Mountain air is truly lovely. It allows you to take the deepest breath imaginable of crisp, clear, clean fresh air. Air that smells of pine. Air that in so many ways helps a person both mentally and physically.
Growing up in the Colorado and then the Montana mountains, I never knew how spoiled I was. I would take a deep breath of fresh air whenever I wanted to. I ended up going to college in the midwest. Living there with the humidity, it never felt like you could take a deep breath of fresh air. This is why I always loved coming home. The first thing I would do when I got there would be to take a deep breath of fresh mountain air.
Even after living in Colorado now again for almost 4 years, my thankfulness for the ability to get out in the mountains and breath fresh air never goes away.
Last fall, we had been getting smoke from not only the historic forest fires in our state but all over the western states. It really settled into the air on the front range in the Denver area for almost three months. Along with the smoke and smog we already have, my body had not been doing well with it. I went to the emergency room so many times, nebulized more than anyone ever should, and had 10 rounds of prednisone.
However, in the midst of this, I would find times where I found refuge in the mountain air where there was not a fire happening. There was one weekend in particular when we went up to the mountains and the air was clear. I laid in a hammock by this beautiful mountain lake and just breathed in deep breaths. Those deep cleansing breaths. Ones that were not full of wheezing from yucky air. I felt stronger that day than I had in a long while. The mountain air was good for me that day both mentally and physically.
You might wonder what I mean about the air helping me both physically and mentally. Let me explain. Physically, the air is usually clean and pure. You can take a deep breath and feel it oxygenating you in a way that is free of pollutants. Especially during a hard hike when you are breathing a lot, you know in that moment that your lungs are getting stronger. It feels at times like the air wakes up your brain. Which leads me to the mental aspect. There is so much going on in life. A lot of things can weigh you down mentally. When you get outside, whether it be hiking or camping or really whatever, it feels like the mental junk is able to dissipate and you can think clearly.
I share these experiences with you today to encourage you get out. Got sit on a ridge as the sun is setting and just breath. (Picture above) Get outside in the mountain air. Enjoy the clean, fresh mountain air. Happy Adventures Wanderings!
