It is necessary to rediscover our "fairy gardens"...

Coming back from a mountain outing means coming back with a fresh look at yourself, others and the world. It means reconnecting to a living reality that nourishes us through its beauty: this very concrete experience, of the earth we walk on, the rocks we touch, the snow we pack or the wind we feel, is ultimately spiritually structuring, well beyond the body. And beyond the action in the mountains, the often contemplative experience of a night under the tent shapes us, resources us, anchors us, at the same time as it guides us in the search for and the choice of our posture as Man.

Restricting our access to the outdoors in the name of our health highlights the secondary place given to the link to nature in our society. These phases of confinement that have long deprived and still deprive certain populations of nature, beyond the relevance or not of their effectiveness, have repercussions that cannot be ignored. According to an Ifop study published on 9 November, the number of people suffering from anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, sadness and even despair is increasing, particularly among people who do not have access to outdoor spaces in their homes.

This egalitarian relationship with the elements connects us to our bodies, to nature, to each other and to our smallness as humans. 

And what about the equality issues raised by the one kilometre of travel allowed for all those for whom this restricted perimeter did not allow access to nature? This case of conscience will remain for a certain number of us despite the extension of the perimeter of authorized travel to twenty kilometres. This difference in treatment is not comfortable either for those who are deprived of it, or for those who arbitrarily take advantage of it, with more or less guilt. The mountain does not care about these differences. Under the rumbling storm, in front of the emptiness, in contact with the bite of the cold or confronted with the enchantment of the scenery, there is no difference in terms of age, wealth or even experience. This egalitarian relationship with the elements connects us to our bodies, to nature, to others and to our smallness as humans. It also puts into perspective the individualism that threatens us all at home behind our screens in contrast to the solidarity within the rope party which is not an option but a necessity. Even going alone to the mountains can be a way of connecting with others when the promise of returning with a deeper vision of everything around us is kept.

Far from this virtual world which is constantly expanding in the context of the health crisis in an attempt to maintain social links, access to nature is a universal right which deserves to be written with a capital letter. In addition to the freedom to come and go guaranteed by the Constitution, some argue that access to nature can be considered a fundamental freedom of constitutional value in France by referring to the Charter of the Environment. But beyond the question of law, one certainty prevails. That of the beneficial effect of contact with the living and physical activity on a very large number of pathologies linked or not to confinement. Here again, scientific studies abound, as pointed out by many doctors who declare themselves in favour of a reasoned access to nature.

More than a need, it is a necessity.

At Samaya, we believe that the peace we feel on the way down from a summit is the result of a skilful alchemy that can't be summed up solely by the hormones generated by the effort. It's complex, and is also made up of the flashes of light that passed through us up there. If, as Plotinus said, "every soul is and becomes what it contemplates", then let's hope that the vast majority of us will soon be able to (re)connect with nature in our own right and immerse ourselves in it. More than a need, it's a necessity.