Immersing ourselves in nature is good for your mental health & a hike helps deal with the emotional weight we carry
Feeling burned out or stressed take to scrags & scrambles
Grief ... that's a tough one, perhaps softness of a meadow
Choosing your adventure deliberately is what we call mountain therapy
Full disclosure, I'm not formally trained in this arena but I've tested theories others have studied
Whatever burden you carry nature has a solution leaving you feeling more grounded
Your senses & nervous system are taken over with your bodily demands on a hike, targeting intentional engagement with the natural environment
Coping with trauma can be debilitating, after a loss I found myself deep within winter's grasp hiking a 4,000 footer deep within the White Mountain Forest of New Hampshire with a couple of friends. I didn't allow myself to cry on that hike simply because my tears would have frozen but within my body I ached.
The hike was intense & I found myself lost within thought as I arrived at the trailhead. It was after our first summit that I finally felt lighter, my body taking on the challenge diverting to where it was needed
When you feel as if your mind is spinning direct your attention to purposeful activities
When engaged your breath becomes intentional with enhanced CO₂ & purposefully resetting your breath & muscles engaged accelerates cortisol (which helps manage stress, sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, metabolism & blood sugar)
Sustained effort engages motor-planning areas in the prefrontal cortex (the part of our brain that affects behavior, personality, and ability to plan), competing for cognitive bandwidth against intrusive allowing ruminative thoughts
Using the tools when hiking, my map & compass, poles & foot placement, when trails intersect & weather threatens to change my mind is forced to refocus
Oftentimes, reaching that summit & taking a rest the quiet while nibbling on snacks you can almost feel the prefrontal cortex activating. A quieter internal landscape forms where emotions may emerge as you gaze across the landscape
Lots of little decisions in the backcountry help me reset so I can focus on the most important information when I get back home.
The choices we make, their paths created for safety, movement enhances our mental agility
Movements that are rhythmic improve your mood & wooded areas lower cortisol (that stress hormone)
Sometimes, a walk is just a walk, a familiar terrain that quickly reduce mental burden allowing for emotions to dissipate
Life can be chaotic, overstimulating, frustrating, so in nature's abode enjoy windswept views, the sound of your own footsteps on the trail, quiet moments as the sun awakens or an undercast shares a canvas anew
Nature is to be protected as much as our own mental health, healing isn't only within our head but can transform underfoot
Go for a hike or walk but do it with intention, integrate your path with your body, soul, mind & natural landscape you choose
Invest in your mental & emotional health, the next time you feel the proverbial weight of the world is too much to handle, take my advice & head into the wilderness & unlock nature's power of healing
Ode to Mr. 6,288 (by me, Kal)
Words I love to write, almost as much as this gal loves to hike, I crafted my “Ode to 6,288” that I hope you enjoy; here it goes:
Highest recorded wind gusts of 231 MPH & coldest wind chill a mere minus 109 degrees.
A pile of rocks, harshness you emit, not fable, urban legend or folk lore.
Visitors arrive galore via foot paths, your twisted roadway or even rail.
No matter the vessel it’s a challenging assent upwards as we scramble, ride or climb.
Met with bluebird skies or snowflakes, sideways rain or “just” gusty winds, rime ice is beautiful but make haste & heed warnings.
In awe of your epic views clear days display, layers of mountainous terrain whilst others remain socked in, sleet & treacherous weather that completely ruin a day.
Higher-summit forecast, a reality sets in, perhaps we should turn back, not go further for danger is ahead & trail-gate instead.
This destination, an epic journey, peeps in line wanting pictures at the top.
Oodles of memories, they’ll last for my lifeline for I’ve known your glory Mr. 6,288.
I’ve shook your hand, stood at that sign, proclaiming I have arrived, a guest for only a short period of time.
Ammonoosuc a fun jaunt, Lions Head the steepest way up, Jewel’s a gem, the epic Presidential Traverse & even the auto road for which I “ran” once upon a time!
Sweeping across the White Mountain National Forest I proclaim this gal is in fact joining “Seek the Peak” yet again this year.
Tuckerman Ravine for charity the winds howl my name.
Irresistible, rugged & strong. Yet your alpine zone remains fragile to even that one footstep that didn’t belong.
Shhh … I’ve got a secret. Nimbus, the kitty of the MWOBS is the real reason I’m returning.
Purrhaps he’ll allow a scratch behind his ear?
No doubt, if I were to lay down my snuggly Minus33 gear Nimbus would climb onto it & making of biscuits would quickly commence, his eyes slowly closing as a kitty nap would commence.
If you won’t press the donate button for me purrhaps you’ll choose to donate for the kitty named after a cloud formation.
Caturday, July 19th I make my ascent to where Nimbus calls home, on the mountain of the world’s worst weather elements!
See you at 6,288!
Kally :~)
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