A night under the stars is a balm for soul

Iwas going to start by saying I’m happy it’s camping season again. But that would have sounded silly. Given that Arizona has elevations ranging from barely 100 feet near Yuma to above 12,600 feet at Humphreys Peak, it’s always camping season.

What I meant was, I’m happy that spring is sliding into summer and overnight temps near 40 make camping in Flagstaff a particular delight right now. It’s just cool enough to warrant a small campfire, and you won’t have to pack your burliest sleeping bag to stay warm. School is still in session, so there aren’t tons of people competing for spots.

Here are a few things that rolled around in my head last weekend:

» Nothing in the world sets my mind right like sleeping outdoors. Away from things that glow, flash, ring or buzz. Instead, I hear wind, crickets, woodpeckers, wrens, squirrels, water, crackling flames. Natural noise is rejuvenating; electronic noise is enervating. Sometimes I lay there and ponder the sky, watching for shooting stars and wondering what those early astronomers were smoking when they named the constellations. But more often than not, I drift off almost immediately, snug in my bag and free from airconditioning, ceiling fans and alarm clocks.

» What is it about a campfire that washes the mind clean? It’s like a meditation you look at rather than listen to. I dare you not to stare into your fire. If you make a fire, use restraint. Please? We live in Arizona, not Antarctica. You can make a perfectly good fire for warmth, cooking and sociability out of sticks no thicker than your wrist. You don’t have to stack up log after log.

» Speaking of campfires: Don’t be like the chuckleheads who rolled past me at about 11 p.m. last weekend. They piled out of four cars, sparked an enormous bonfire in mere minutes and spent the next three hours carousing and feeding the flames. Which leaped taller than the people. The real crime was when they drove off and left the fire burning. I was glad I had plenty of water in my truck, but less glad to have to lug it 50 yards to douse the flames at 2 a.m. Still, it was better than going to bed wondering whether the breeze would carry off an ember.

» And yet, that episode is not my overriding recollection of the weekend. Sitting around my little fire, cooking over it, stretching out under the stars — all of that was better than any medicine for my soul. I’ve been cheerful, motivated and productive all week. I’m ready to go again. How about you?

Are you looking forward to camping this summer? Where do you like to go? What are your pet peeves? Share your thoughts at traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com and we’ll print them next week.