I have known for a long time that I enjoy nature. I have also known that even though I have absolutely zero interest in running, it sometimes seems like I could walk everywhere and never get tired. When I put these two together, it tells me that maybe, just maybe, I should take up hiking.
This past June we made a roadtrip out to Vegas, and on the way back we stopped by the Grand Canyon. I was amazed at just how awesome that place really is, but what I really wanted to do was to hike all the way to the bottom. A daunting task, for sure, but one that I am positive I could do. It’s one of those bucket list things, you know.
Now that we’ve been back home for a few months, I find myself wanting to not only go hiking, but also do some camping and maybe even live out in the wild for a bit (as much as I can at least). As I was looking up camping stuff one day, I stumbled across a video series documenting a trip down the Appalachian Trail by a girl named Dixie (who turned out to live extremely close, such a small world at times). I watched her entire trip and now my desire to hike and spend time out in nature has come to the point where I just have to do it.
So since I have only hiked short distances, and I don’t really do it very regularly, how am I going to get myself ready to hike for miles? Well, I already have a few “trails” marked out around our neighborhood and around my workplace that will start me at 1 mile per “hike” and I will work up to a 2.5 mile “hike”, all during my normal work week. Then on the weekends that I actually have time to do things, I’m planning on getting out in the woods with my wife and doing some actual hiking. There are a few decent places around here to do that, so I don’t think it should be a problem.
Also, I plan on starting to document my “journey” through video, even though it may not be as inspiring as Dixie’s, I hope to show that just because you might not be in the best shape, you can still follow your dreams and passions.
I did my first 1 mile “hike” around our neighborhood this morning, and I’ve got another one coming tomorrow, so I’m doing all I can to keep looking forward and not turn back!