I have not posted in awhile. It has been for good reason however. I have not had the chance since it has been an active Summer of being in Nature. Here in the Pacific Northwest it has been excellent weather to go explore the outdoors.
There is a price to pay however. I am somewhat behind in returning personal calls ( you know who you are) and tending to other matters around the house.
It is gratifying to have such an intimate, deep relationship with Nature. It is even more so to share with others who want to experience it on their own terms. While I am not actively marketing my Wilderness Coaching services it seems the word is getting out. I have had a few clients this Summer and each one has been an amazing trip. One was a day excursion, one for a two nights three days, and the longest was for seven days and six nights!
The week long trip was quite and adventure. My client contacted me and we had a few phone calls to get to know each other. He is a highly motivated, corporate executive, understands the value of coaching, and was looking to make some major life and career decisions. Nature was to play a big role in his process as he has had a connection with Nature since he was a child but it had been put on the back burner in his life while he pursued his career goals.
The entire week was an adventure. Joey (not his real name) is from Europe. He had never been to Oregon before I picked him up at the airport on a Sunday. We grabbed a quick lunch and discussed some plans and then headed out to our first camp at Brietenbush Lake. We spent two nights there and I was able to see him settle in to the camp life rather quickly. Nature had taken the wheel. We spent two days here hiking, talking, and simply being in our environment, and battling mosquitoes together.
Coaching talks around the campfire and sitting on overlooks after a hike took on a deeper meaning. This was about life and not a meeting or a task to mark off of our to do list. I benefited from these talks as much as Joey did, I love my job.
The adventure continued with a compass orienteering day. We set our coordinates to Triangulation Peak, off trail of course and headed out up a very steep slope out of camp. I let Joey lead and he proved to have amazing skills for never doing anything like this before in his life. I checked his bearings and he was always spot on. Once we arrived at the peak and explored it and Boca Cave he loved it so much he said he wanted to come back and spend the night there.
The following day we backpacked into the peak and spent the entire day lazing around in the sun and enjoying the views. I gave Joey plenty of time for solitude. We had planned to sleep in the open on the peak and then big thunderheads started gathering. I called in Joey and we set up a back up tarp shelter off the peak just in case it got worse.
We settled in to our sleeping bags, it was pouring rain, rolling thunder and the mosquitoes, who had been absent all day, suddenly arrived in waves. We lasted about an hour or so before both of us were running to the makeshift shelter. It was a sleepless night of heavy rain, but it was better than being out in the open as we were earlier. Part of the Nature adventure is being uncomfortable from time to time. It allows us to appreciate our comforts a little more. We did not mind at all. At five AM we were up and packing up our wet gear for the hike out. By the time we reached the trail head we were soaked, dirty, tired and smiling.
From there we drove to Central Oregon to wrap up the week. I had reservations at the KOA so Joey could shower and be ready for his Saturday flight home. After so many days in solitude we were overwhelmed by the activity in the busy campground. We dried our gear, skipped the shower and headed to Smith Rock where we spent the day hiking before celebrating our week with dinner and beer at the Terrebone Depot, one of my very favorite restaurants.
The next morning on the drive back to Portland we stopped at Timberline Lodge for breakfast. When I mentioned I wanted to travel more, Joey replied, “Why would you leave Oregon, you have everything here.” This was a very good reminder of how diverse our state is. It is easy to take Oregon for granted when we live here and I appreciated seeing it again through his eyes.
As I dropped my client, turned friend off at the airport I was grateful to see how humans from completely different upbringings, cultures, and careers can bond in such a short amount of time. The environment we were in allowed us to use the power of slow, and really stay focused on our “beingness.” I am also reminded of how grateful I am to be living my life purpose working as a coach and being in servant leadership for my clients. Joey set the pace and direction for the week to gain the most he could in coming to some life choices and he took full advantage of the opportunity.
So we said our farewells and I promised pay him a visit him next year overseas. I am looking forward to that visit and to see how the seeds he planted for his life while in Nature in Oregon has grown fruit for him. I am confident in the fact that the clarity came to him easier with the assistance of being in Nature.
I encourage you, when seeking clarity, to try it for yourself you may be amazed with the results.
See you out there!
