ing you get after
you reconnect with
n a t u r e ?
inside that makes you want to
live in the wilderness for the
rest of your life? Yes folks,
this is called a wilderness
hangover. In my dictionary,
this means you have an in-
tense
you get back to civilization,
you feel like everything in na-
ture was a dream because it
was so beautiful and complex.
You want to go back to that
feeling and enjoy it over and
over again. And no, I don't
mean just stepping out on
your front porch to stare at a
squirrel in a tree for five min-
utes. I mean getting out there,
packing a backpack of fruit,
and just going somewhere
where you won't see a power
line for the entire day. Doesn't it just
sound wonderful? Well, it certainly does
to me.
mountain close to where I live. After the
hike, I limped for three days straight. It
was actually a good feeling, because I
knew I had accomplished the hike. And
even though it felt like I had been
squished by a steam roller, I was rejuve-
nated.
est point gets up to about 5,650 feet. We
hiked all the way to the top, regretting
only one thing: we didn't bring enough
water. Once we got to the top, we were
desperate for anything to drink. Luckily
there was some snow that we were able to
melt in our water bottles. We started our
hike at around 9:30 a.m., leaving the
house ready and energetic. When we got
back at 7 p.m., however, we could barely
walk. On the way up, the side of the
mountain was the most enjoyable. We
discovered wild onions growing on the
slope, interesting flowers, and even a
bird's nest that we propitiously did not
trample over. Don't get me wrong: we
constantly had to stop for breaks! We
were too determined, however, to let the
slope stop us from getting to the top.
magnificent. It helped me see our valley
from a completely different point of view.
It was also amazing to see how nature
choreographed itself up in the mountains.
They framed each other perfectly, and the
sun hit in just the right spots. It was ex-
tremely refreshing to be outside, living in
the moment, and breathing deeply.
knowing what I was capable of. Now I
know that the next time I hike up, it might
be just a little easier. Having that reassur-
ance always helps at times when I feel like
I cannot accomplish something. I believe
all of us need that extra push in the right
direction. It feels like hiking up K Moun-
tain benefitted me physically and men-
tally--two things that rarely come hand in
hand.
Mother Nature's bounty. Humans are
slowly starting to lose their touch with the
world outside of their material belongings;
they tend to ignore the things that naturally
grow around them. Next time you're out
for a walk, stop and appreciate a flower.
day to day basis. This is something to try
improving on, and something like hiking
up a mountain helps you delve even fur-
ther into the experience.
you find yourself camping, walking, hik-
ing, climbing, kayaking, horseback riding,
or anything else along those lines. Then
observe yourself afterwards: do you feel
like you want to go back into nature? Do
you find yourself doing that same activity
over again? If yes, you are officially diag-
nosed with a wilderness hangover. Now
get back into nature! Experience some-
thing new! And always, always, appreciate
what's there.
Jenna Sipponen is in Grade 11, living in a
cute little valley called the Similkameen.
Her hobbies include procrastinating, thea-
tre, and yoga in random places.