The idea of “forest bathing” sounds appealing in the summer, but how about in winter?  It might be just what you need to “chill out” and recharge yourself in these overcharged, stressful winter days.

The term forest bathing was coined in Japan in the 1980s and called “shinrin-yoku.”  But, in multiple ways it is just the latest term for what many of us have known for a long time — that spending quiet, contemplative time reconnecting with nature is a wonderful elixir for what ails you.

We are not talking about ripping through new powder on your skis or board, although those are fantastic as well. Forest bathing is not so aerobic. It is about quietly standing, sitting or walking and using all your senses to absorb — and be absorbed by — the forest around you. 

Slow down, calm your mind, let your breathing and heart rate drop. Open your eyes to see, your ears to hear, your nose to smell and your skin to feel your surroundings without any agenda. Just be here now, and a whole new world will open to you — one that is always there but that we rarely take time to experience in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.

It is not only relaxing, but good for you as well.  Research has shown forest bathing can reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure and help with depression. It takes an hour or two to get the greatest benefit, but even 30 minutes will improve your sense of wellbeing.

But what about the cold? Most of us in Summit County love our winters and have the clothes and equipment to keep warm. But we are usually active and burning calories when we are outside. So, when forest bathing in winter, dress extra warmly because you will be relatively still.  And choose your day. We have lots of 40-degree days and sunshine in Colorado, even in the mountains — pick one of those. Look for a fallen tree you can scrape the snow off and put down an insulating pad to sit on.  Seek an area in the sun so you can feel its warmth.

It may take some snowshoeing or skiing to find a good spot. Once you do, sit down, relax and take 10-20 deep breaths to slow breathing and heartrate. Turn your phone off. Empty your mind. Close your eyes for a while to help activate your other senses. Can you smell the spruce? Can you hear the breeze through the pines? Taste the crisp winter air. Feel the sun on your face. Open your eyes, and observe the serene beauty of the forest around you.

Fortunately, here in Summit County we have lots of places to forest bathe. Our nearby wilderness areas may be the best, with trailheads that provide relatively quick access into areas beyond the sound of cars and the press of people. These special areas that are so popular in summer may be all yours in the winter.

Wilderness areas were created under the 1964 Wilderness Act “to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition.” Indeed, wilderness areas are to have “outstanding opportunities for solitude….”  

So when life feels overwhelming, when stress becomes debilitating, when you need to reconnect with something beyond yourself, head into our local wilderness areas to seek renewal and perspective —even in the winter.

Mike Browning is a lifelong climber, having completed the Seven Summits (highest points on each continent) and hundreds of other peaks in Colorado and internationally. Mike is a volunteer wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance.

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mike Browning</figcaption><figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>

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