Take it from one who has hiked and backpacked many miles in the back country of Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, New York, and Colorado. There is no doubt, when I look at beautiful landscapes, breathe in back country smells, the stresses of daily life melt away.
During my work career, it was common to have a weekend or multi-day trip planned on paper. When I needed a back country fix, the plan was already made. Now in retirement (6 yrs.), trail miles have steadily increased each year.
Where am I going with this? you ask.
I refer to one pleasure I get in the mail...Backpacker magazine. When I see it peeking out of a bunch of bills and junk mail, I immediately know what I'll be reading after dinner.
A recent edition featured a story about hiking. The title, "Hiking Makes You Smarter." If that doesn't make a hiker want to read more, I don't know what does.
The hypothesis: Exposure to nature causes significant measurable changes to the brain. You can think more clearly, focus more acutely, and perform to your maximum cognitive ability. Bottom line, wilderness makes you smarter. A number of studies have already linked wilderness exposure with stress reduction and overall happiness.
Wouldn't it be great if you went backpacking the week before the SAT's to prepare. According to the article, the field of study for this effort falls under what is called environmental psychology. The specific cutting-edge element is called environmental neuroscience. The focus is on how one's surroundings specifically affect the way the brain works.
As I read the piece, I thought about my most recent diagnosis...mild cognitive impairment. My wife and me sat in the office of a Denver Neuropsychologist, to hear details of the test she gave me. It was not the easiest thing to hear, that I did not do well.
Three days after getting the news, I was hiking in the Colorado back country. Learning in 2004 that I would live the rest of my life with Parkinson's was a big shock. I had to come to terms with it and accepted it. Now, short term memory loss.
The one thing that got me thru the days after being diagnosed was hiking. When I get to a trail head, lace up my boots, cinch into my pack, and adjust my poles, I have no problems. The fact is, I forget about everything that created stress and focus on my surroundings.
The article posed a question,,,how much wilderness do you need for a full dose of brain restoration, and how long does that dose last? For me it can't last long enough. I enjoy being last out of the wilderness on backpack trips. I take pride being in the sweep position when hiking with friends every week.
Researchers say all this nature stuff isn't all in your head. There might actually be some physical changes taking place when you get on trail.
Hiking with my family over Labor Day weekend in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, I was reminded that one pilot research group mentioned in the article was tested in the same Collegiate Peaks region a year ago.
What will we read next about this new frontier of brain restoration? Will there be scientific data proving that spending time with nature is recommended to achieve better grades in you most difficult subject. A day hike would help you be more relaxed when going to the biggest job opportunity interview of your life.
At my age (66), I don't see either of those scenarios in my future. What I can say is every day is a good day. Every day I hike is a special day.
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