With lockdown restrictions lifting I find myself more than eager to venture farther from my home. For the past 10 weeks I’ve been confined to working from the couch, socially distanced walks in the park, and backyard solo hangouts. The flowering of springtime and the rush of snowmelt has forest trails and gushing streams beckoning my earthy soul. My legs crave rugged terrain to navigate, my lungs are desperate for fresh mountain air, and my heart yearns for the freedom of the wild. I’m not accustomed to being restricted as much as we have been these last few months, so with these reasserted freedoms, exploration off the beaten path is my goal for the day. This too, just like so many things these days, feels like a privilege and a blessing.