Walking the Heights: Land Snorkeling

By Ina and Mike Levin

Do you know what Land Snorkeling is?  According to good ol’ Wikipedia, it is a

relatively new term that means a mindful way of experiencing your natural

surroundings, similar to how one might snorkel underwater, but with your feet

on the ground.  To land snorkel is to slow down and pay close attention to the

details of your environment and to explore the connections between yourself

and the natural world.  Rather than hiking to a destination, land snorkeling

encourages wandering and observing the environment with a focused and

detailed perspective. 

Ina heard it mentioned on one of our favorite broadcasts, NPR’s Wait, Wait,

Don’t Tell Me.  The name was intriguing.  As we began researching on the

internet, we realized that we’ve been land snorkeling all along.  And, of course,

what urban landscape has more opportunities for focusing on detail than

Belmont Heights?

Since 2013, Ina and Mike have shared their walks through Belmont Heights with readers of this newsletter. Here they're spotted "land snorkeling" through the Red Car Greenbelt.

How does a person become a Land Snorkeler?  It’s really so easy.  Start by

choosing a path, taking a deep breath, and begin to notice what you haven’t

noticed before.  We find that by focusing on the trees and shrubbery, we see

our neighborhood in a new way.  Choose one tree near you—yes, that one. 

While it may be green, what shade of green is it?  What about the size of the

leaves or the shape?  What are you noticing about the trees that you haven’t

noticed before?  How does it enhance its location?  Look at the house on

second glance, rather than the first. 

Now, try walking the same route at different times of the day.  What changes

do you see?  Natural light can make something very plain into something

glorious.  And you’ll be the beneficiary of that beauty if you connect to what

you are seeing. 

We love snorkeling our Heights.