spring outside: a very rainy walk

throwing on a raincoat and going out anyway.

A walk outside is about the best way I can think of to fully embrace the season and notice how nature is changing over the course of the year. Depending on the season (and weather!), going for a walk can feel a little more appealing at some times than others. On a lovely 70 degree autumn day, a stroll to see the fall leaves is a no-brainer. But I’d argue the times when it is the least appealing to get outside, like the coldest days of January, is when it will do us the most good.

So come springtime - a rainy day walk? I’m all for it! Rain is a sign of the season and what better way to embrace it than walking right through it. Despite how damp it makes your clothes, rain is lovely. On a drizzly day, you can’t help but admire the vibrant green of ferns and moss. Mountainside streams rush downhill. Even though the vistas aren’t quite so clear - a foggy, misty view can be just as beautiful in its own way.

After a four year delay due to a global pandemic, I was finally able to visit Vancouver for the very first time this March. For several days before our arrival, the sun was out and shining with true spring temperatures rolling through. As soon as we landed, gray skies rolled in and rain fell down every day all week long. I saw my first glimpse of sunshine 5 days later on our ride to the airport headed out of town.

It’s always a bummer when rain falls on your vacation, but it wasn’t very hard to appreciate the rain in Vancouver. Gray, fluffy clouds and slow-falling drizzle felt just right for a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Coming from colder temperatures and some snow in the American Midwest, rain felt like a nice change - the harbinger of a new season. There are no blooming springtime flowers without a little rainfall first!

Spending time in the city, the rain was a minor inconvenience. It’s always easy to pop into a coffee shop or a bookstore to warm up when you need to. Once we headed out of the city towards Squamish for a day of hiking, being out in the mountains with the falling rain was absolutely spectacular! Lush moss covered nearly all of the stones and trees, and the deep green of the woods all around us was just stunning. On each viewpoint through the trees, low-hanging clouds hovered amongst the peaks. It was incredibly atmospheric.

So here’s my seasonal nudge for you: go for a walk in the rain. Put on whatever rain gear you have. Go outside, despite the weather. Breathe in the fresh spring air and admire the view as best you can. You may just find yourself charmed.

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