The Sounds of Stillness

By Hunter Sykes

All my life I have spent time outdoors, and especially in the mountains. Living in Alaska, Utah, and Nevada I have been surrounded by immense beauty and vast tracts of protected and untouched land. To me these places have always offered a refuge and a resort to get away from the rush and bustle of everyday life.

As a young child my parents would take me and my siblings backpacking and hiking out to different mountains wilderness areas. Often these would push me to my limits both mentally and physically. Often those breaking points were far more mental than I would like to admit.

As I grew, I developed a love for the mountains that surpasses just the mere passing of time with family. It helps me connect to something deeper. Something deeper within myself, within the world, and within my friend and family groups. These experiences outdoors help me to connect and grow in unexpected and powerful ways.

When I enter the wilderness, woodlands or mountains I notice one thing first. It is quiet. Not a lack of noise -- the longer I spend in nature the more I realize that there are many different sounds.

The "noise" that disappears is the sound of modern life. The rush and squeal of cars, the buzzing and humming of electronics, the mumble and the shouting of passers-by.

Instead, I notice the chirp and burble of birds, the rustle of wind through the trees, the bubbling of a stream, the tumble of a rock dislodged by a mountain goat. All these are so different from everything I am used to hearing that I feel separated by more than just the drive to get to the trailhead. I connect with the earth and the earth gives back, refreshing my mind, my senses, and my soul.

As I slow down, my mind moves away from the nature that I am surrounded by and looks inward. In this space of disconnection, I am able to step back away from the soundtracks that have made up my every day and understand myself at a deeper level. I discover things that I am doing great at that were minimized or overlooked in the bustle of life. I discover that things I felt were negative or hurtful are minor or overblown. As I gain a broader perspective, I understand my place within the universe and reconnect with who I am and what brings me true joy.

While experiencing this level of introspection has helped me grow a better relationship with myself, I have also found that it encourages deeper relationships with others. I connect with those I bring with me in ways that transcend the everyday. We share food that often is either terrible or incredible. We experience crazy weather like scorching heat or unexpected snow.

When we run down from a peak as the lightning sets in we look at each other with the biggest smiles and a feeling of connection that I believe cannot be developed any other way. I have grown so much love, understanding and admiration for the many different people around me through travelling and hiking in different places, cultures, and with different people. I have grown to understand that we are all human, and there are elements that unite each of us beyond what life can break.

As you look to head out and plan your next adventure, I would invite you:

Stop, think, reflect, and connect.

See what the world has around you, and what you can hear without the rush and buzz of everyday life masking out the sweet sounds of stillness.

Who knows, maybe I’ll see you on the trails.