The Hiking High

There was a time when I charged the “steeps”,trail sections that burned your lungs with the exertion, climbing inexorably up without end. Hiking was a sport, a workout. Leading groups at a faster pace, with distance and elevation was the rule: Longer, faster, higher. 

Leading those hikes attracted similar individuals, with schedules that required precise finish times, and carefully mapped routes. They needed to get back to their busy lives.

In time, I realized that something was missing. The ability to explore, to take the path less traveled. I began to understand that hiking meant more to me than exercise

Mount Abraham, Maine, USA.

The hike was more than reaching the summit, it was the experience in making my way there.

Hiking is certainly a wonderful way to work your muscles, from legs to heart, but it’s the mental benefits that mean the most to me.

I can get a workout in the gym anytime. To be outdoors away from the hustle and hassles, is incomparable to any pursuit I have known.

I stopped leading groups several years ago. The need to accommodate folks who simply wanted a power walk in the woods for a few hours had become a chore. 

Some hike for pleasure, some for exercise, and some for social interaction. 

There are times when I appreciate hiking for all of those reasons, but they are fringe benefits. It’s the peace of mind and beauty of the open spaces that keeps me returning to the outdoors.