Video of snow falling today at Guardsman Pass jogged memories of just a few weeks ago when I took this photo just down the road at Camp Cloud Rim. For those who are unfamiliar with that area of Utah, or the Girl Scout camp, it is one of the most beautiful locations in the state.
This is the backwoods that was my backyard as a child. I grew up in Midway and as a teen took our family’s large powder blue sedan onto bouncy dirt roads, in search of where those roads ended. (The dirt road between Midway and Guardsman Pass are now all paved, but still a bit of an adventure.)
My recent return to Guardsman Pass was made not in search of adventure, but the solace found in nature. Every year, the Girl Scouts hold a retreat at Camp Cloud Rim. It’s a chance to raise money for a good cause, while enjoying the mountain vistas. A view that is apparently not only good for the soul, but also good for your health.
A University of Washington study found nature is potent medicine. Surgical patients with a view of trees required fewer painkillers than those looking at a brick wall. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. But, researchers also found those who viewed nature also showed a drop in heart rates when in stressful situations. The difference in heart rate between those with a view, and those without, was only about three beats per minute, but the researchers concluded the benefit of a view could accrue during a lifetime.
It might be reason to campaign for the corner office at work. It also might be a good reason to take a moment every now and then to enjoy the beauty of nature regardless of the season.
