DEVELOPING MY OWN LIFE.

But the greatest gift of the outdoors is what it subtracts. In nature, the ego quiets. You cannot rush a sunrise or negotiate with a river’s current. You adapt. You wait. You watch. There is a unique form of mindfulness that occurs when you are simply trying to keep your boots dry on a muddy trail or your hands warm while lighting a stove. These small, tactile problems replace the abstract anxieties of modern life. In the wild, you stop thinking about what you should be doing and become fully absorbed in what you are doing.

While nature offers profound solitude, it also builds incredibly strong communities. The shared experience of overcoming a steep climb, enduring a sudden rainstorm, or sharing stories around a campfire creates fast bonds.

While nature offers profound solitude, it also builds incredibly strong communities. The shared experience of overcoming a steep climb, enduring a sudden rainstorm, or sharing stories around a campfire creates fast bonds.