One of my favorite outdoor memories isn’t about the place itself—it’s about the moment.
A few years ago, I was on a solo backpacking trip on the Jordan Valley River loop, winding my way through a dense pine forest. It had rained the night before, and everything smelled fresh, earthy, alive. I wasn’t thinking about much—just walking, listening, breathing—when suddenly, I turned a corner and stepped into the most incredible golden light filtering through the trees.
I stopped in my tracks. It was one of those fleeting, perfect moments where the world feels absolutely still, like it’s holding its breath just for you. I didn’t take a photo. I didn’t even move. I just stood there—completely, utterly present.
And I think that’s why this memory has stuck with me. Because for once, I wasn’t trying to capture or analyze or document the experience—I was just in it.
Some moments don’t need to be captured—they just need to be lived. And this was one of them. I carry it with me, a quiet reminder that the best parts of the wild aren’t always the ones we plan for.
One of my favorite outdoor memories isn’t about the place itself—it’s about the moment.
A few years ago, I was on a solo backpacking trip on the Jordan Valley River loop, winding my way through a dense pine forest. It had rained the night before, and everything smelled fresh, earthy, alive. I wasn’t thinking about much—just walking, listening, breathing—when suddenly, I turned a corner and stepped into the most incredible golden light filtering through the trees.
I stopped in my tracks. It was one of those fleeting, perfect moments where the world feels absolutely still, like it’s holding its breath just for you. I didn’t take a photo. I didn’t even move. I just stood there—completely, utterly present.
And I think that’s why this memory has stuck with me. Because for once, I wasn’t trying to capture or analyze or document the experience—I was just in it.
Some moments don’t need to be captured—they just need to be lived. And this was one of them. I carry it with me, a quiet reminder that the best parts of the wild aren’t always the ones we plan for.