I’ve been reading The Nature Fix by Florence Williams. It verifies what I’ve known all along, that contact with nature is good for our well-being. The book describes studies conducted by scientists and health professionals around the world who’ve been documenting how we benefit from encountering nature, or even a picture of a natural setting, or a soundtrack. Our blood pressure drops, cortisol levels decline, heart rate slows, mood improves. I didn’t know all those things were happening when I go for a walk. All I know is that I start smiling and feel better. Now doctors are beginning to prescribe time in nature, not just for the exercise, but to listen to the quiet, breathe the fresh air, or take in the inspiring view of a lush green forest or the blue expanse of water. Humans evolved outdoors, so it’s only natural. The best thing I got out of the book is near the end when she proposed that we look at a nature fix the same way we envision the food pyramid. Contact with nature is just as essential as eating a wholesome diet. She recommends the base of the pyramid be filled with our recommended daily allowance of the natural world. I have a bird bath on my deck that brings me great joy. Deer frequent my yard. Working in my garden or even taking a walk to the mailbox with views of the farms and fields nearby helps me feel calm and relaxed. The next level of the pyramid would be a weekly hike in a nearby park. This week I took a walk at the Waterman Shoreline Preserve near Clinton. It’s an old road that’s closed to traffic. The Whidbey Camano Land Trust has put up beautiful interpretive panels to tell the natural and cultural history of the place. The tall canopy of alders and maples were turning gold in the autumn sun. Huge cedars back up a split rail fence along the way. The sound of a creek plummeting toward the shore was accompanied by the songs of chickadees and nuthatches blowing their horns. Woodpeckers drummed on an old snag, ravens called from the tree tops and a distant view of Mount Baker beckoned from across the water. As the pyramid narrows, the level of connection grows deeper. A monthly outing at a regional park would fulfill this requirement. Last month Jack gave me a tour of two Guemes Island beaches. It was a mild, sunny day as we took the little ferry and walked the road a mile westward to see the tall yellow bluffs of Kelly’s Point. On our way back, we stopped to visit the Peach Preserve, a trail with a south facing beach backed up by a cattail marsh and shore pines. We sat on a bench and talked while watching the boats go by through Guemes Channel, then walked the beach back to the ferry. At the peak of the pyramid is a multi-day wilderness experience once or twice a year. I had a taste of that last Sunday at Baker Lake. At the end of a week of rain, the sun peeked out so I went for a hike. The subalpine meadows were red with berry bushes. My fingers turned blue as I grazed. Looking for a bear (at a safe distance) I saw only a chipmunk as we shared a view of Mount Baker shirking off its cloudy shawl. A towering rock face, a mirror-like lake, the scent of subalpine fir and mountain hemlock were all good medicine for me. But the best was a night sitting by a campfire, under the stars, watching the full moon rise over the lake and the glow of snow-capped peaks on the dark horizon. We live in a nature-rich part of the world and for that I am truly grateful. May you find the trails, beaches, parks and peaks that will keep you happy and healthy in these challenging times. Maribeth Directions to Waterman Shoreline Preserve: Take Highway 525, 2.7 miles from the Clinton Ferry just east of the Ken's Korner shopping center. turn north onto Surface Road, At the T turn left and the trailhead is just around the corner.
Directions to Guemes Island beaches: Take Highway 20 north to Anacortes. Take the R Avenue exit and turn left on 6th Street. Park near I Avenue to walk on the Guemes ferry. On Guemes, turn left and walk about a mile on South Shore Drive to Kelly's Point and the Peach Preserve. Directions by Bike or Bus: From Whidbey take Island Transit to the March's Point Park and Ride and switch to the Skagit Transit 410. Or bring your bike and ride the Tommy Thompson Trail, 3/4 mile north of the park and ride, for 3.5 miles into Anacortes. Turn left on 6th Street and ride a few more blocks to the Guemes ferry.
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Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
May 2024
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