Sacred Retreats
By Stephen Dishong
First of all, I want to thank all the public servants that have been on the frontline of fighting the worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic. I hope that this finds you healthy in mind, body, and soul.
Despite fully recognizing that the wilderness should never be owned by one single person, at times I find qualms about sharing certain special places. There is something profoundly personal about locating a wilderness retreat that taps into a sense of ownership. The experience is visceral and dives deep into my soul, so much that I don’t want to share it with anyone else. I feel ashamed to say it out loud because it is simply selfish. Hopefully, I’m not alone.
Recently, I went on an “emergency” trip into one of my sacred retreats in the Gila Wilderness (New Mexico). There is a little piece of heaven perfectly placed in the very first established Wilderness area, designated on June 3, 1924. I claimed this to be an “emergency” trip because of the current state of affairs (COVID-19), which has metaphorically made me a prisoner in my own home. I’m not complaining, as there are certainly people in much worse situations than I, and I sincerely have compassion for those in misfortune. I’m sure most have found these times to be trying with a spectrum of stress.
Almost five months into this strange new world, my wife and I were in need of a retreat. I had the perfect spot picked out within a three-hour drive to the Gila Wilderness. It was going to be perfect, just the two of us trekking into the forest to wash our souls clean with the wild.
Just like in a good movie, timing is everything. Scheduling the right time to go is paramount.
As luck would have it, we made some new friends, who were also in dire need of an escape into the woods. Regardless of my inner desire to shield away intruders to my sacred retreat, I felt that the humane and right thing to do was to invite our roommate and new friends along. Like mentioned before, I was secretly uneasy about leading others to “my sacred retreat.” Nevertheless, the anticipation of wild solitude trumped all doubt.
Upon hitting the trailhead, I learned that everyone else in our group had not spent any time in the Gila Wilderness and I was eager for their acknowledgment of its worthiness. We started the six-mile hike with two miles of high desert and fully exposed to the 100-degree temperatures. I saw absolute doubt in everyone’s eyes as we hiked along.
The next two miles descended into a canyon, giving us little escape from the heat. I felt bad that the struggle was real, however, I was sure to tell them that the river was just a little bit further. That hint of relief seemed to be what everyone needed to pickup their spirits.
With 3.75 miles behind us, we hit our first sign of hope. There was a small trickle of water leaching from the canyon walls. Immediately the landscape transformed into lush greenery with the temperatures dropping at least 20 degrees cooler. When water is supplied to a starving landscape, it’s amazing to witness the restorative power of nature.
At four miles, the big show begins. Our little canyon opened into an ancient majestic canyon with high reaching walls and the river of life running through it. Without hesitation we all washed away all the grime and tension of the civilized world. It was pure joy for me to witness everyone shift into a state of comfort.
With two miles of trail and at least a dozen river crossings to go, we eased from a death march to a stroll in the sunset-covered canyon river wilderness. We meandered through so many river bends that most of the party was asking how much further… and of course the logical answer was “just around the corner.”
Eventually, the last corner arrived, and the anticipation was over. The grand reveal was upon us. Secured just off the river and up a small hill is a perfect oasis, a hot spring pool with crystal clear water covered with a luxurious green canopy of mature trees. It was just what the doctor ordered.
The campsite located just above the pool was available and guaranteed an unobstructed view into the cosmos. We spent the evening and next day soaking in all that this retreat had to offer.
The overnight backpacking trip was a success and guess what? My sacred retreat didn’t disappear from existence. Rather it gained a few more guardians. Yep, the real answer to my qualms is to share the magic of the wilderness with as many responsible nature loving people as possible, because it will take an army of stewards to protect it for future generations. That is the ultimate goal, let it survive to be enjoyed by others, so that they might harness the powers of the wild.
