As I gather my gear at the trail head, I find that my mind is full. I look at my dogs and they appear to have not a care in the world. Tyson with his hiking pack, and Maia my Chihuahua wait with eager anticipation having no worries about the 11 mile hike we are about to embark upon. They appear to be centered, focused solely on me, wondering when their adventure will begin and I marvel at their simplicity. I, on the other hand, am thinking about so much it is hard for me to focus……. thoughts spiral around work, bills, home, future plans, past adventures, aches and pains, previous conversations, old hurts…. My heart feels heavy, and my soul is dark.
When together as I’ll ever be, I lock the car, throw on my pack and step onto the trail. Today’s plan…. 5.5 miles out, lunch at a quiet lake, 5.5 miles back. At that moment there are few cars at the trailhead, the trail appears to be quiet and the hustle and bustle of life is now left behind. I’m hit first by the warmth of the sun, glistening through the trees and the light it shines on the foliage. This light changes things from a dark sleepy green to a vibrant energizing shade. The crisp, clean air is refreshing and rejuvenating. Within moments, a few of my thoughts are left on the side of the trail. My mind grows a little more quiet.
As I travel farther into the Wilderness, one step after another, with the dogs bounding around me, the thoughts continue to spiral with only glimpses of peace. I stop for a moment to marvel at the beauty around me. The Wildflowers are in full force, growing right up the trail, some as tall as I. They are undisturbed, their colorful hues swaying in the breeze, filling the air with a glorious sweet fragrance. Beside them stand trees of all sizes, some clearly much older than I. Their limbs are twisted and tattered from previous years weather, prior fires, and human inflicted damage. Yet tall and proud they stand providing homes for critters, resting places for birds, and shade for weary hikers. I imagine the stories they would tell if able. As I exhale, relaxing my shoulders, a few more thoughts are left on the side of the trail. My mind grows a little more quiet.
Deeper I go into the Wilderness when suddenly the terrain changes. Now above tree line, the sun reflects off the granite mountains around me. To my left the granite sheets slope to the river water traveling towards its final destination. The sound of it tumbling over the rocks below has a lulling effect and we stop. Tyson enjoys the belly deep freshness, while Maia drinks cautiously at the edge. Off come the boots, and in go my feet. As I sit with my feet dangling into the clear, cold water, I ponder my reflection in the mirror formed as the water gracefully glides over the granite slab. I hear much less noise in my head and find that with my stillness a few more thoughts are left on the side of the trail. My mind grows a little more quiet.
Just as the dogs settled by my side for rest, I disturbed their peace by calling them forward. Still eager, and super excited, they took their place on the trail and readily continued their adventure. A few miles farther and we have reached our destination. In the valley, surrounded by granite mountains, lies an undisturbed lake reflecting images of all that towers over it. The slight breeze causes tiny waves on the surface and an occasional jumping fish creates cylindrical ripples with the tiniest of splashes. Under the canopy of trees I find a resting spot, remove the weight of my pack, take off my shoes, and lounge with my feet cooling in the water. As I watch the dogs settle, fed and content, I realize I am no longer heavy. My head is clear, and my soul is light. I think of nothing more than the beauty around me….. The Marmot scrambling across the rocks, the birds singing me a magnificent song, the bees working feverishly as they fly from one flower to another, and my dogs peacefully resting with what appears to be smiles on their little faces. I hear voices in the distance, but so muted they are almost nonexistent. I ponder the mountain peaks around me, and plan the day I will return to conquer them. No longer distracted by the baggage in my head, as I have unpacked it along the trail, I am focused and at peace.
After an hour of solitude, feeling satiated and rejuvenated, I rise. On go the boots, back on goes the pack, and the dogs are immediately ready to follow my lead. As we travel out, the way we came, I pick up some of the thoughts I left along the way. You see…. some are necessary, but as I pick them up they have an entirely new meaning. The others….. deemed unnecessary, destructive, unproductive or hurtful, are left behind as they now have no place with me. Now able to fully appreciate the path from which I came, I see things I was unable to focus on before…… Bear scat on the trail indicating this was a thoroughfare for not just humans, a downed tree I had walked right passed but paid no attention to, and a small pond surrounded by a blanket of purple and yellow flowers. All were clearly visible, yet my lack of focus on the way in made them impossible to see.
As we reached the car I again marveled at my dogs, particularly Maia who made that 11 mile trek on her six inch legs, with no indication of disgruntlement. They, as was I, were happy and at peace.
One of my favorite sayings is… “We all come to the train station with a different set of baggage.” Baggage is heavy, and even airlines have weight restrictions. Whether the baggage is old hurts, thoughts of the past, worry of the future, or just an inundation of random shit in your head, it often prevents us from appreciating the moment in which we stand. For me, hiking is the thing that helps me to unpack that baggage……
Find your “thing”, lighten the load, and appreciate the moment before you.
