The Great Outdoors

Outdoor fitness and health have a plethora of benefits that don't need a great deal of explanation. Most anyone can tell you the obvious benefits of fresh air.  However, formal exercise and diet seem to have morphed into dirty words. In its basic form, I think exercise was always meant to be a natural inclination, one done mostly as a way of life without really necessitating a specific call to become fit. Enter the modern era with its stationary occupations and leisure activities - what an oxymoron!

The Yellowstone River. Photo taken one October when I was in Pray, Montana, which is referred to by most as Paradise Valley, an area between Livingston and Gardiner near Yellowstone National Park. It was my first time hearing the magnificent bugle of elk. It had a beautifully profound impact I still remember clearly.

And diet? Well, that is only supposed to be a simple definition of what we eat and how much, but it has taken on a darker and stringent stigmata. I can't say the word diet - even combined with the word healthy or clean eating - without someone thinking I'm "cleansing" or doing whatever the latest something or other is out there. It's a cumbersome conversation having to explain the definition of the actual word, diet, and then attempt to get on the same page with that achievement of understanding. It's like the word is now a movement or identifying label. The word diet has been corrupted, twisted and drilled into most of us as we aspire to be the image of what culture not only recommends, but pummels into our psyche with a barrage of advertisements. The ruthless carpet bombs we are continually exposed to by way of magic pills, injections, fad diets, exercise equipment and false promises are astounding. It's highly unlikely most people could sustain any of it. Gone seem to be the days of necessity and being in tune with your body with needs as a priority over desire.

Screw that. I prefer my own drummer. How about you?

Now, how do we get there?

A little background on my journey, thus far. I was that person who got up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to hit the gym for several years, off and on. Or, after an exhausting day of work, going from one grueling commitment to another grueling commitment represented by exercise in accordance with what the experts recommended in regard to my schedule. Serious burnout and the dreaded yo-yo weight gain and loss were certainly side effects. I prefer a balanced and natural approach now. Something that combines my love and enjoyment with the benefits of something that is so obviously essential for my mind, body and soul.

This used to be one of my regular haunts before the goose shit became a problem for me at Lake Emerson Park in Humbird, Wisconsin.

The answer is not entirely unexpected and typical, but no less true. Do what works for you. Do what you enjoy. Eat a little less of this or that. Eat only when you are actually hungry. Eat mindfully with thought and slow the fuck down. Eat something a little better for you. Make the choices, one moment at a time and do not allow it to overwhelm you. As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day," my friends. Everything in moderation. Ah, another golden rule!

On the level, it's all about balance and doing what you enjoy. For example, I enjoy the outdoors. The smells, the scents, the new things I see each time I go outside. It never gets old to me. I am motivated to get outside every single day, every day of the year, every season in all different kinds of weather. When I acknowledged that all this was truly at my fingertips, I started to gradually get into it and found I was hardier than even I expected along with more adventurous and a lot more tuned into nature's rhythm than anything else on this planet. I discovered an endless feeling of simplicity and gratitude in my life that had been lacking when I finally got away from society's noise and what I should or shouldn't be or do. End result: Addictive freedom and empowerment. In spades.

Cross country skiing at Levis Trow Mound in Neillsville, Wisconsin.

However, new areas of exploration didn't just fall into my lap. I actively sought them out through people who knew about them and with my own research. You have to start somewhere, and I do happen to love a good map even if I am not always great at reading it. The beauty is, I know myself well enough to understand that I'm fearless about learning, confident in my ability to figure something out one way or another and don't let any insignificant barriers stop me. What good is a new adventure without beginning with a trail map, whether you end up using it or not? Other adventures are for the deep, dense forests and streams where no map is known and no mere inkling to explore can be denied passage.

Motivation is key to accomplishing most anything that requires longevity. It is a commitment, a mantra, a mission, an authentic purpose. It is, simply put: Drive. However, that doesn't have to be as tiring or lofty as it sounds. Simplicity and joy go a long way. Most drive is strong, but short-lived. Many find the journey enjoyable with company while just as many find a solitary adventure something that is pure and preferable. With motivation, comes some manner of discipline. My motivation is fresh air, strong lungs, challenging myself to accomplish things I haven't yet, good health, a happy spirit and photography.

Back country mountain snowshoeing in Big Sky, Montana. Not for the faint of heart!

So, where do you find all this stuff?

Location. Location. Location. What's near you? What inspires you? Is climbing Mt. Everest on your bucket list? You can goal set or simply take small steps locally. You can look at it as training tiers or just soak it in and accept what is in your means and at your fingertips. Maybe you like variety. Maybe you don't. Maybe you don't want to go chasing waterfalls and just want to stick to the rivers and the lakes that your used to. Research. Join a Facebook group on hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, yoga, snowmobiling or anything else. It's out there. If not, why not make one of your own?

Preparation for a solo or group jaunt is simple, either way. You'll just want to make sure you have a few basics, whether you keep them in your vehicle or on your person in a pack. First Aid Kit, drinking water ... snacks. Let's talk about solo adventurer safety for a beat. Awareness of your surroundings is a must. Preparation time for a new place, helpful. Scout it out. Know what you're getting into as much as you can. Be safe, whatever that looks like and feels like for you beyond the emergency First Aid kit and hydration.

Also, be aware of what requirements are laid down by the law for your chosen adventure as well as the criteria and common courtesy expected out there when you are mixing with the crowd. Pay attention to one-way trail signs and where there are parking permits or fees required. Don't be a dick. Pay what is owed for whatever agencies and people have to put into making it an inviting place to spend some of your outdoor time in and take your fucking trash back out if you bring it in anywhere. Period. Be a responsible guest. Pay your fees and do your part.

I know, I know. I get it. Land of the free. Nobody owns the land. Nobody likes being told what to do, but systems and laws are mostly there with good reason. Mainly, for those lacking respect and common sense. For example, if kayaking in Wisconsin you'll legally need a life vest on your craft somewhere that is easily accessible. This isn't a hard ask. I use mine as part of my back rest for my seat for most of my calm lake paddling trips on familiar bodies of water I enjoy kayaking. Something with a good current or rapid, I'm wearing it. It just makes good sense. You may think you swim like Michael Phelps but are actually more along the lines of a pretty darn good doggy paddler. I've had decades of "invincibility complex" - believe me! I'm a slow learner and it may have taken me a bit longer to understand that I'm a fallible human. See "bulletproof" in the dictionary for further explanation. Insert rocks, trees or other obstructions seen and unseen into the mix. Imagine you bang your head and are knocked out. Imagine your clothing gets caught on something under water with you in it and you cannot get it out. You're stuck. What then? Imagine a strong current where your self-image of gold medal Olympian swimmer is put to a test you fail.

Many a hike here on my lunch break at Castle Mound State Park in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

Now that we've addressed examples of water safety, what about something like hiking alone? I do a lot of it. About 97% of my outdoor activities are alone. So, in certain places I carry a firearm, knife and compass. The firearm is for aggressive critters that I may unintentionally disturb who may feel threatened to the point of instinctual aggression. Most animals will go the opposite direction to avoid and put as much distance between themselves and a human as possible. However, we have babies who need protecting, mating seasons as well as encroaching population, just to name a few, which causes animals to act a bit contrary to our ideas of what is predictable and unpredictable behavior. I'll go back to what I wrote earlier and remind you of the most important thing: Be aware of your surroundings. Chances are I won't need any of these tools because I'm diligently observing and aware of what is going on around me. However, I'll keep it real: I'm not outrunning anything. I'm not built for speed. Expect the unexpected. Even though I don't have a Crocodile Dundee complex and certainly don't expect to cut a bitch on the trail or wrestle a wolf, I wouldn't count out having to cut a shoelace to free it from a rock or root that it got pinned between if I'm in a precarious position. And the compass? Pretty self-explanatory. Basically, it depends on if you are Bruce Lee or MacGyver, I guess, and don't feel like you need anything to protect yourself or that you will never be in an unexpected or emergent situation. I'm neither, so I'll lean to the side of being prepared with my trinkets and snacks, backpacking on a day trip or in a strange, new desolate place to kayak.

And if I happen to run into some obnoxious punk ass ruffians who think that I'd be an easy mark because I am a woman, alone? Well, won't they be surprised by what I'm told is the appearance of this old Amazon-Viking-like woman? Old enough at 51 years, I find carrying yourself with a straight back and confidence, even if you aren't feeling it, and some firm composure will deter most any thought of a confrontation. Most people I meet on the trails are friendly, if not polite. Midwest Manners are a genuine, cultural way of life here in Wisconsin. While I would opt to avoid conflict, I wouldn't at the expense of my own safety or anyone else's safety. Rest assured, I am as prepared as I can be for it, either way. I often assess things this way: Is it possible? Yes, anything is possible. Is it probable? Not likely when I'm trusting my gut, aware of my surroundings and taking precautions to the best of my ability. I refuse to let fear deter me from what I love, though I would say it is heaped with a healthy dose of respect and common sense.

Original publish date: July 23, 2020.