Take a Hike
What’s the deal with……. hiking?????
It’s a beautiful day out and you want to exercise, but don’t want to be indoors, so what can you do? How about a hike???
When I was kid, if it was a sunny day, my mother insisted that I go outside to play! No TV or video games (all we had was pong anyway – haha!) My friends and I would go around the neighborhood, and knock on each other’s doors (no one used a phone!) and round up a bunch of kids. We’d play whiffle ball, kick the can or just run through the woods in our backyard or in our neighbors’ hills. To this day, if it’s a beautiful Saturday or Sunday, I feel impelled to “play” outside and enjoy the fresh air. I try to remind my kids to do the same, which doesn’t always work, however!
The first actual real hike that I ever went on was in VT. I was in my 20’s and my brother let me tag along with him and his friend for the weekend up to Warren VT, where his friend grew up. We showed up at his friend’s house on this beautiful hill with the mountains and pine trees all around. His mom had African bongo drum music playing in the background and some green tea boiling on the stove. She and her daughter and some friends and family were meditating in the living room. It was all very foreign to me at the time, but she welcomed me with open arms, and soon I felt like one of the family! The next morning more friends and family showed up, and everyone was doing yoga on her amazing lawn, overlooking the Green Mountains. I felt every ounce of stress release from my bones (not that a 20 something year-old has a lot of stress – ha ha!). Afterwards, we all went for a hike to the top of Burnt Rock. The whole family – from his mom to his cousins, sisters, brothers, friends, girlfriends and even friends of friends – went on the hike. Going up was tough, but the view at the top was spectacular, with really cool rock formations. Going down was even tougher, as I recall, as it was steep and rocky, so you really had to watch your footing. We literally ran down the mountain (remember I was young and in my 20’s!) and at the bottom we all dived into a beautiful cool pond, clothes and all! It was such an amazing experience that I’ve never forgotten – the beauty, peace and tranquility of the outdoors. I have really come to understand the expression one of my friends always says -“the outdoors is my sanctuary”. Since that time in VT, I’ve gone on some hikes in VT at Haystack Mountain, Molly Stark and even some hikes in CT at Devils Den and Mianus River Park.
Because I’ve really only done day hikes, I thought it would be fun to talk to my friend, Lisa Case, who is a rockstar when it comes to hiking! Recently, I sat down with Lisa to talk about the amazing trip she is planning to the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of California. Lisa is a very experienced hiker, and I imagine this hike is not for the faint of heart. Inspired by her daughter, Emma, who hiked for 6 months along the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand, Lisa entered a lottery to get a coveted permit to hike the John Muir Trail. After a few tries, she finally got the permit and is set to go in August. It is a 210 mile hike which starts at Yosemite National Park and ends up at Mount Whitney, which is the highest peak in the continental United States. Lisa said it takes about 3 weeks, and that she’ll do about 12 miles a day (Some of it with her husband and some of it alone – wow!) The elevations can be as high as 14,000 feet! To prepare for such an adventure, you have to think ahead. You need to pack light, but be prepared: a tent, canteen kit, first aid kit, and food to start. Since you can’t conceivably bring 3 weeks of food with you, she told me that you need to mail food to different post offices along the way and then you hike out from your trail and pick them up! You can also have a friend or brother in law meet you at a certain point to hand off supplies as well. Apparently you are not completely alone on the trail and will see quite a few people along the way, which I thought was comforting. But to a true experienced hiker it’s actually considered a luxury to pitch your tent and be alone. I am looking forward to hearing about the trip when she returns, and seeing some amazing pics!
For those of us who are a little timid (like me!) about spending 3 weeks away from civilization without a hot shower, iPhone and comfy bed, there are plenty of day hikes you can go on no matter where you live. One website a friend of mine recommends is https://www.alltrails.com/ There is a hike for everyone! With dogs, friends, advanced or beginner. Hiking is a great way to stay in shape, no matter what your age. It’s Covid-friendly, and lets you experience the true beauty of this amazing country we live in. Tell me about your favorite hikes and websites!
Coming up…some great exercises that you can do to prepare for that hike!
