Checking Out to Check In

By: Korrie Johnston, Communications Supervisor

Feeling small against these giants - on my way to Black Lake.

Cooler mornings are here, college football is on, and the tourists are starting to go home. Ahhh, it must be September!  We all feel a big sigh of relief this month that summer is waning. A bookend to the season is National Public Lands Day, which is September 23rd this year and celebrating its 30th year. This realization got me thinking… what do Public Lands mean to me?

Simply - a lot. From being an integral part of my job, weekend destinations, to favorite childhood and parenting memories, public lands have and will continue to provide a backdrop to my life.

This year has been particularly challenging for me.  Transitions are never easy, and this year has brought several.  Good, bad, indifferent, change is always the constant and never easy as you lean into the uncomfortable, the unfamiliar, and doubt. From new challenges at work to moving my first born into college, the ground has felt shaky. We all find ourselves in these milestone moments, and for me, spending time in the outdoors reminds me what solid ground feels like – literally and figuratively.

A few weeks ago, the weekend before my son’s college move occurred, I took a time out to head to Rocky and hike to Black Lake. A challenging day hike destination by sheer miles, this “check out” to “check in” was the solace I needed amid a whirlwind of change. It grounded me in all the good that is coming our family’s way despite the hole I was feeling at the time.

So, for me, public lands mean everything, and I am guessing many of you feel the same. Here’s to taking a time out this month to tip our hat to the beauty and gifts that our public lands afford us.