Public Lands, Nature’s Cure All
Photos/Russell Kuhlman.
By Russell Kuhlman
As I eclipse one year of living in Nevada, it is hard not to look back and assess how my physical and mental health has been affected by COVID-19. In a typical world, having to move to an unfamiliar state away from your family for the first three months of your new job as its sole employee would be stressful enough.
As I packed up my belongings, I would let my mind drift to the exciting new opportunities that awaited me in Reno, Nevada. A quick search online told me that Reno is the place for my outdoor lifestyle. As a lifelong outdoorsman, looking at images of people floating through downtown on the Truckee River, hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains or camping under the star filled sky told me that living in Nevada would be a breeze. I will not go into details about my enthusiasm when I found out about the amazing restaurants and first class breweries that are scattered throughout the city, but it was palpable.
Of course, this was all put to rest when Nevada began implementing its statewide closures and advised quarantines shortly after I arrived. During my work week, I am typically tied to my computer checking emails or attending Zoom meetings. However, when the weekends or any free time occurs, it is spent traveling, exploring and staying far away from my computer. This means that I did not have a large appetite to learn how to make bread or binge watch Netflix tiger-keeping documentaries. That’s when I decided to explore the underlying reason why I was excited to move to the Silver State, our public lands. Luckily, our public lands remained open for everyone no matter your age or background, and I was thankful for them and the numerous benefits they provide, free of charge. It was time to go for a hike.
At my first chance, I walked out of my front door seeking adventure. I quickly passed a recreational park and a dog park. These were not the type of recreational playgrounds I was looking for. When I came to a dirt parking lot, I knew my undetermined adventure had a starting point, an unnamed trailhead designed for multiple use activities. I purposely left my phone in my pocket because I enjoyed the uncertainty of my destination. About three miles into my hike, I noticed the familiar U.S. Forest Service sign indicating I was about to enter national forest land. Knowing that I could walk from my house and be on public land was a great added bonus I had not anticipated and something I have never experienced before. After hiking a few more miles and enjoying the beautiful landscape, I decided to turn towards home. As I made my way back towards civilization, it gave me time to reflect on the effects these mini breaks will provide for me and how thankful I am to be able to unplug from my stress and everyday worries by simply opening my front door. Reno was starting to quickly meet the lofty goals I had set for the city.
What I truly value about public lands besides providing me with a quick and easy way to escape the daily struggle of work, COVID-19, and stress, is that they are open year round. In the summer, hiking, camping and fishing are on the top of my to-do list. During the fall season, you can find me roaming the hills with my dog Gracie, a German Shorthair Pointer intent on finding every bird and rabbit on the landscape. Winter leads me to dusting off my cross country skis and traversing the open landscapes in the Tahoe Basin and springtime usually means it’s time to find morel mushrooms. I have lived in many states both on the east and west coast. Although there is public land in every state, nothing compares to Nevada in the lower 48 when it comes to accessible land to explore. While hiking, fishing and pursuing my hobbies, it has given me time to mull over the uncertainties of what life amid a pandemic means. When life as we knew it was turned on its head, I was able to find serenity in Nevada’s public lands.
In a time of quarantine and shutdowns, the majority of people — including myself — are spending more time working at our computers while sitting at our desk….or couch. Taking care of our physical and mental health is more important than ever. Having public lands out my door has been a huge advantage for me to strengthen both. It gives me a chance to re-focus and prioritize those things that are important in my life. If accessing public lands were difficult for me now, trying to balance a new career, in a new home, in a new city would be nearly impossible. With reports over the past year of hospitals and healthcare workers being overbooked and understaffed, the ability to self-heal while using public lands seems like a no-brainer.
Fortunately, Nevada has no shortage of public lands, roughly 80% of lands in the state are open to hiking, camping, hunting, and other outdoor recreation. For those areas that require an entrance fee, it is surely less expensive than a trip to the doctor. Special places such as Great Basin National Park, Red Rock Canyon, Black Rock Desert, and the Basin and Range National Monument draw in tourists from all over the world. Not only do these trips help combat my mental and physical tiredness from COVID-19, but it also supports my fellow Nevadans. In fact, Nevada’s outdoor recreation industry generates $12.6 billion in revenue annually and creates more than 59,000 direct jobs for Nevadans. As an active person whose hobbies exclusively involve public lands and waters, the outdoors has always been a place to escape the daily grind of everyday life. In addition to the benefits of “free therapy” that my hobbies provide, it is my pleasure to contribute to the local community. Whether that is stopping by at a local fly-fishing shop to add a few more lures to my tackle box or grabbing a milkshake and burger at the town’s diner after camping all night in a rainstorm on the mountain, it's great to know that I am helping support local businesses in my state.
As we all struggle with the uncertainties that lie ahead, it is crucial that we are able to turn to nature, wilderness, and wildlife to ground ourselves. We cannot do that without access to Nevada’s public lands. Ensuring that public lands are available to all individuals for recreation is vital in order to keep us healthy and sane, not only in these times, but for all times.
Russell Kuhlman is the Executive Director for the Nevada Wildlife Federation and has been engaged in western state conservation issues since 2014. In his free time, you can find him exploring his new surroundings around Reno or hiking with his dog Gracie.
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