“When in Vegas…”  That’s the phrase I think of when something crazy is about to go down.  Typically, it’s something that most people, you know, the normal ones, wouldn’t necessarily do.  It might even be considered the Hail Mary of bad decisions.

But when this phrase skips across my mind or someone else utters these three fateful words, the next thought that comes to mind is, “this is going to be good!” in a slightly sarcastic manner while filling my body with excitement and anticipation.

I sadly have not yet visited Las Vegas in my adult life.  I’d imagine that going to Vegas when I am in my late 20s would be slightly different than when I was there with my parents at 10 years of age, pointing to the slot machine I wanted my dad to put the $1 in from the level above the casino floor that was overlooking the people, lights, and noises that all combine to create the atmosphere of a Las Vegas casino.  But alas, that trip is still somewhere in my future…

However, I have heard a similar phrase to “when in Vegas…”  “When in the backcountry…”  It doesn’t quite have the same ring, does it?  But what it does have is the feeling of doing things that don’t happen in most people’s, you know, the normal ones, everyday lives.  That’s because life is different in the backcountry.

You don’t have Netflix or Facebook to occupy hours of your day.  You probably don’t have cell service, so you can’t text your best friend to tell her that you just remembered that one night in college where you drunkenly _____________ (fill in the blank).  There also isn’t a car you can drive if you get tired of walking, and remember, you probably don’t have cell service, so you can’t call Uber or Lyft to come save you.

You do have less distractions.  Instead of having your nose buried in your phone, you are actually interacting with your hiking partners and the other people you meet along the trail.  The interactions are also better than normal.  You talk about more than the weather.  It’s more than asking, “How are you?” and responding with, “Good,” then both people walking away, which is what happens in most office interactions.  Conversations on the trail are about getting to know each other – their past, present, and future – reasons for hiking – and of course, talking about cool gear you might have.

You do have to be self-reliant.  Amazon can’t yet deliver to the summit of a mountain (although they might be close with using drones).  Whatever you need must come from the pack you have been carrying on your back or from the surrounding environment.

When you’re in the backcountry, the things you have to look at can change as quickly or as slowly as you want (depending on how fast you walk).  So enjoy the ever changing scenery around you.  It will never look like it does in this moment again.  Savior it.  You do have the option to re-watch your favorite movie again and again, but you don’t have the option to re-watch the bald eagle that is soaring across the horizon as you emerge into a great, mountainous expanse after trudging through a thick, dense forest for hours.

Life is simpler in the backcountry.  There are less distractions, but more things to look at.  It forces you to disconnect and live in the moment.

When in the backcountry… just be.