Essential Nature Walks - Ecotrain's Question of the Week

I was gonna post about my daily walks in the surrounding woods anyway, here in the mountains of Crestline, California which I've already introduced, but now that @ecotrain (in collaboration with @dreamsteem) has asked about nature in this week's QOTW, I may as well combine the two. The timing is ideal, as I am realizing (again) on myself, how beneficial being in nature is, something I've been saying all the time but then I guess I sort of ignored it.

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Nature Keeps Me From Going Crazy

At least that's how I feel these days. The reason why I'm here is a mix of unforeseen circumstances, and seizing the opportunity to get some good work done. So here I am, sitting in front of the computer, and being creative all day (mostly). Actually, it's the best kind of work for me: no stress, no pressure, being entirely in charge of when, how much, and how intensively I want to work, so in a way it's a dream come true. Still, after a few hours I feel ready to just go outside and clear my head.

To be honest, it is not just clearing my head that I look forward to, but to exploring the numerous mountain paths, dirt and gravel roads, hiking trails, and deer tracks that criss-cross the surrounding landscape here. They all lead somewhere, even if that somewhere is simply a meadow in the woods, or even if the trail decreases gradually only to disappear and leave me finding my own way between the trees. Fortunately, the woods around here are pretty sparse, so I don't have to crawl under bushes or through thick vegetation.

Coming back from my walks, I am always filled with a mix of sensations. There is the sense of accomplishment, similar to when I finish writing a page, or one of my posts, so I enjoy tracking my hike with an app. Then there is some deep rooted excitement, which often times has a strong inspiring effect. So an hour of writing after walking in the forest is certain to ... have an interesting core, at least. But then there is another feeling I value even more: its a profound feeling of peace that has a soothing effect. It's not the sleepy kind of relaxation, though occasionally that tends to happen too, but more like inner tranquility that makes me want to accept life and everything in it as it is.

Features of the Landscape

Though I must say, it's not only the effects of my forest walk I like. I also enjoy looking at the particular characteristics of my surroundings. Especially this place is somewhat curious in many aspects. As I mentioned here, the location is Southern California, not far from the metropolis of Los Angeles. However, we are high up in the mountains of San Bernardino here, which is not only colder (brrr) but the elevation traps the clouds rolling in from the sea. So there is way more rainfall here than down where highways and suburbs sprawl in all directions. Also, since most of the precipitation is dumped on us, the entire area behind this mountain range remains a desert.

The woods are made up of a wild mix of tall coniferous evergreens, such as cedars and ponderosa pines, and deciduous trees that are just now starting to growing their full foliage of the season. Many of them are oaks, spreading in all directions, but there are all kinds of other trees, from birches to madronias. Between the trees there tends to be a generous amount of space, even hillside meadows, so quite often I get a very alpine feeling. I've even told my wife that from the way this place looks, I am constantly reminded of Heidi.

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Since I mentioned the rain, I have to repeat the false belief that it never rains in Southern California. What may be true for Santa Monica, or even for San Bernardino just below these hills, is certainly not true for Crestline. Almost every week we get at east one rainy day, which is a spooky experience in itself. The clouds look more like fog moving between the trees, visibility is reduced to a minimum, and even if it's not raining per se, you get wet just from walking around. Not that all this would keep me from enjoying my hikes, they just end up being shorter, and afterwards I feel so much happier to return, take a hot shower, and snuggle up with a hot tea.

What Was The Question Again?

So this is pretty much what I was going to write about my daily hikes in nature. But now I'm not sure about the question I was supposed to answer. I think describing my present situation has to suffice for a story. And the ways I can feel how nature helps me, I think I've explained: achievement, inspiration, peace of mind. That kind of reminds me of a meme I saw about the four natural brain chemicals, most of which I think I cover in my hikes. But instead of explaining it, let me share the image. It's worth more than a thousand words!

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