspiration to hit me and provide me with something to write about. No doubt the fact that I had worked for eight straight days was of no help as it left me with very little time or energy to immerse myself in the wild. That night, however, I felt sure there was a lesson the mountains were trying to teach me so I sat there waiting. The night was void of human noises and I listened to the wind blowing through the trees and the sound of distant elk bugling as they are prone to do this time of year. There was such a calm peace all about me that evening. At some point I checked the time and it was then I realized I had been sitting there on my bench for nearly two hours. I had become lost in the serenity of the night and then, at that moment, I suddenly realized the lesson I had just been taught, the enormous value of peace of mind. In those two hours I had been so comfortable and relaxed in the world around me that I had thought about absolutely nothing at all. I was not worrying, scheming, pondering, or otherwise mentally occupied by anything whatsoever. In the aftermath of this mental vacation I felt completely refreshed and happy.

In the world today it is a rare thing to have time where you can simply relax and think of nothing at all. So many things tend to absorb our minds. We think of bills that need paid, tasks at work that need completed, chores around the house that need attention, and so on. Is this why so many are exhausted at the end of the day and unwilling to get out of bed the next morning? Is this why the office drone tends to drag out his lunch break? Could this explain the working mom’s reluctance to pull the car out of the garage Monday morning? I sincerely doubt there is a single soul on this earth that does not have to worry, ponder, or think about many things on a frequent basis but I firmly believe we all need some time alone to free our minds and spirits. In order to do this, however, we must first be able to be at peace and put our concerns on the back burner for at least a short while. Rest assured that any problems you have will still be there when your mental vacation is over. But the difference is you are now mentally refreshed and energized, ready to tackle whatever life throws at you. Physical vacations can also have this same effect but often require extra mental strain just to plan and implement them. All a mental vacation requires is that you find some relaxing spot and dedicate a short time to clear your head and heart. This could be something you do once a week or even once a day. What more could one ask for than the ability to go on vacation every day? Some may have difficulty locating that special place where they feel relaxed enough to find such peace. Others are lucky enough to be able to do this nearly anywhere. I can easily find peace in these mountains but I certainly couldn’t imagine finding that same peace sitting on a bench in a city. Some people can do that though and I would be lying if I said I was not jealous. But in the end, once you find that spot and reach that calm and untroubled state of mind I promise the quality of life can only improve as you will have gained the ability to charge your spirit’s battery at will and no problem or task will be insurmountable to you anymore.

As I stood up to go inside I was laughing out loud at the trick the mountains had pulled on me. After looking so hard for another lesson for so many days it had taken me sitting and thinking of nothing at all to learn the lesson the mountains wished to teach me this time. As I prepared for bed I reminded myself that if I were to be a good student I needed to pay closer attention to my teacher.

Home

Upon returning to the mountains after the great flood I could not wait two full days before embarking on a hike. A good friend and I decided to travel up to Bible Point, a short hike up a summit with a fantastic panoramic view at the top. Fall was definitely in the mountains that day with cool clear weather making for perfect hiking weather. The trail is neither long nor difficult even with some washout from the heavy rains. After a trip up through aspens and pines we at last reached the summit and spent nearly an hour taking in the surrounding countryside while enjoying the fantastic weather.

During this whole hike I could not believe how wonderful it was to be home. Here in the mountains is where I belong, where I am happiest, and where I thrive. So often I have been asked by the tourists and seasonal residents where is my home. If I could see their faces I am quite sure I would see a look of surprise when I explain that this is my home. But even if my permanent residence was elsewhere I believe I would still claim the mountains as my home for, as the old saying goes, home is where the heart is.

I am a strong believer that the term “home” is one of the most commonly misused words in any language. Nearly any average person when asked will call home the place where they reside, the mail gets delivered, and where they lay their head for most of the year. But is that where their heart truly is? Is it possible that home can be a place you travel to once a year or even less? Ask yourself where is the one place you were happiest? The answer is different for all of us. Some people will discover that their residence is also their home because it is the happiest place they have ever known and that is perfectly acceptable. For others it will be the place they grew up. Some have a vacation spot that feeds their souls every time they return. There are even some people who have only been to a place be a single time but for that brief period in their lives it was the happiest time they remember. 

It is a rather fascinating thought that one could have only been home once in their entire lives but that certainly does not have to be a negative thought. Perhaps some individuals may even have more than one home? Deciding just where home is for yourself can require some deep introspection but when you finally realize where your own home or homes are you will come to appreciate it all the more. I even believe that this self-realization will allow you to appreciate the other places you have been as you will gain the ability to compare and contrast these other places and realize what makes them good or bad but not quite home for you.

It is such a tragedy that far too many people will spend too much of their lives in a place they are not happy just because of a paycheck or because they think there is no way to go home. Certainly an income is important and relocating can be costly and difficult but, to me, those concerns and difficulties pale in comparison to being in a place where your soul is not happy and free. There are those who are content where they reside and they get to visit home every now and again. These individuals are happy in this scenario and therefor are to be considered lucky. Then there are the most fortunate souls of all, the ones who live at home. For these blessed folks such as myself, we rise every morning knowing that we are living, loving, and laughing in the place we love above all others. This is as close to heaven on earth as one can achieve.

As I sat on my porch that evening after my hike and dinner I heard an elk bugling in the distance. I was suddenly overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude that life, fate, or some deeper power had brought me to my true home and graciously allowed circumstances to work that I may live in this phenomenal place. I suddenly understood the bugling elk; he was bidding me a warm welcome home.