“It added an extra layer of vibrancy and euphoria to my day.”

Once I got dressed and packed some water, I smoked a bowl full of this strain and headed out the door with trekking poles in hand. The entirety of this high was enjoyed outside. After all, where but the great outdoors are you most likely to encounter a critter or two? By the time I hit the local trailhead, I was fully captured by this energetic and deeply insightful flower. It was energizing in the sense that it broke down any physical barriers I was sensing at the time.

I awoke with a sore back and creaking knees, but this buzz sorted that out in no time and allowed me to enter into a sort of rhythmic flow state. As a result, my hike morphed into more of a walking meditation. After seeing about a dozen rabbits and twenty or so lizards along the way, I came across a baby rattlesnake and silently wondered to myself if this Critterz strain was like the pot equivalent to a Ouija board, reading my mind and manifesting my thoughts in front of me. I soon settled back and became okay with the idea of being surrounded by more woodland creatures than people at that moment, and I was eventually downright enjoying that fact.

The peak of the high hit me as I came to a clearing where a rather laid back coyote was facing off with three border collies. I waved to the owner of the dogs, and we all looked on as the coyote took a seat and dared the dogs to come closer. I stood there watching this all unfold in a somewhat fugue state. After snapping out of it I continued on my way up the winding path. With each passing step, I felt these waves of nostalgia wash over me. My sense of smell felt really heightened, so whatever distant odors I would pick up on, whether they be wildflowers or a passing hiker’s perfume, would trigger a fond memory of the past. They were these small snapshots from long ago that I had forgotten about, but eagerly welcomed back in with an open heart. It was the closest thing to a time machine I had encountered in a while, and it was only in recalling these liminal moments from the past that I would get a new sense of gratitude for the present moment. Ultimately, this flower provided a glimpse into the nature of mind, and I felt this patina of equanimity come into form. This feeling was only deepened by a selection of upbeat music to accompany me to a higher altitude.

“I got a new sense of gratitude for the present moment.”

By the time I had reached the apex of my hike, I looked over the valley floor and felt awash with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. No doubt I would have felt just as good had I not smoked before I ventured out, but this high took it all to another level. I felt ingrained in my surroundings, and whatever physical pain had plagued me before had all but vanished.

This high continued to be a mixture of joyful energy and insightful reflection. A great representation of a hybrid that never had me headed in the direction of anxiety or paranoia. And while it did trigger a hearty appetite, its best representation was as a mechanism for drowning out the noise and living in a state of sustained wonder.