Zen and the Art of Walking in the Forest

"I felt like lying down by the side of the trail and remembering it all. The woods do that to you, they always look familiar."   -  Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

Go A little Bit Farther

My walks in the Black Hills National Forest have been mostly during the late morning or afternoon hours. I call them "walks" because the word "hike" is defined in the dictionary as "to walk or march a great distance." I usually don't travel a great distance and I certainly don't march. It's more like a walking meditation, concentrating on my breath, keeping my head and eyes down and moving from side to side as I practice being totally aware of my surroundings. It's amazing the things you see when you slow down and take a closer look. Occasionally I glance up and into the distance to measure my progress or consider the wider view. More often, though, I am in dense growth or between canyon walls, or both, so that limits how far away I can see. That's a good thing because there are small wonders always at my feet or right next to me wherever I step. Mostly I prefer to stay on my own personal favorite trails. Those are the less traveled ones. Or the ones that really aren't trails at all. More like little paths hidden from the view of those who are less adventurous and choose to stay on the most popular and well established trails. If you are one who usually follows the maps I would suggest you consider putting the trail guides aside and find your own way next time you venture out. Use your intuition or look for a hint from Mother Nature. She's pretty generous at showing them to those who are paying attention. And when you've found it and have gone far enough to the point where you're ready to turn around...don't. Go just a little bit farther. I'll tell you why it might make all the difference.
When I first discovered what is now my favorite path just off the highway (but well hidden) in Spearfish Canyon I had only walked a few hundred yards and was amazed at the diversity all around me. Trees and other vegetation of all shapes and sizes. A trickling stream that disappeared quickly underground when I attempted to follow it. Fallen logs that were home to hundreds...probably thousands...of tiny insects and fungi. Various species of moss clinging for dear life onto multi-colored rocks. It was all there in its marvelous glory. I didn't think it could get much better if I kept going, but I kept going. It got better. First there was a collection of moss covered rocks formed and spaced perfectly in away that would provide nice little homes for Hobbits or wood nymphs or fairies. If you can imagine those sort of creatures actually exist. Not that I do. But also not that I don't. Anyway, back to my story --- after a few hundred more feet I noticed what looked like some type of structure. Primitive at best, but it looked interesting so I continued on in the direction it was located. My persistence paid off as I came to a flat multi-leveled area where someone had constructed a sort of shelter made of branches and small logs, with rocks placed in a circle at the base. It was pretty cool. I spend some time sitting there just taking in the surroundings and enjoying the sounds of nature. If I had turned around when I originally intended I would have missed this place entirely. I have gone back there many times over the period of a few years and most recently found the structure had been dismantled. I also discovered that another one had been built a short distance away out of view from the original spot. I also found a small cave in the side of the rock wall and had fun climbing up and exploring it with the help of a friend. All just because I decided to go a little bit farther.

"Under the canopy of the trees, daily dramas and moving love stories are played out. Here is the last remaining piece of nature, right on our doorstep, where adventures are to be experienced and secrets discovered."    -  Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees

After Dark

It's a different world out there at night. The darkness is complete. Even under a perfectly clear sky you can look up and see thousands of stars, but the moment your eyes come back to Earth, the darkness wraps you up again like a thick black veil. And the sounds are magnified. You can hear every movement clearly. I believe that if you try real hard and remain completely still it is even possible to hear a beetle scurrying across a fallen log. I don't take my walks very often at night, however. The reason is that I'm a little bit afraid of the dark. Not afraid of the night, I like going out at night. It's the dark that bothers me. I don't like being in the dark. I even have a hard time sleeping in a room that's too dark. My few night excursions have been mostly pleasant experiences and I've come away with some good pictures, but everything seems to be a little out of focus and I'm always slightly on edge so I prefer to stay in the light.

 

Get Healed

I might be dead by now if it weren't for the healing energy and calming influence of the "Hills." After my heart attack thirteen years ago I started making a concentrated effort to get up there more often, stay longer and take full advantage of the benefits of walking on (and off) the trails. I always knew it was good for me. Now I have proof. During a recent trek (in the rain) on that favorite path I mentioned earlier I made it a point to check my heart rate monitor at various intervals. The steeper portions pushed it up to over 100, but when I stopped to rest it dropped quickly and leveled off at about 68 in no time at all. It's not always that low when I'm just sitting in a chair at home. But when I'm up there my breath is measured and I'm more calm than any other time except perhaps when I'm sleeping. And even then it's not much below my "forest rate."  I'm not very disciplined about eating right all of the time and getting enough exercise but I feel good and have not had any complications or reoccurring heart issues, so I really believe my little nature walks are good medicine. 

 

There's a lot more I could say about this subject...and probably will later. But for now I will simply encourage you to get out and explore nature. It doesn't have to be in a forest. A desert can be just as good. I love the Badlands. My trips there produce the same results. Or even a park in your town is a great start. Baby steps, right? Soon you'll be planting your very own freak flag at the top of a mountain. Go for it!

Roger O'Dea     7/15/2018