I hadn’t walked enough to know if I liked it or not. In theory, it seemed like something I would enjoy. The reality was overheating from two layers of jackets, but with freezing hands and cold water running down my nose.
I don’t like hiking. I can say that with confidence now.
On a recent expedition to the Arctic Circle with Aurora Expeditions, we witnessed the grandeur of nature firsthand. The hike mentioned above took us to Eldborg Crater in Snaefellsnes National Park, Iceland.
After about 4 muddy and rocky kilometers, I climbed the mountain to see… nothing. It was a crater and, like all beautiful things, it was ephemeral.
I was out of breath, cold and sweaty all at once, annoyed at the thought of having to make the same journey back and grateful to feel dwarfed by everything around me.
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Nature can make you feel small.
Often, the idea of going to a new or familiar place is motivated by the hope of relaxation or fun. Rarely do we seek the feeling of insignificance. But it is an enriching experience when we experience it face to face.
Embarking on an expedition cruise can offer travelers a unique adventure combining exploration and the stark beauty of one of the world’s last great wildernesses. The journey offers an intimate encounter with the region’s unique wildlife while experts on board lecture on the fragile ecosystem and the need to preserve it, providing a transformative journey that will stay with travelers long after they return home.
The beauty of travel
As an ocean cruise enthusiast, I expected an expedition to reach similar levels of relaxation. As soon as I stepped on board, I was dissuaded from that idea. This was an expedition with a capital E. The small group of people on board were in the same boat, so we were all together for safety briefings and instructions – something I usually do at my own pace in my cabin on an ocean cruise.
We also all wake up together, thanks to the morning announcements by intercom, which are numerous throughout the day. As this is an expedition, the itineraries are more of a wish list than a concrete plan, passengers are informed of planned activities each morning and throughout the day.
As a solo traveler, it can be intimidating or comforting to have to follow a rigid schedule with up to 132 other people. You’ll share meals and experiences with your fellow travelers, so it’s inevitable to feel a sense of camaraderie at the end of your first of 12 days. After all, you walked almost 4 miles in the rain together, helped each other not to slip in the mud, held each other during bumpy Zodiac rides, and panted in synchronicity. when you spotted whales a few meters from you.
Yet at the end of the hike, Zodiac ride, or any other activity of the day, you have a moment to look up and notice how small you really are. The cliffs, the rocks, the water, the wind, the rain, the sun, everything is there to remind you of their eternal beauty.
And you can’t help but wonder: why did it take nearly 4,000 miles from home to realize this?
That’s the beauty of travel. The more places you visit, the more comparisons and similarities you find with your home country, and you realize that we are so small in this world, but we have immense power to shape it.
A work deadline pales in comparison to the hundreds of years it takes for moss to grow on volcanic rock. The email you haven’t responded to yet is nothing compared to the constant reminder to cover your face to protect it from the wind. And the queasy feeling of performance reviews is nothing compared to the constant need to check where you’re walking so you don’t fall off a cliff.
Travel and nature can do this for us. They can make us feel small and free us from the stress we impose on ourselves. It’s one of those reminders that never registers when you hear; you have to do the work of leaving home to truly understand it. Expeditions combine the two.
No matter how busy your schedule is in a given week, it will still take nearly ten years for moss to turn into soil. And that’s okay.
Travels and expeditions eventually come to an end. Photos are a memory, but what remains with us are the feelings we had on the days we were away from home.
The reporter for this story had access to this event thanks to Aurora Expeditions. USA TODAY retains editorial control of content.
