Hiking and even more so, long distance backpacking, can do amazing things for your physical, emotional and spiritual health. The obvious being improved strength, cardio stamina, endurance and even weight loss! The emotional and spiritual side effects are not as obvious to those who are a part of our lives and sometimes, even ourselves.

It has been proven, that just getting outdoors into the fresh air, improves your mood, reduces stress and can help improve signs of major depression. Exercise in general, releases endorphins that help lift your spirits. Combine that with an increase in natural vitamin D, you have a hard time not feeling fantastic!

At the end of a long day of hiking up 1,000 – 2,000 ft elevation gains, trying to find shade from the relentless beating of the hot sun and the constant battle of keeping hydrated, the end of a day brings many aches and pains. I always knew my feet, legs and back muscles would be sore from the constant pushing of my body and the weight of a full pack. I didn’t anticipate that my facial muscles would be sore from the constant smile I would have while abusing my body day in and day out. No matter how hard or miserable the day was, I would catch myself smiling at the amazing beauty and the sense of true accomplishment I felt. I have done so many things in life that I am proud of, but nothing has compared to a long, arduous day of backpacking and the reward of crawling into my tent for sleep and recovery just to do it again and again.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/major-depression-resource-center/how-nature-helps-depression/

The day before we hiked into Big Bear, a storm was brewing that was going to unleash high winds and cold temperatures on us. We chose a campsite that would protect us from the damaging winds and hopefully allow us a descent night sleep. We stopped hiking earlier than normal because we knew if we kept going, we ran the risk of having to camp in a more exposed location. The downside to stopping early was that the following day, we HAD to hike 20 miles to get into town to have my foot looked at. So far, we had only hiked between 15-17 miles a day and that was with great terrain and no bad weather. I wasn’t betting on either good trails or good weather for our hike out.

The sun was still high enough in the sky to warm our bodies even though the temperature was noticeably dropping. Sean was able to grab a weak cell signal and was trying to catch up on some news. I poured myself into the tent and lay sideways on my sleeping pad and quilt. I kept my feet outside the open tent door to feel the sun directly on my legs. I hike with a hiking skirt and running leggings so my legs do not get to feel the sun much. The sun felt amazingly warm and I was glad I didn’t have to worry about getting burned since the sun was quickly setting. I wasn’t ready to sleep so didn’t want to get too comfortable.

While relaxing and feeling like a desert lizard warming itself, I closed my eyes. Wow! If you have never stopped, taken a moment to lay back, completely quiet in the middle of the woods and just listen…..you need to put it on your bucket list!!!! Hiking day in and day out, you see and hear so many amazing things. This particular day seemed different.  My body was still from exhaustion.  My mind was still from the solitude.  With my eyes closed, my sense of hearing was heightened.  I became sensitive to sounds that I would normally not hear above the rustle of the trees or crunch of dirt beneath my feet.

Within a few minutes, it began.  With a  single bird perched somewhere high above our camp, I heard a tap-tap-tap.  It was a low, hollow sound and easily identified as a woodpecker.  But then there was another tap-taptap-tap.  A distinctly different rhythm and tone.  This one was higher pitched and more of a solid sound.  Within a brief moment, a THIRD woodpecker chimed in.  It was now a three piece band and they were tapping out a tune.  I could have listened to this for hours.  Mother Nature showed her true beauty through music.  After a few rounds of tapping, the woodpeckers stopped as the sun began to set.  As I lay still, my muscles twitching and cramping, I hear the subtle “changing of the guard” as the day creatures retreat and the night crew stands guard.  I will remember this day for a very long time.  Today was the first day I had ever “seen” the world through closed eyes.