I have to admit that so far I am really enjoying this Danish Spring. I’m not sure I can even call it Spring though. It’s as if Winter turned into Summer all of a sudden. The sun is shining, everything is bright green and it hardly rains at all. Not at all like the Spring we experienced in Seattle most of the time.

After a sedentary winter season, I decided I need to get out more and enjoy not only the weather but also all the wonderful nature we have around us. And because I’ve had my head feeling cloudy lately (life: it’s full of ongoing problems), I realized that the best way to feel better is to engage in forest bathing.

Shinrin Yoku or “Forest bathing” is a Japanese phrase. It’s healing through being in the forest. It works for me. Every single time.

If I’m feeling stressed out or depressed for some reason I can’t seem to identify, I know it is time for me to be bathed by the forest.

Just a few minutes from where I live now is a beautiful, expansive area with lakes and a river. Some of it is known as Lygby Åmose. I haven’t had a chance to get to know it much yet, so this afternoon I decided to take a walk and explore.

There are a lot of paths weaving around the lakes. I began by taking a path from the main road (Hummeltoftevej) towards Lyngby lake.

The lake is popular with fishermen and kayakers.

There are several kayak and canoe renting places along the waterways near this lake. Renting either a kayak or a canoe (whichever is less likely to tip over) is in my very near future.

Lots of waterfowl on the lake as well. It’s mallard mating season. It is seriously disturbing to witness. Nature can be so weird sometimes.

Although there is a sign saying there might be deer in the forest, I haven’t seen any sign of them. I think most deer tend to hang out in the Dyrehaven.

Having hiked so much in the Pacific Northwest, where – if one is lucky – one can spot all kinds of large mammals (elk, bears, mountain lions), it’s a bit strange to get lost in nature in Denmark knowing there aren’t any large mammals here. Maybe a fox (I saw one on my street once!), but that’s about it. There are a couple of wolves in Julland, but one just got shot and I don’t really understand why. Anyways, it’s safe to walk in the woods on your own. Eerily safe.

The trees are in bloom though and the wildflowers are swarming with bees and butterflies.

Danish Spring is enchanting.

The areas around Lyngby Sø are sublimely beautiful.

For me, this was a wonderful “hike”. I got properly lost until I stumbled onto our ancient 850-year-old tree, Klopstocks oak. Once I saw it, I knew my way home.

4.9 hiking km (3 miles), 33 m of elevation (108 ft)

YTD Hiking Km: 18.5