The First Place I Visited In Nature in the USA

In August 2022, I moved to the United States from Ukraine due to Russian military aggression. And to distract from the constant thoughts: “When will the war end? When will I be able to return home? How can I start my new life here?” my cousins and I visited Mt. Baker. Embarking on this little journey felt like I crawled out of this hole.  

It was my first trip in the US and all the 3 hours we drove there, I didn’t stop being amazed by the natural beauty of Washington state. From the car window, I could observe picturesque small houses and majestic forests, these were my first and unforgettable impressions of the USA.  Having reached the destination, named Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, I was fascinated and couldn’t believe that it was created by nature. An incredible picture could already be seen from the parking lot. This was no wonder as our parking was right at the Artist Point. After walking just a few steps from the car, I could see breathtaking views of the mountains, the tops of which were still covered with snow, and hear the singing of birds and human voices praising the beauty of this place. For a few minutes, we couldn’t decide which direction to go, because everywhere we looked was so beautiful.

We decided to follow the path, which first stretched through a small forest and then wove around the top of the mountain. Walking along this undulating trail, we met people of all ages who, despite the fact that this hike took a lot of power and energy, remained uplifted and happy. Then we reached a place where the slopes of the neighboring mountains overgrown with forests, somewhere far away below the valley, could be seen. You stand, watch it, and feel an extraordinary mix of aromas of pine needles, flowers, and something else incomprehensible, which makes you “drunk”. But you couldn’t stop as the trail winds further ahead into a new fascinating view. Finally, you reach the place where you see Mt. Baker in its glory; it’s right in front of you, so powerful and majestic. You feel something new and unusual for yourself, it seems that you are the only one here and all this beauty was created only for you. At this moment you forget everything that bothered you, all thoughts leave, and the only thing you want is for this moment to never end, so you can enjoy it forever. I’ll definitely do this trail again to feel this freedom, peace, and ease.
By Antonina Anisova

By Annaignatovich