High Country Inspiration
One way to beat the heat…Get High!
Written by Heather Sullivan
Friends!
I want to encourage you to get high (in the mountains!) this summer. This means getting above 8,000 feet in elevation, breathing in fresh mountain air, going for a swim in an alpine lake, taking in the vistas of granite domes, peaks and the night sky, feeling small amongst the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada, and soaking in the song of a river or creek meandering through a meadow. It is truly soul medicine, in my expert opinion… ;)
“Hiking, taking in vistas of the nearby 14,000ft peaks, swimming in alpine lakes, and taking refuge in the shade of the majestic foxtail pines soothed my stressed-out soul. Breathing in non-smoky air and taking time to write in my journal allowed my head to clear and calm. This unplanned alpine retreat was just what my soul and nervous system needed. ”
Early this July, I was finishing up instructing for a 6-day Summer Camp at 10,200 ft. for a youth group (ages 10-14) at the Golden Trout Wilderness School in the Southern Sierra.
We had an amazing week cultivating curiosity through nature journaling (based on John Muir Laws techniques and some exercises from his book “How to Nature Journal”) which encourages curiosity, wonder, and attention in the natural world.
Photo by Patrick Bremser
We hiked to beautiful vistas and cooled off in the alpine waters of Cottonwood Lakes Basin.
I was feeling reluctant to leave this Shangri-la, and as I looked at the weather report for my foothill home near Yosemite National Park—it looked grim. Forecasts called for multiple days of triple digits, high winds, possible dry lightning. A perfect recipe for fire, smoke, and oppressive heat.
In fact, my Watch Duty App was going off about the recent French Fire in Mariposa. My co-workers were evacuated (again), many homes of friends and community members were in danger (again), and the seasonal fire stress raged on (yet again). For many including myself, the trauma of past wildfires was reignited.
Stock Photo
An incredible effort by fire crews and community members saved the town of Mariposa (unfortunately, four homes were lost in this fire), and the forecast for high temps and winds extended for another week or so. With this forecast, I decided not to go back home, but to extend my time in the high mountains.
Hiking, taking in vistas of the nearby 14,000ft peaks, swimming in alpine lakes, and taking refuge in the shade of the majestic foxtail pines soothed my stressed-out soul. Breathing in non-smoky air and taking time to write in my journal allowed my head to clear and calm.
“It is amazing to see where our attention can take us when we let it and how on even our hardest days, we are still able to witness or experience delight, if we practice. ”
This unplanned alpine retreat was just what my soul and nervous system needed.
During this time, I wrote about the overwhelming gratitude I had for spending any moment in this incredible mountain range that I love so dearly (the Range of Light) and for the simplicity of mountain living.
Here—waking well before sunrise—I had time for daily practices, time for self-care including hiking as well as time to focus on work. With my “attention muscle” well developed, I felt the ability to be very present in my surroundings.
In this mountain landscape, I find my creativity feels at a peak and I have time for more of the visionary elements required through my job as Executive Director for Balanced Rock, like creating new programs or dreaming up future trips and strategic directions for the organization.
Photo by Patrick Bremser
This felt like the perfect time and place to prep for the upcoming Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series presentation I will lead at the end of July in Tuolumne Meadows— Alpine Inspiration: A Wellness Retreat in the Meadows.
It is an honor for me to present at this event each year, and I try and attend as many of these offerings as possible (and you should too! Check out the great line up by clicking the button below).
The Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series includes free programming by incredible speakers, educators, musicians, poets, writers, and scientists. This program is generously funded by the Yosemite Conservancy and put on by the National Park Service, so the program is free to the public!
Attending a Parsons Program is like having your own mini-retreat in the mountains.
You can tack on a swim at Tenaya Lake or the Tuolumne River, or a hike up Lembert or Pothole Dome for the ultimate outdoor get-away!
Here is a journaling prompt if you are interested in creating your own-mini retreat…
Find an inspiring place outside to sit and journal for a bit. Set a timer and write for 10 minutes using this sentence stub:
“Summer reminds me of…”
Try and be as descriptive as possible, bringing in each of the 5-senses with descriptors.
When you have finished, read out loud to yourself and circle any words or phrases that you find interesting or that you like.
Or perhaps try a new mindfulness practice this summer:
One of my favorite books I have read this year is “The Book of Delights” by Ross Gay. In his book, he writes a daily mini-essay on something he has found delightful. It is an incredible read as well as an inspiring mindfulness practice.
The Practice: notice and chronicle something delightful you have seen, experienced, or witnessed each day. Consider keeping a daily log of these delights. Consider sharing with a friend, partner, family member as a daily check-in. It is amazing to see where our attention can take us when we let it and how on even our hardest days, we are still able to witness or experience delight, if we practice.
It sure would be a delight for me to see you high in the mountains this summer!
In awe and wonderment,
Heather
MEET HEATHER
Heather Sullivan is Balanced Rock’s Executive Director and Co-founder.
She delights in creating unique, powerful programs and supporting staff and instructors to shine their magic in the world. She is a gifted teacher and seasoned mountain guide at heart and makes sure to get in the field as an instructor each season. Read her full bio here.