Secret Places

For those of us that spend every minute of our free time exploring the wonders of nature, one of the greatest lures is a rumor of an amazing spot that most have never heard of or a photo shared on social media of a place that looks like an oasis that is just calling our names. Possibly a narrow slot canyon in the depths of the Utah deserts with a clear creek running through the high, red walls and sunlight shining down and illuminating a sandy floor that shows little evidence of human footprints. Or maybe a remote hot spring high in the mountains with views that make you never want to leave and minus the concrete bottom and commercialized feel of the more easily accessed springs that we’re all familiar with. These are the types of things that keep me and fellow explorers up long into the night trying to trace down any hints as to the whereabouts of these magical places. And then comes the joy of stumbling across some clue, oftentimes hidden deep within the internet, that gives away that location. And then it’s just a waiting game until I can break away from whatever commitments I have holding me before I can go seek, go find, go discover the secrets waiting to be found when I finally arrive and lay eyes on the beauty that I had only glimpsed in that shared photo on Instagram weeks before.

So now the spot has been found and the same question that I face every time rises to the surface. Do I share this wonder with others or do I hold its secret close and make sure others can’t overcrowd my new favorite place? Do I post pictures and disclose the location knowing the power of social media to draw people in and possibly prevent me from having it all to myself on my next visit? Do I risk sharing the location with others that might not respect it and love it like I do and might leave their trash behind after their visit? All of us that face these situations have our own ways of handling it, and I respect each person’s individual decision on how they do so. For me, the answer will almost always be the same. Yes. Yes, I want others to love nature as much as I do, and I know that in order to accomplish that I have to give them something to love. Yes, I want everyone to value our public lands and to raise their voices along with mine in protest at anything that threatens these special places, and I know that I have to let them feel the magic for themselves if that is it happen. Yes, I want others to feel the anger and frustration that I feel when I come across garbage strewn across a camp site that was left by whoever came before, and I know that in order for that to happen that person has to love the land and feel a personal ownership toward protecting it and preserving it for those to come. I know that none of those things will happen if each and every person doesn’t have the opportunity to experience these special places. So the next time you see me post a picture of an amazing place that makes you want to walk away from your desk or your couch or your television, know that special place isn’t mine. It’s not a secret for me to guard and to only share with those that I deem worthy of knowing. These special places belong to all of us, and I’ll gladly share them with anyone that is willing to leave their comfort zone and come along with me on the next adventure.

Originally published in the Montrose Daily Press, Oct 4, 2017