The swirling wind deposited my hair into a disarray on top of my head. My legs and feet were sore from the constant hiking and my back ached from the cumbersome backpack. The discomfort was pushed into the back of mind because in just a few more steps, I would summit another mountain. Although it may seem illogical, my interest in hiking started before I could even walk. When I was still quite young, I remember being put into a child carrier on my dad’s back, my head bobbing in rhythm to his steps. I am told that sitting in that backpack is the quietest I had ever been, as I was enraptured by the passing trees give way to the sunny slopes of the alpine. Upon learning how to walk, I began to pester my parents to free me from the prison that was the child carrier, and ever since then, hiking has become one of my favorite hobbies. My parents have since fostered my love for hiking, as I have had the good fortune of being able to travel all over the world including to Austria, Iceland, and Utah. In the Austrian Alps, tall and jagged cliffs rise out of the ground, towering over bustling towns lying on the valley floor. In Iceland, the rhyolite mountains are colored shades of red, golden yellow, and pink, and nestled between the mountains are large, sweeping, raven-black lava fields. The impressive mountains of Utah are accompanied by a lush canopy of green that slowly peters out as the mountains grow in height. In the spring and summer, the greenery is widespread and the skies
Sixty days of carrying 80-pound backpacks, sleeping under a tarp for shelter in the Utah winter – welcome to “wilderness therapy.”
Did you know that highly trafficked areas like Niagara Falls are best for solo hiking? Highly populated areas such as Niagara falls are exquisite hiking spots for novice hikers, even if someone is hiking a simple trail, it is pivotal that people are notified of the individual's whereabouts. It is crucial to communicate with family or trusted associates before you go on a hike owing to the fact that hiking alone can pose threats such as injuries, complicated weather, and dangerous wildlife.
There are many alluring opportunities to witness nature, such as local trails and protected woods, but even a peaceful park or a backyard pond can produce such a feeling. As for me, I enjoy hiking the Appalachian Trail, the longest national park and a 2,200 mile stretch of elegant woodlands. From the summer of 2013, my father and I have established a tradition of taking two or three days to hike twenty mile sections of the trail. Though hiking the whole trail is unrealistic, the trips are most significant to me as a chance to hike, forgetting about homework, extracurricular activities, and other stressors. Admittedly, I am always reluctant to believe that climbing up rocky mountains with a twenty-five pound backpack will is a form of relief, but somehow, it always is. We typically sleep in hammocks, which allows
September 2, 2015Hiking HydrationHomeHiking DestinationsHiking Zion National Park TrailsAug 30, 20150 10Hiking Zion National Park gives access to a variety of scenic trails at different levels for some of the most rewarding hiking experiences.
I lay in the center, listening to soft music my iPod or the birds lulling me into a deep meditation. It is in this spot that I’ve had the deepest conversations with myself, coming to realizations and understandings about my relationships to life, others, and me. The secluded stillness allows my brain to freely wander, explore, and reflect deep concepts coming to profound insights that further benefit me in this crazy journey I call life. The winds, curves, inclines, declines of the trail makes it a perfect path to jog on. The isolation from the outside world makes it easy for my mind to focus on nothing but the task at hand – which is making it all the way around the 3-mile trail without stopping. Although, most times this doesn’t happen because I’m so taken back by the surrounding beauty. I always stop to take in the deep blue sky or the butterflies fluttering gracefully through the field of wild flowers. But when I am running I feel virtually weightless physically and mentally. My mind is blank allowing me to become one with my surroundings. The feeling of the cool crisp air breezing through my hair relaxes me as I intensely run to the heart pumping music blasting through my headphones. The path winds throughout an open field into a forest where you come out by the base cemetery. Passing it constantly fills me with emotion, carrying not only the weight for
“We have no money, so quit your complaining! It’s only a six mile walk!” My mom screamed at me three hours before my dentist appointment. My family doesn’t have any money to fill the car with gas, so we have to walk everywhere. But not only didn’t we have the money, but this town has no gas station, so filling it up would require us to drive 45 miles, which makes the trip even more expensive. I wish this town had more to it, then it would make my long walks around town more enjoyable, and I wouldn’t have to feel so nervous walking around.
The ruckus from the bottom of the truck is unbearable, because of the noise and excessive shaking. As we slowly climbed the mountain road to reach our lovely cabin, it seemed almost impossible to reach the top, but every time we reached it safely. The rocks and deep potholes shook the truck and the people in it, like a paint mixer. Every window in the truck was rolled down so we could have some leverage to hold on and not loose our grip we needed so greatly. The fresh clean mountain air entered the truck; it smelt as if we were lost: nowhere close to home. It was a feeling of relief to get away from all the problems at home. The road was deeply covered with huge pines and baby aspen trees. Closely examining the
I looked up at the morning sky painted in hues of purple and pink. The crisp air tickled at my nose. I stood in front of the open passenger door of the truck while waiting for Jacob to give me further instructions. I found Jacob on one of those mountain-climbing adventure websites. He had the highest rating of all the Mountaineers featured.
There is a relaxing feel of the mountains making it perfect for letting the stress disappear and peace to find its way to one’s soul. There are many people who love the mountains and live in them, but there is so much space that they hardly ever see each other. Less people means that there is less judgement by them, which means there is more freedom to be the person wanted to be without worry about that pesky inner critic. For someone who is not very social and has anxiety whenever I have to talk to another human, the mountains are the perfect place to get away from all of that and be the most relaxed. I love the homey feel and peaceful atmosphere. There are no noisy neighbors or loud machines building skyscrapers, there is a quiet chirping bird sitting on the window sill, a soft, cool breeze rustling the tree leaves,
It was a calm, overcast day, and I found myself resting at the side of a large oak tree, admiring the beauty of the woods that surrounded me.
It is amazing how some experiences stay so crisp in my memory, that if I were to close my eyes, I could almost swear that I was there right at that moment. It's as if my body can almost taste the sweet air, feel the cold, wet breeze on my skin, and recall the scent of the pine trees towering above our heads. Hiking in Payson, Arizona, after a snow storm is one of the best places I have ever visited in order to collect one of these memories. Payson is a great place to take the family dog hiking, but also you will be able to appreciate the beautiful landscape Payson has to offer, with it being conveniently located just a brief drive from the sweltering heat of the Desert Valley.
A ways away from a town that I call home, I found a happy place. I often find myself walking through the park by myself. The beautiful trees, the way the yellow and red leaves crumple under my feet every step I take. When the flowers bloom and how it's the most spectacular sight you could ever imagine seeing, all the different colors that appear. When you breathe in and you get this smell of purity, you feel free and alive. Sometimes I like to sit on the old wooden bench where the bench frame is a little rusted, and I get rid of my thoughts and my eyes search the sky. In the winter the icy breeze makes me shiver, and the cold air I take in, is like sitting in front of an air conditioner and breathing in. Some mornings the sun beams across the sky, which is not quite blue yet, but the sun has almost fully risen. When the wind blows, it grazes over the blades of grass. Some days I just stand and take a deep breath in and I can taste the spring. When summer comes around, and the bees are buzzing, and the hot sun beats on the back of my neck, I lay on the soft grass and listen, to the birds chirping a beautiful song, and the kids playing in the park. The sky is the bluest view in sight.
Long distance hiking not only helps you physically, but an also help you grow mentally. Many suggest hiking as a therapeutic experience. On long distance hikes, the hiker distances themselves from the trivialities of modern day society and funnels all their attention on only themselves and the trail. This dissociation from life allows the hiker to forget any anxieties they had before the start of their journey. Hiking connects you with nature, appreciating it in its entirety. Hikers takes themselves out of their daily lives and join many others with a similar goal, entering into an accepting community of fellow hikers. Hiking can also boost creativity, as it disconnects one from technology and modern conveniences. They instead must rely on the items in their pack and what they can find in nature. Long distance hiking is considered a form of therapy evoking feelings of creativity, disconnection from civilization, and community.
We were in the middle of the desert, basically having no sense of direction whatsoever. Riding down the coastline of a twenty-mile island off the coast of Venezuela. Not knowing where to go was an issue but my brother, Ben, and I were on the ATV zooming through the desert seeing various attractions throughout the trip. Watching animals run everywhere, experiencing the views of little beaches with huge waves it was like a dream come true.
We humans are social animals. We normally prefer others around us and enjoy sharing experiences with others. In some situations, some of us like to experience the world alone. If the empty, open trail beckons you, then solo hiking might be what you’re looking for. There may be potential consequences when solo hiking which you need to be prepared to deal such as being prepared for solo hiking, and the dangers of solo hiking.