My Arctic Adventure and the Benefits of Wilderness Holidays
For Christmas 2024, I embarked on a solo adventure to Tromso, Norway which is the world’s most northern city and famously known as ‘the gateway to the Arctic.’ I had been obsessing over Norway and the northern lights for years, even pinning an image of Norway onto my vision board in March 2023. I have found that in more recent years, I’ve developed a burning desire to explore wilderness holidays rather than just lay on a sun lounger for a week frying myself to a crisp.
From the moment I landed in Tromso to the moment I left, I could not stop taking photos. It was all just so beautiful, so picturesque with jaw dropping mountainous snow-covered scenery. On my first night, I saw the northern lights over my accommodation. It was all by chance. I popped my head out of my little lodge at Tromso Lodge and Camping just before going to bed and noticed people taking photos. I looked up to the sky and sure enough there they were. I threw on my poncho, grabbed my slippers and headed outside into minus nine. The cold didn’t bother me, the adrenaline and excitement took over whilst I looked up to the Arctic sky in awe of the most mesmering natural phenomena. On Christmas Day I went dog sledding which was an absolute highlight of my trip. To be gliding through the snow with the most incredible views surrounded by snow felt like the best natural high. Out there in the mountains being at one with nature, I had no worries. Zero. I was just content living in the moment taking it all in.
This feeling of exhilaration was mirrored the next day on Boxing Day when I went on a snowshoe trip (which is basically walking in the snow with tennis-like rackets tied to your feet). As a group, we quickly bonded, and I found myself in conversation with a lovely lady from New York. Out there in the mountains, we weren’t defined by our jobs, our income, our education or social status. None of that mattered. Identifying each other only by accent and the colour of our clothing, our bond was strengthened once we reached the top of the mountain in high winds and rain, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment.
The Health Benefits of Wilderness Holidays
Improves mental health
Being out in the mountains in ice cold temperatures comes with huge health benefits. Most noticeable to me was what felt like a total depletion in my anxiety levels. Everything I was worrying about back in London, was suddenly a total stranger to my mind. The improvement in my mental health was almost instant. According to Exodus Adventure Travels, there is overwhelming evidence to support the fact that spending time in the great outdoors is good for you mentally. Being active amongst nature can help to prevent depression and anxiety disorders and, in some cases, has helped to cure patients who were already unwell. Holidays that are out in the wilderness are a guaranteed way of stimulating the body, mind and soul by improving your overall health both physically and mentally. Tackling challenging conditions out in the Arctic gave me a huge sense of accomplishment and helped to build my resilience and belief in myself.
Sharpens your intelligence
Exodus Adventure Travels state that outdoor adventure makes you smarter. A study published in 2015 suggested that just looking at natural imagery for 40 seconds improves focus and performance compared to urban imagery.
Gives you an endorphin rush by connecting with nature
Travelling out into the wilderness is also a guaranteed endorphin rush. The great outdoors can mark a real sense of achievement especially when pushing yourself in unfamiliar territory surrounded by natural beauty. That feeling of being at one with nature is quite the buzz. It’s no wonder then, that so many people like myself living in sobriety turn to nature for a new kind of high. I found that I became more aware of the little details of nature: the sounds, the smells, the sights, how nature tastes (I relied on eating snow to keep me hydrated when we got to the top of the mountain which was better than any bottled water I have ever tasted!)
Helps to form fresh perspectives
One of the highlights of my trip to Norway, was learning about the local culture. In Tromso it was the Sami culture. Understanding how the indigenous population survive in such hostile conditions is much to be respected and quite humbling. It gave me a newfound appreciation for my life back in London. The day I returned I was in awe of how easy life felt just putting on a pair of trainers and going for a walk not having to worry about falling over on the ice or layering up in lots of snow gear. I also could not stop staring at the sky. Seeing blue sky amongst broken clouds over West London was quite the contrast to living in darkness for six days.
Improves wisdom
Walking amongst the natural world is not only good for you physically but it also helps to sharpen the mind by giving a new sense of clarity. Time spent out in the wild can help us to become more focused, attentive and much more adapt at problem solving. The more we connect with nature, the more in tune with ourselves we become, strengthening our intuition and increasing our awareness. Out there in the wilderness, I relied on myself in order to keep safe. That is not a feeling that just disappears but one that remains with you.
Improves sleep
I slept like a log every night I was in Tromso. I didn’t even get up in the night to use the bathroom like I do in London. It must be something about the arctic air. The air there felt so clean and fresh. I felt like I could breathe properly for the first time in years. It’s no surprise that there are huge health benefits when it comes to breathing in fresh mountain air. Improved brain function and a better night’s sleep to name a few.
All in all, travelling to Tromso and spending time out in the mountains was a trip well worth taking. It was a great opportunity for me to hit the reset button and quieten the noise inside my head from city life. I returned to London feeling content and calm with a newfound respect for mother nature and those living in conditions such as the Arctic. Out there in the wilderness, I was totally vulnerable to the forces of the natural world around me. But by pushing myself to survive in such a hostile environment, I was reminded of just how strong and persistent I am. A reminder that was long overdue and one that I will carry with me into the new year along with a fierce motivation to achieve my goals in 2025.