Modern Escapism

When I was a child, I was inspired by the adventure of Tom Sawyer and decided to run away. I tied a towel around a stick with two apples and a water bottle and threw it over my shoulder. I said, “mom, I’m running away,” and I walked out of the house into the woods of West Virginia. I returned later that evening for hot food and a place to live, but that’s besides the point of the story. I remember how easy it was to get away, to escape, and to have my angst healed by nature. I still fantasize about running away to the outdoors often. But as an adult, what I return home to seems far more daunting, with bills, commitments, relationships and responsibilities. But still, escaping for a night or two can be just as easy. Walking into the woods, the mountains, or anywhere in the outdoors for a day of nature therapy is not so complicated.

Since I was a kid, I’ve learned that nothing lasts forever, and that I also need to pack a sleeping bag and a camera. The sleeping bag, to keep me warm. The camera, to help me observe and learn about the world around me.

I recently escaped for a solo expedition to Cathedral Lake in Maroon Bells Wilderness area in Aspen, Colorado. I planned to go to Conundrum Hot Springs too, which was just over Electric Pass and down in the Conundrum Creek valley, only about 5 miles away. Coming from sea level in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, the thin air at 9,000ft elevation started getting to me quicker than I had wished. I spent the night on the top on Electric pass at 13,500ft. I snapped some pictures from the top, trying to capture the magic of the sunset. The temps dropped to the low 30’s and the wind howled until sunrise. The next morning, I saw that the trail I had envisioned to take to Conundrum Creek was not apparent and there was 3,000 feet of it I would have to go back down. After moments of contemplation, I decided not to continue. My plan to make it Conundrum Creek had failed. But the thing about this failure, is that it didn’t feel like a failure, it felt like a success. 

I understood. I understood myself, I understood that making it to Conundrum wasn’t even the purpose of my hike. I had put an external goal to ease my thoughts so that I could be free of forced introspection and allow my mind, body and spirit to wander. The purpose for me was to cleanse. It amazes me and continues to amaze me how quickly my spirit can clean itself for just being in nature for 24 hours. I hope to remind you all that the fastest way to find yourself if you feel lost, is to get lost. 

-Raleigh