2016 is the centennial anniversary of our National Park Service, which begun in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. I recently took a trip up to Yellowstone National Park, the first area to be designated a national park in the United States and I was reminded why I love national parks so much -- they are places of wonder, preserved for their wildness alone. As I walked around the Upper Geyser Basin at dusk, seeing the strange, alien shapes of the geysers rise out of the dying pink glow, I was humbled by the landscape. The silently steaming pools, colored in bright blues, oranges, yellows and reds by the extremophiles living in them formed an otherworldly setting that I was allowed to witness, to be part of. The seething delicacy of the earth's surface at Yellowstone is not human-friendly (the thickness of Lee H. Whittlesey's "Death in Yellowstone" can attest to that), yet we share a world.
We have 58 national parks in the United States, with at least one in every state (except Delaware, for now), and while I have only visited seven so far, each one I have been to has offered me a diverse vista full of wonder and the chance to connect with and marvel at our beautiful earth.
In Glacier National Park in Montana, you can hike to Iceberg Lake and submerge yourself in an azure lake full of floating icebergs while staring up at glorious mountain peaks.
In Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, you can hike up past the treeline to Chasm Lake and glimpse a world straight out of "Lord of the Rings" at a gasp-inducing 11,823 feet.
At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, you can stare into the orange-red depths of a canyon carved by the might of water and time, leaving you wondering what human monument could ever compare.
So take a hike! There is so much to explore in our world, and starting by visiting a National Park is a wonderful way to forget your human cares and troubles and remember how magical being alive is. Grab a few friends and some shoes with ankle support, and get out there! Remember to bring plenty of water, snacks (I highly recommend fruit snacks and peanut butter Clif bars), and leave no trace by packing out your trash and staying on the trail. Some band-aids for potential blisters and some Capri-Suns will make the journey even more enjoyable. If the elevation gain doesn't take your breath away, the spectacular views will.
One of the best things about humans is our capacity for wonder, and I've found that national parks are one of the best ways to activate it. Get out there and find your bliss.
