The Gift of Wide Open Spaces
A recent trek through Buffalo Creek reminded me of the importance of awe.
It only took us six years to begin exploring the areas beyond Evergreen. We started last summer while looking for longer hikes to train for our Aspen-Crested Butte trek. In our defense, there are so many great options nearby that we’ve been able to do plenty of biking, hiking, and trail running close to home.
Years ago, after riding the Little Scraggy trail in the Buffalo Creek recreation area, when John was just starting mountain biking and I was returning to it after years of road biking, we realized it’s smart to check out trails on foot before riding them. It turned out the trail was beyond our capabilities at the time, but we managed by pushing the bikes in certain areas.
This time, we drove about an hour, partly on dirt roads, to reach a trailhead on the other side of Buffalo Creek to hike the Gashouse and Baldy trails in a clockwise loop. Besides us, there was only one trail runner among the mountain bikers. I wondered what the bikers were thinking of us out there with our backpacks and dogs, but it was a lovely seven-mile loop with areas through the trees, wide, open sections where you could see for miles, and plenty of boulders for the dogs to play on.
The trail had just the right mix of ups and downs, which is what I’m always looking for in a mountain biking trail. The rolling style trails are more familiar to me from my years of mountain biking in New Hampshire's woods. Many Colorado trails are steep and technical, with lots of rocks. This trail was mostly dirt, with minimal rocks and roots. While there were some climbs, none felt overly oppressive. I’m excited to go back soon with the bikes to ride the loop, with a little add-on to enter from a more accessible parking area.
Mountain biking is such a great workout and wonderful stress relief because you can’t think about anything but the trail in front of you when you’re riding singletrack. Over the past year, finding new trails to explore has been fun, and I feel fortunate to live in an area with so much recreation. I hope Colorado continues to protect our open spaces, not only for outdoor activities but also for the animals that live there. Spending time in nature is important for both physical and mental health, and having these vast areas where one can experience awe is a true gift.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, examined the effects of awe inspired by the outdoors on 1,000 participants who hiked, kayaked, and visited scenic overlooks at Lake Tahoe over a two-year period. They found that after just two minutes in nature, participants reported a 33 percent increase in happiness and a 70 percent increase in awe. The findings also suggested that these experiences deepen a person’s connection to nature: environmental stewardship increased by 20 percent after participants experienced awe.
What brings you a sense of awe?