Amy Lu's View

Maybe I was just high on DEET, but my recent inaugural visit to Sakatah Lake Minnesota State Park was very relaxing. 

Actually, I may still be high on DEET. Even though I took a shower as soon as I got home from my Sakatah Lake trip, I could still smell the mosquito repellant I was using when I started writing this. Yes, I learned a lesson from my previous visit to Banning State Park when I was devoured by mosquitoes, and so I smothered myself in OFF (the natural non-DEET stuff just doesn’t seem to cut it in park conditions). Thankfully, I recovered from those bites more quickly than I feared I would, but I prefer smelling like mosquito repellent to being itchy and dotted with bumps. I don’t usually wear perfume anyway. 

I think the weather also contributed to my sense of calm–it was a surprisingly cool July day, and it’s much easier to feel mellow when you’re not all sweaty (and being attacked by mosquitos). Yes, I intentionally chose to take the day off and visit a park because of the cooler weather forecast, but I even got a little chilly at times when I was in the shade and the wind was blowing–almost unbelievable after experiencing 95 degree temperatures just a few days ago. Thank goodness I grabbed a long sleeve at the last minute as I was heading out the door. But I’m definitely not complaining, the weather was simply glorious. 

I loved being in a park with a lake. Not only is the lake beautiful and calming, but I didn’t have to spend as much energy on keeping track of myself and not getting lost, as I could almost always see the lake so could use that to navigate. 

Sakatah Lake park was also surprisingly uncrowded (but not in a creepy way) so the overall vibe was mellow. 

I “hiked” about 8 miles (which is about the average for me for a park excursion, yes, I may be bragging just a bit). I’m using quotes because I’m not sure what the difference is between a “hike” and a “walk.” I think hiking involves some degree of difficulty on a naturalesque terrain. Some of my ambulating was on the paved Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, so that doesn’t seem like hiking. I also did the Wahpekute Trail which the park guide describes as a “moderately difficult hike” and promises that “Experienced hikers looking for an adventure will find lovely lake views ranging from tall overlooks to rocky lakeshores.” So I guess I can claim I did at least some hiking. 

Although Wahpekute Trail did provide lovely views and it was awesome hiking so close to the lake, I would not say anything about it was adventurous or overly demanding. My excursions to see waterfalls have definitely been more strenuous and challenging. I can’t really provide specifics about any of my hikes as my nature outings blur together–maybe another side effect of DEET.  

I even managed to do a little bit of reading an actual physical book as I sat by the lake, although I quit a little earlier than I wanted to because I was getting chilly. I did NOT finish the novel I’ve been reading sporadically since September 2021 (although I am close and will probably blog about it when I do) but was rather precious and read some poems from “The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy.” 

If only I could find a way to easily latch hook in a park, I may experience nirvana. 

*1) I didn’t realize I did two lake-related posts in a row until I went to publis this and 2) This title is fitting because I was listening to a King Arthur themed audiobook, “Morgan in My Name,” while doing most of my walking/hiking.