Why I Hike

“We all hike. Some of us have jobs. Some of us work at home.

some of us hike to relieve stress from our jobs

If we are not hiking for a specific cause (for example, to raise money for cancer research) does that make us selfish? Or does doing selfish things for oneself allow us to return to work happy healthy and productive?

..just some random thoughts”

“temprat??? are you Tarprat?


I hike because its fun.”

“Hiking is my hobby. It is the one thing I do when I have nothing to do. No we are not selfish. Some people do puzzles for fun, I hike. Some people do fundraisers while they hike, I hike for fun because I like to. Hiking is my hobby, other people collect things and spend money on useless things. I spen money on more gear. It is my hobby and Im allowed to.”

“I hike for the babes.

Obviously”

“Well gosh. Lots of reasons. The trees, birds, cause its fun. I like to collect stuff. Like rocks.”

“I like hiking for how it makes me feel... healthy and happy to be moving, connected with nature and life.

Last night I discovered that I don't even need to be in the woods to feel the connection. After our town's prayer vigil, I ran into the mother of one of my students. We started talking and walking down a road that runs along the harbor. There were no streetlights, only the constellations above shining in full glory. It was the best thing I did for myself all week.”

“I hike to reach the summit, where I can view the grandeur of nature and recharge my battery. It invigorates my soul, and I come away with the feeling of accomplishment.”

“I hike because I am.”

“Tarp Rat? I am Temprat. Unbiased pervader of truth. Fact if you will. I simply state or restate the obvious. I have no opinion.

I do not talk trash.”

“I have three reasons, regardless of whats going on in civilization.
Reason 1: Stupid people annoy me.
Reason 2: Expands my senses. I don't have to ignore what's around me to keep my sanity.
Reason 3: Balance my life. Man cannot live on technology alone.”

“Markar, after reading Don W's tale on the latest dog thread, and similar encounters of my own the past couple hikes, Reason 1 seems to be increasingly in danger of becoming moot. The reach of ignorance is vast, challenging even the depths of wilderness.

But Reason 2, I hope, can overwhelm such incidents if/when I can regain my focus on the trail.”

“I hike for the physical aspect of it. The backcountry, Views, & animals are part of it too but mostly it's to push myself. Nothing like the feeling of getting to the top of a mountain especially one that was long & tough. Or having hiked for MANY miles in a day.
It's also fun backpacking with good friends.”

“I had a long list of reasons why I hike
to get away, to find myself and the like
to go, to do, to look and to see
I hike to the places I want to be
I found out on my own, I can do pretty well
if it`s a valley stream, or a mountain trail
the view from behind, not knowing what`s ahead
sunsets, or sunrises, stars hung up over my bed
hidden lakes filled with trout, bass, or pike
I have a very long list of reasons why I hike”

“Hiking/backpacking gets me back to the forest and to clean air and away from a world where so much has to do with selfishness, ambition, and aggression.

Humpin' mountains is a great physical challenge.”

“Pekka, perhaps I should clarify it. Stupid people annoy me, and there is less of them in the backcountry than on the street. Most wont go more then 3-4 miles from their beer coolers. They shouldn't have dogs or children either.”

“Because of the absolute simplicity of it.
Your mind is clear, you have focus, you are free of confusion.
Light is sharper, sounds are richer.”

“Well, I started out hiking because I had no choice. My Dad made me. But now, it is so engrained in me and such a part of who I am.”

“Thanks, Dad!”

“i go out there to get a good night's sleep.”

“I hike because I have a serious character flaw...I'm very independant! I love the feeling of having everything I need to survive on my back and do not have to answer to anyone for the time I am "out there". If I feel like moving on I move if I feel like making camp because the fishing looks good bam! I'm home. Really I say all the time I'm a "Toyota Hobo" I need the Toyota to get from cool place to cool place cheaply.”

“I like the physical challenge but it's not as easy as it used to be. The sights , sounds and smells are the real draw for me...
The alpine glow at twilight, the wildlife that flourishes in the National Parks, alpine meadows, white granite passes above 10,000 feet offer fantastic views. Forests of Jeffery pine that smell like butterscotch or vanilla in the afternoon sun. I even like the smell of the dirt in the Sierras.”

“I need to hike. It's as simple as that.”

“various reasons here - in roughly importance order:
1.) pain substitution - substitute pain in feet for emotional pain
2.) interested in field botany
3.) get away from people - I almost always hike/camp alone
4.) like to explore old trails - bushwhacking
5.) the exercise feels good”

“It is a good excuse to eat as much as you want...especially chocolate.

and sometimes you find a nice swimming hole.”

“i hike for the chocolate, too.

and the skinny-dippin' holes! whee!!!”

“did I say anything about gettin nekkid?”

“no, but I did!

quit peekin' at my bum, ya cheekie monkey!”

“lol rad!

(oops, I'm not supposed to laugh)”

“cheeky rat!”

“I'm with Spock. Hiking invigorates my soul too.

The peace and beauty of the wilderness is sometimes quite overwhelming. From the smallest detail to the grandest vista, nothing compares to being a part of it all.”

“I've always considered it a chemical imbalance, part of my mental illness. Sometimes I just gotta go get sweaty in the woods.

Sunday afternoon I could have relaxed, paid the bills or done yard work, when for no good reason (other than no football) I drove 50 minutes, mountain biked 14 miles, hiked in the woods for 2 hours, biked back, and drove home with sore legs. But the battery was re-charged!

wolfsister, some characters are just made different than others.”