Descriptive Essay On Hiking

Sixty days of carrying 80-pound backpacks, sleeping under a tarp for shelter in the Utah winter – welcome to “wilderness therapy.”

Pine needles and underbrush crunched underfoot as I climbed uphill on the mountainside. The forest canopy acted as a strainer, blocking all but the most lucky rays of sunlight. Sweat rappelled down my face and jumped off the tip of my nose, falling to the soft earth. My body commanded me to stop, to rest, to give up. For days I had already hiked and camped among the Blue Ridge Mountains with no sense of accomplishment, and I hungered for satisfaction. Rain and constant change in elevation broke my spirit, and encouraged me to go home. I felt as if nature itself taunted me, pushing me to give up. It became my worst enemy.

The majestic mountain towers over the Washington state landscape and can be visible from most vantage point in the Seattle metro area. See the main Seattle page here.

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.

As we started along the trail, I worried about forgotten items and my decision to only bring one extra pair of socks. However, after a while, I became aware of a pair of birds chattering above me and the soft murmur of water trickling down a stream bed. After an hour of walking, the trail starts winding back on itself in a series of switchbacks. The chatter between my family members slows down, as we soon struggled to breathe from exhaustion. Sometimes I was hunched over so far from my load that I would stare at my rubber-toed boots and forget to look up at the majestic trees surrounding me.

Do you ever have a dream where you’re falling, and it feels so real that your body wakes you up? Well this was not a dream. I was falling, and there was no bed for me to wake up in.

It was day two on the Appalachian Trail. The rich robust smell of pine permeated the air. The Sparrows caroled, and the soothing warm glow of the sun, warmed my body as the elevation increased. I was completely engulfed in nature. As the trail progressed, a couple friends and I reached the first cairn. We were 500 feet from the summit of Mt. Avery. We soon took our last steps, lowered our bags, and shared smiles. Immediately we were taken hold of by the ear ringing silence. Not a gust of wind, nor a chirp from a bird, it was complete serenity. As we took in the view I realized something that changed me completely. I was

The trees and surrounding mountain peaks were covered in about nine inches of fresh snow that had fallen a few days prior to our visit. We gradually drove through thick timber, and open sage covered meadows. We knew the area very well from past hunting and camping trips, so we were happy to be in it once again. We drove eyes peeled for both dead, dry logs and for elk. The whole family was blessed that year with nice deer and were happy to maybe top it off with a nice bull. We drove for another fifteen minutes before we reached the treed area that had the logs we wanted, dead but dry, logs that had little amounts of branches. We spent the next hour or so, felling and cutting the fifty to sixty foot tree into ten foot sections so they could fit into the small little Toyota Tacoma bed. We ended with about ten to fifteen logs weighing sixty to seventy pounds in the back of the truck. Making it sag in the back quite a bit. We both gave each other a look of satisfaction and a smile. The drive and the pursuit of elk wasn’t over and the sun was still up for another two hours. We decided to continue up the mountain until the snow was too deep. Once we reached that point, we turned around and made our way down the mountain. The drive was even better going down than going up. The sun casted shadows and made an orange glow over the snow covered mountain; not to mention that I was out of school since lunch time. As the sun set further and further behind the horizon, my attitude toward killing an elk fell too. We drove pass sage flats and snow covered draws with iced over creeks. We reached a part in the road where we were up on the side of a hill looking down on a small creek that had scattered pine and willow trees. On the other side of the draw was a tree line about two thirds of the way up the hill and sage from there down. My eyes wandered from the tree line to the creek. As we passed a pine tree that covered my line

The mud glueing my recently bought sneakers to the trail became deeper and deeper as we continued walking but I was too busy admiring the vibrant leaves around me to let it phase me. The smell of trees and the subtle trace of cinnamon floating in the air seemed to shoot into my nose. The wind picked up and formed a nice, light breeze. The crisp air blew through my hair which was firmly tied in a ponytail. I continued walking down the slender path, every once in awhile my path was crossed by a small chipmunk or squirrel. I thought back to this morning when my mom had asked me if I wanted a jacket, I refused. Regretting that decision I crossed my arms in front of my body. It was about 2:00 and I hurried along as the cold air continued whisking

The sound of the chirping birds awoke me. The smell of the grassy-smelling rain tickled my nose as I pried my heavy eyes open, tired from yesterday’s long day of adventuring. I squirmed out of my cozy sleeping bag, being gentle on my sore back after sleeping on the diamond-hard rock last night. I crawled out of my little compact tent as my stomach growled of hunger. I looked out to the foggy distance where the egg yolk-like sun was rising from behind the bumpy, tree-filled mountains. I gathered my hiking essentials and munched on a protein bar as I started exploring on the wet, slippery trail. Suddenly, I heard a footstep behind me. I turned around, but nothing in particular was there. I kept strolling along, observing the many species wandering

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.

When the sun slowly peeps over the range of mountains, birds shake the morning dew off their feathers and give a cheerful song that would lift even the most sorrowful of spirits. A light fog wraps around the mountain range, reaching to touch every bit of life thriving there. The slight chill in the air is enough to give a gentle shiver, but not enough for the need of a jacket. A breeze tickles the trees, making their leaves shake and sway with laughter. Sunlight seeps in past the thick canopy of branches with hopes of being able to reach the damp mountain earth. The mountains are the best place to live to be relaxed, see the most beauty, and never get bored.

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.

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.