My Hiking Journey

Why I hike

Hiking is one of my favorite activities for a lot of reasons. One of the benefits of hiking is that being in nature brings me a feeling of peace and calm. It allows me to disconnect from the busyness of the world and feel closer to myself, God, and whoever I am hiking with. Disconnecting also reminds me to recognize the beauty in nature I know I miss on a normal, busy day. And while this doesn’t happen on every hike since we live in Ohio, there is nothing like the feeling of sitting down at the summit of a mountain with no cell service, eating a snack, after a strenuous uphill climb.  

I started out as a beach vacationer

I haven’t always loved hiking. As a kid, I was chubby and liked playing outside in the neighborhood with family and friends. I liked going on walks and bike rides, and going to the park, but nothing too lengthy or difficult. In fact, I don’t think I ever understood the concept of hiking as a kid. My family were beach vacationers through and through – always Myrtle Beach. We stayed at the same hotel, ate at the same restaurants, we had a lot of routines and traditions. It was fun and I’m grateful for all the memories those beach vacations brought me. But now, I primarily crave mountain vacations. 

The story of my first hike… & where my love of the eastern US mountains began

When I was in college I moved to North Carolina for a semester for an internship. I lived with my aunt and uncle, who had done a lot of hiking in their lifetime. They had traveled to many National Parks in the US and Canada. My first actual hike was a weekend in February that semester. One of my best friends, Julie, came to visit. She was determined to go hiking in the Smoky Mountains. The Smokies were about a four hour drive from where I was staying in North Carolina. I remember I wore these bright purple tennis shoes that were not really meant for hiking. I was so unprepared for what hiking was that I even brought a crossbody purse and a water bottle that didn’t fit in the purse. Since it was February in the mountains there were some road closures due to snow and ice. We couldn’t park at the trailhead we wanted, but Julie suggested we walk the extra distance since there was a connector trail. Our 2-3 mile hike turned into about 7 miles.

Props to Julie for putting up with my complaining the whole time as I slipped around the muddy trail for 7 miles. I think I hated hiking in many of those first hike moments. However, I did love the mountains and the feeling of being done hiking. Throughout the rest of my time in North Carolina I continued to hike with my aunt and uncle along with any friends that visited. I also dreamt up my dream birthday trip to drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway (almost 500 miles from Virginia to Tennessee) over my birthday week in October, stop at all the overlooks, and take in the beautiful fall colors. I don’t think I knew it yet, but I fell in love with the mountains of North Carolina. There is nothing like them.

Old Rag, round 1

I hiked off and on over the next couple of years as I finished out college and got my first full-time job. I finally had actual hiking shoes, but the longest mileage I had hiked at one time was on my first hike with Julie at around 7 miles.

The first year after I graduated college, one of my best friends from elementary school, Taylor, asked me to hike Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I hadn’t been to Virginia before and it sounded pretty cool so I said yes. The Old Rag circuit hike is about 9.5 miles round trip with 2,500 feet of elevation gain. It has 1-2 miles of rock scrambles to get to the peak. It sounded really intimidating, but I knew Taylor had a lot of hiking experience. I completely relied on her to plan the trip. She essentially told me she wouldn’t let me hike unless I had a proper hiking backpack with a water bladder. We were planning to go in the middle of June when it would be extremely hot. I made sure I had all the right supplies prepped for the trip.

We took a half day off work that Friday and drove the 6 hours to Virginia that day. We woke up early on Saturday to drive to the trailhead. I was pretty nervous since I had never done a hike this long or hard before but I was excited at the same time. The first part of the trail is nothing but switchbacks and elevation gain. I couldn’t believe how exhausting it was and we weren’t even close to the top. We finally made it to the rock scramble section which was less exhausting but more terrifying especially for people with short legs and no one to help us across the sketchy parts. Luckily another guy on the trail helped us out. I remember about 24 false peaks that I thought just HAD to be the summit because how could we not be there yet? But when we finally made it to the top, we were rewarded with the most incredible views! We took a long break for food and pictures at the top. Then we started the loop back down, which wasn’t too bad since it was a fire road instead of more rock scrambles.

I remember it being beautiful and exhilarating. While I know I complained a lot, I also experienced a connection and strength that I had never felt before. And I loved it. After we finished the Old Rag hike, my travels continued to lead me to more hiking. I hiked in Michigan, California, Alaska, Panama, Arizona, and Iceland with friends and family. 

2020’s road trips: Old Rag, round 2 & the dream birthday trip

On one of my hiking trips I met my now-husband, Alex. We met a few weeks before but really got to know each other on our trip to Panama. We hiked all over the mountains in the Comarca. Alex grew up in a smaller town than I did, and had a similar story of past beach vacations. However, he grew up on a few acres of land and spent a ton of time playing outside in the woods as a kid. Alex had also just recently started traveling to national parks and getting more into hiking. After we met and started dating, we grew to love hiking even more together. This especially rang true in 2020. We had some major trips planned like a second trip to Panama, and a hiking trip to Switzerland. Unfortunately, that all got canceled in March due to the pandemic.

Suddenly we found ourselves stuck inside for days on end. After settling into our new normal of working from home, we started to explore the area around us. We’re lucky enough to live close to Cuyahoga Valley National Park along with a bunch of fantastic metroparks, so we made a spreadsheet of all the trails in the area and started checking them off our list. It was a small way to fill the void from all the trips we weren’t able to take that year. It helped keep us active, and helped me realize how calming, peaceful, and restful being in nature was. Hiking helped my soul and my heart recover from the chaos and busyness that used to run my life. It helped me learn how to rest – and that “resting” didn’t have to mean sleeping or watching TV.

As 2020 continued and some restrictions started lifting, we traveled to Shenandoah for another round of Old Rag. It was just as challenging, or maybe more challenging, since we hiked in the rain, but just as beautiful and exhilarating as I remembered. I had been struggling with ankle problems for the past few months and they continued to get worse as I went to multiple doctors and tried multiple braces. Ultimately we decided that since 2020 was the year of road trips, it was time for the dream Blue Ridge Parkway birthday trip! The bonus is that Alex’s birthday is also in October, so we celebrated both of our birthdays on that trip.  It was beautiful and everything that I had hoped for. There is nothing like the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall.

The ups and downs of training

In 2021 I started working out and strength training consistently for the first time in my life. It’s been quite the journey, but as I continued to strength train and get into better shape, hiking got easier and easier. Unfortunately at the same time my fitness was improving, my ankle continued to deteriorate. Ultimately, ankle surgery took me out of the hiking game for over 6 months in 2022. Throughout my recovery and physical therapy, thinking about getting back to hiking was one of my main motivators. I couldn’t wait until my strength and balance had returned to get back out on the trails. My inability to hike out in nature helped me realize how important it was to me. I missed the methodical plodding of one foot after another on a trail. I missed the views and the laughter shared with whoever I was hiking. Mostly, I missed the peace, calm, and closeness I felt to nature and to God.

A lot of stairmaster sessions and training hikes were completed in the first half of 2023 to get my legs back into shape and ready for another round of Old Rag (clearly our favorite hike nearby), a multi-day trip to the Adirondacks, and a week of hiking in Glacier National Park. I hadn’t imagined that 18 months after ankle surgery I’d be able to hike a little over 50 miles in one week during our Glacier trip. The accomplishments of that trip are what inspire me to continue to train and push forward for even longer trips in the future.

How to become a hiker (hint: just go for a walk on a trail nearby)

If you want to become a hiker, but don’t know how to start hiking, all you have to do is go out for a walk on an unpaved path! There’s no requirement to deem yourself a “real” hiker. In fact, the Oxford dictionary hiking definition is “to walk for pleasure; to go for a long walk … in the country”. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a couple first steps you can take.

1. Find a hiking destination. You can Google search for the closest metropark, National Park, etc. or you can download the AllTrails app for free. If you’re searching for the closest park, look around the various websites for maps to figure out where you can park and how long the trails are. If you’re using AllTrails, you can find trails a certain distance away based on your current location. If this is your first hike, I’d suggest anywhere from 1-3 miles.
2. Dress for the weather. You don’t need specific “gear” for your first (or second or third) hike. I realize though that it can be difficult to decide what to wear if it’s your first hike. The bare minimum is to dress for the weather and the task. If it’s cold, make sure you have layers. If it’s going to rain, bring a rain jacket. Make sure you have a solid pair of shoes that fit you well. If it’s going to be hot, make sure you bring a water bottle and some sunscreen. If you live in a buggy area, bring some bug spray. It’s the same process as if you’re packing for a day out at the playground with kids.
3. Drive to the trail and start walking! If you’re not familiar with the area, make sure you know where you’re going! Have a screenshot of a map on your phone, or ensure the trail is visible on Google maps or AllTrails. Make sure you know how to read the trail markers, too. 
4. Take a lot of deep breaths. Laugh. Talk to God or a friend. Do whatever you need to do in that moment.

How to become a better hiker

If you want to be more serious about hiking and you’re struggling to know how to get better or how to decide what gear you need, here are some hiking tips and tricks.

1. To become a better hiker, it’s important to exercise and strength train for hiking in other ways. Improve your strength, cardiovascular fitness, and balance off the trail. It’s only going to make you a stronger hiker who is more capable. Hopefully it will allow you to hike longer, more challenging, and more beautiful trails. Speaking from experience, you’ll likely enjoy the hiking trail more, the higher fitness level you have. I prioritize cardio once or twice a week – usually a combination of the stairmaster, sled, and bike. I also prioritize evening walks a few nights a week along with strength training 3-4 days per week. If we have a big trip coming up, I usually increase my cardio training. We also try to get out on the weekends for longer trail hikes. While Ohio elevation doesn’t compare to most places we visit, we have a few favorites with decent elevation gain that we use for training. There’s no substitute for time spent on the trail to be better, but the other types of exercise I mentioned will also help you improve your hiking skills overall. 
2. When it comes to gear you’ll want some basic hiking equipment. There are also some supplementary pieces based on the specific trail or area you’re hiking in. The best piece of advice when it comes to gear is to figure out what works best for you. It probably won’t be the same as what works best for me. Buy new or used high quality gear to avoid having to replace it as often. Here’s what I would consider my hiking essentials.
   1. Shoes – many people choose to hike in regular tennis shoes or trail running shoes. I personally prefer hiking boots because they protect my ankle more. The downside is that they are heavier (and I usually end up having to wear them on the airplane to avoid taking up too much room in our luggage!). If you’re going a relatively long distance (7+ miles) I’d recommend trail running shoes or hiking shoes or boots. If you’re doing a hike that is rocky or worse, rocky and rainy, make sure your shoes have good traction. You will also want to replace them when the treads wear down.
   2. Hiking Pack and Water Bladder – this depends on distance and heat. I would say if you’re going more than 3+ miles in heat and humidity or 6+ miles at any time of year, I’d recommend having a water bladder. In general having a water bladder is really helpful for long hikes because you can continue to drink water without stopping to get your water bottle out of your pack. This is key especially if dehydration could be a concern. I usually carry a 2.5L bladder. If it’s extra hot, extra elevation, or extra long I bring an extra one or two 32 oz. reusable water bottles in my pack. We also will keep a stainless steel insulated bottle in the car in case we run out on the trail. If you’ll be sweating on the trail, you’ll be losing electrolytes. I’d also recommend having some electrolyte packets of your choice that you can add to your water if you need it. Your pack doesn’t have to be anything special, but it should be big enough to hold your basic needs. I consider basic needs to be toilet paper, snacks, extra layers of clothing, your water bladder, and a first aid kit. Don’t carry more than you need!
   3. Clothing Layers – this again depends on distance, temperature, and elevation. Look at the weather before you start out. If there’s a chance of rain, pack a rain jacket (and a rain cover for your pack) regardless. If it’s going to be hot, but you’re hiking in the mountains, consider bringing an extra layer or two of clothing. It will be colder at higher elevations. If you’re hiking early in the morning or late at night, it’s usually cooler than mid-day so make sure you’re prepared with extra layers. I have a lot of moisture-wicking athletic quarter zips, fleece jackets, and athletic t-shirts or tank tops along with a rain jacket. I just pack based on the weather for that day.
   4. First Aid Kit – the basics are Bandaids, gauze pads, disinfectant, pain medication, and emergency electrolytes. You can add more based on where you’re hiking and what hazards you might run into. This list should be good enough to get you started for local hikes.
   5. Food – you’re going to burn a lot of calories on the trail so you want something with a lot of carbohydrates to keep up your energy. Fruit is great for carbohydrates and electrolytes, but you also want to include enough fats and protein to keep you satiated. Things like trail mix with nuts and chocolate, beef jerky, or a protein bar are all good options. It’s better to have extra food than not enough!
   6. Extras – bring a reusable bag for any trash like bar wrappers or apple cores (yes, you need to pack items out even if they’re biodegradable!!). Bring toilet paper in case you need to go on the trail. Bring a headlamp or flashlight if you’re hiking before sunrise or after sunset. Bring bear spray if you’re in an area with bears. Bring a map always (paper, Google maps, AllTrails, etc.) 

Happy to be a mountain vacationer

Looking back to when I met my husband about four years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed the amazing hiking trips we’d take and the gear we’d have. We’ve seen 13 national parks together with more trips planned and each of us has hats, packs, hiking pants, boots, and more to be prepared for most anything. I love the excitement of a new trail and the familiarity of the local trails. If you’re new to and interested in hiking, I hope you make it out for a walk on a trail soon. And if you’re already a serious hiker that wanted to learn more about my journey… I hope nature brings you the sense of peace and calm that it does for me. Drop a photo or story of your favorite adventure in the comments and maybe I’ll see you out on the trails!

SOURCES:

• https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=hiking