Hiking can be a miserable, insect swarming, sunburnt, blistered feet and sore leg experience, or it can be your opportunity to quiet your mind, clarify your thoughts, disconnect from social media and reconnect with your environment. As with everything in life, it all depends on your frame of mind and expectations of the experience. There is a primal connection you can have when you are out of breath, sweaty and taking in the views.
We have an evolutionary connection to exploring our surroundings. As a species we have crawled over our entire planet–learning about our planet and more importantly our human condition in the process. Up until a hundred years or so ago, communicating over long distances required travel. This exposed us to new regions, cultures and environments. The need to explore is part of our lizard brain. It was part of our survival as ancient man, and it is part of our connection to our environment as modern man. No matter where you live, how high your mountains, how vast your plains, or how murky your swamps are, we have established trails all over our planet. We explore these trails for exercise, relaxation and connection through experience with family and friends. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Life is a journey, not a destination.” We can apply this idea narrowly to a family road trip, or as broadly as the quote itself.
I have often been asked why I enjoy hiking rather than mountain biking or trail running and it’s the same answer I give to anyone who asks why I sip whiskey instead of taking a shot. I want to enjoy the experience. Hiking for me is deeply personal. It is a year round activity (snowshoes and crampons as weather dictates) that I enjoy with my family, friends and by myself. It allows me to explore the natural beauty of the world around me, at my own pace, in my own time. I don’t hike for exercise, and I don’t hike to get a trail behind me. I hike to be on the trail. To be in the moment. To explore with and connect to the natural world around me.
When you are on the trail you will inevitably run across wildlife. I was terrified with my infant daughter on my back as I hiked away from a moose intent on figuring out what I was doing in its territory. I have walked through grazing goat herds in the high Uintas and deer in the upper Wasatch mountains. I gazed in wonder with my children at butterflies playing with each other and the sea of wildflowers that stretched in front of us and quickly scurried away from the rattlesnakes warning rattle as I walked too close.
Sometimes I don’t plan well enough ahead. We hiked 6 miles into Thaynes Canyon without anything more than a snack bar. I have hiked into the Uintas as a sudden snow storm enveloped us. Torrential rain soaked me and some friends on a long hike in the evening as lightning struck the ground around us. You are often forced to problem solve a situation and learn a valuable life lesson in the process.
Most other hikers are indifferent at worst and completely friendly more often than not. I have had conversations with people I would have never approached or met had I not been on trail. Other families make lasting memories with their loved ones. Sharing wildlife sightings and knowledge of the trail with other hikers is a regular experience. Horseback riders asking about my day and hike, other hikers asking about my dog or my kids’ experience. That brings up the incredible amount of animals hikers bring with them. Primarily dogs, with the majority of them being well tempered, curious and friendly.
Some people can get pretty crazy about clothing when you are hiking. The truth is, whatever will keep you comfortable in the current weather is all you need. It may be running shorts and a t-shirt or a technical top and bottom. You don’t have to buy brand new hiking shoes, you can wear your old tennis shoes or combat boots, as a veteran I find them to be some of my favorite choices. You don’t need to buy brand new water pack systems or hiking poles, pick up a fallen branch or stick on trail, and bring a water bottle with you. Hiking is about your experience, not your khakis.
Part of the fun I have is walking new trails. I like to use trail mapping programs like alltrails.com for inspiration. You can find hikes that take minutes or days, which span in difficulty from casual to challenging. It all depends on what you want to get out of the time you have. Sometimes I will revisit the same trails seasonally as the experience and natural vistas can change dramatically. There are trails I will introduce to friends or family with the intention of easing them into hiking, or showcasing my endurance. Always let your guests know what to expect before you get on the trail!
