My connection to the outdoors was forged in the heart of my homeland, Guyana, a small gem tucked away in South America. The land, lush and untamed, is a verdant expanse, with three-quarters of it's land shrouded in the vast embrace of the Guiana Shield located within the Amazon basin. Each night, as I gazed at the sky, it felt as though I were living inside a glittering jewelry box, the stars twinkling above me like precious stones scattered across a velvet canvas. Now, in California, though far from the thick jungles of my youth, my spirit still yearns for that green embrace. My soul longs for the sound of cascading waterfalls, the hum of insects in the air, and the chorus of birds that serenade the dawn. I ache to feel the cool rain on my skin, to lie under the stars, and let the night wash over me. Hiking through California’s National Parks has, in a way, brought me back to that primal connection with nature. While I may no longer walk the familiar trails of the Iwokrama Forest, every moment spent in the outdoors—feeling the sun on my face and the wind in my hair—grounds me in ways words cannot fully capture. In those fleeting moments, I am transported back to that carefree child, running wild through the heart of the rainforest, my heart beating in rhythm with the earth.
⚠️Hiking & Camping Safety⚠️