You go into nature to get away from it all. By “it all,” you mean the hustle and bustle of stressed-out people and your own daily survival. But you also mean your self. The secret power of nature is its ability to take you out of yourself. You get lost in something bigger and grander, something strange and spectacular.

In Boise where I live, summertime means one thing: everyone is plotting their escape to the mountains. The accompanying explanation, often given without prompting, is: “We just have to get out of this heat!” Your friend then shakes her head with longsuffering, as if she’d just come on covered wagon through the deserts of Nevada.

But there’s a deeper reason than seeking cooler elevation. Escaping into the unspoiled beauty of nature replenishes your soul. Even non-hunter-fishers like myself, who are hard pressed to survive without our coffee frother, much less with only the supplies on our backs, can hear the mountains calling. Why? What does hiking the mountains do for you that you can’t get by turning up your A/C while riding your stationary bike? Trying to explain the value of nature is like trying to explain a joke. Something gets lost in the telling.

But it’s worth considering. What is it that unifies nature explorers and spectators alike? What is it that brings together the eco-conservationist with threadbare t-shirt and the scope-wielding hunter decked in camo? Wonder. Nature has the power to restore wonder to the worn out. It inspires awe.

Read More