Lessons I’ve Learned Hiking

Hiking is a major part of my life and has been so since my 20’s when I truly discovered my passion for exploring natural wonders on foot. The lessons I’ve learned hiking are invaluable and the memories I made even more so. I love being outside and the way that I’ve had the opportunity to bod with so many people through hiking. Not to mention, it’s my favorite way to exercise. Hopefully the lessons I’ve learned hiking will inspired you to connect with the earth, spend time with your loved ones and even understand yourself all through the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

It can be easy to compare yourself to hikers flying past you, but the thing is we’re all on our own journey and you can’t compare yours to anyone else’s. I can be quite competitive and I used to try to catch up people in front of me (especially when hiking with a group) until I reminded myself that hiking isn’t a race – it’s about taking the time to truly enjoy where you are with whoever you’re there with. If you’re looking to use hiking as exercise, though, you’ll get better and better at it and find the pace that is perfect for you each time.

It’s Important to Unplug

A lot of time nature does this for us because there’s no cell service, but in those rare occasions that you get service, stay off your phone. It’s so worth it to take the time to be present in that moment. I like to only use my camera when I’m out in nature. Although, I have to admit, I’ll FaceTime my dad (one of my all-time favorite hiking buddies) if the view is just too good not to share in the moment.

The World is Beautiful & Can Change with Each Step

Nothing has ever made me appreciate this beautiful world like going out into nature. I love putting on my hiking boots and taking off for hours or days at a time. To put it simply, nothing compares to it. Plus, you never know what you’re going to find with each passing step: an animal you’ve never seen, a view you missed before, a rock formation, a beautiful bloom, etc. We live on a planet filled with diverse landscapes and I want to see as many of them as I can!

Fresh Air Does the Soul Good

Fresh air isn’t only good for your lungs. There’s nothing like nature when it comes to clearing up and freeing my mind and spirit. I love being out in open spaces, feeling dwarfed by mountains, discovering new locations and reminding myself of what it means to me to truly explore.

An Understanding of Why the Earth is Worth Caring For

I feel like a lot of people who don’t care about the Earth are the people who haven’t taken the time to go out and explore it. Nothing gave value to nature, national parks, mountains, rivers, trees & everything else I’ve seen than actually getting outside and experiencing its magic.

Nothing You Could Ever See on TV Compares to Views Outside

I’ve never seen anything as beautiful, captivating, or even entertaining as the views I’ve taken in while hiking. Hiking requires you to truly take in the world around you. Plus, spending time with whoever I’m hiking with, or having quality me-time among the trees, is always better when I’m out in nature than sitting in front of the TV!

It’s Okay to Stop and Catch Your Breath

Part of this goes back to not comparing yourself to others. It’s perfectly fine to have to pace yourself differently. Plus, when you stop to catch your breath you can take the time to be present in that moment. I had a hard time with this one after I was diagnosed with asthma. I had always been one of the fastest hikers in a group and could even do inclines without needing multiple stops, but now I have to catch my breath far more often. Now, I use that time to look at the details of plants, rocks and other nature around me. It’s only heightened my hiking experience.

Take the Time to Appreciate Where You’ve Come From

If you’re on an out and back trail, it does this for you, but if you’re doing a thru hike or a loop trail, be sure to pause and look behind you. Sometimes your back might be turned to some of the most beautiful things! For example, when I was on the Inca Trail I saw Andean deer and lagoons that several other people missed because they were trying to race to the camp. Since we took a couple rest breaks, we saw them when we sat and looked behind us.

Getting Lost Can Sometimes Be the Best Part

Obviously, you want to be safe, but sometimes not knowing exactly where you are or where you’re going can be one of the most freeing experiences. Plus, there’s always a sense of accomplishment when you find your way again. So, go out there and get lost in nature and in yourself – but be safe.

There’s No Use in Complaining

Hiking isn’t always the most comfortable thing in the world, but with a little bit of discomfort comes unbelievable views and all kinds of other gifts! Plus, things are uncomfortable in your everyday life and complaining never ever makes it any better. Remember wherever you are, enjoy it as best you can and try to find something to love in every moment.

Hiking Gets Those Creative Juices Flowing

Every single time I go hiking, I come home with an inspiration to do something creative. Usually, that means writing about that experience or outlining some blog posts. But other times it’s to make something inspired by the colors of a place I just went. Matt is always super inspired to come home and edit photos as well.

What Do You Need for a Successful Hiking Adventure

We’ve started sharing hiking equipment we use specific to trips or experiences. So in todays, there are a couple of extra additions for channeling the want to learn lessons.

Good Hiking Shoes: I have multiple pairs of hiking shoes for different styles of hikes, but it’s almost always my Merrell hiking shoes or Teva sandals.
Walking Sticks: Walking sticks are great for hikes with lots of hills or people who are less steady on their feet.
Hiking Journal: I love to document my hikes. In fact, last year I wrote something about every single hike I went on. Sometimes it was just a quick few sentences, other times it was much longer, but it’s something I plan to continue doing from here on out.
Reusable Water Bottle: Obviously, you’ll likely get thirsty working up a sweat while hiking. We love Nalgene Bottles because they hold a decent amount, they’re essentially indestructible and we buy the ones with a wide mouth, so they’re easy to clean.
Day Pack: If you’re doing a hike of any distance, having a day pack is really nice. It frees up your hands in case you need them to pull yourself up or something. Plus, you can pack some snacks, sunscreen or anything else you might need.
Sunhat: It took us long enough, but we’re big fans of wearing hats while hiking to protect our from getting sunburned.
Travel Insurance: I’m a huge advocate of travel insurance. If I’m planning a hiking trip that falls within the required distance from home, I’m all about investing in Travel Insurance. I had to use it when I broke my arm hiking in Thailand, and I was so glad I had it.
Carry Healthy Snacks: So you’ve packed your sunhats, water bottle and hiking shoes, the last item to tick off the list is a healthy snack. Trail mix, whey protein bars, and nuts are my go-to snacks as they’re easy to carry and keep the energy levels high.

I hope this post has inspired you to plan some hiking trips this year. You’ll be amazed at the lessons the trail will teach you. Some will last a lifetime.

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