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Let nature speak for itself

The first time Angi Orton went for a group hike on which no one spoke, "It was a wonderful experience," she says. Orton was with members of the Agape International Spiritual Center and they were hiking in Franklin Canyon Park outside Los Angeles, California, where she works as director of volunteer services. This was not a chatty social outing, she discovered. She loved being in receptive mode and clearing her mind, so she started her own program called the silent-night walk. Six years later, the park still offers the two-hour silent hike monthly.

"Sometimes you have to let nature speak for itself," says Kevin Gedling, a guide at Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. He encourages people to stop and listen at a spot along the Johnston Canyon Trail, where water can be heard rushing between the canyon walls. "It’s a good opportunity for people to hear the force that forms the Rockies," Gedling says. "When they all listen in, it brings everyone down to the same level. Whether they’re snowboarders or birdwatchers, they all seem to key in." So next time you’re out for a stroll in nature, consider not walking your talk.