Reasons To Hike

Purpose and Motives for Hiking and Backpacking

Sep 16, 2007 Jeff Wetherington

The ultimate reason to hike is for personal enjoyment, but there are other goals that can be achieved when hitting the trail.

Most people enjoy hiking and backpacking because "it feels good", even if they are dog tired at the end of the trail. Longtime hikers (and even some "newbies") come to realize that there are a multitude of reasons that are involved in making it "feel good" for them, and those reasons may be different for different people.

Here are a few reasons to hike and backpack:

Getting Outdoors - Most of us live and work indoors the majority of our everyday lives. Being able to get outdoors and enjoy just being outside and experiencing all that entails can be one of the best feelings about hiking. Fresh air, the sounds of birds and other animals, tall trees, blue sky, majestic mountains, bubbling creeks, flowing rivers and deep valleys all contribute to a sense of contentment and even inspiration. Man is connected to nature and the earth; making that connection closer by spending time outdoors helps contribute to that feeling of enjoyment.

Physical Health - Hiking and Backpacking are very physically healthy activities. They help with weight control, improve your circulation, strengthen muscles, build stronger bones, and contribute to overall muscle tone. Hiking and Backpacking, as opposed to simple walking for exercise, work a variety of different muscles in different ways due to the uneven terrain that's found on hiking trails. Overall, it's a much better workout than simple walking. Climbing, even if it's just up a steep embankment, will increase your strength and help you maintain your sense of balance. As the old saying goes, "Use it or lose it."

Emotional Health - Leaving the hustle and bustle of our daily routine to hike through trails, across mountains and into valleys inevitably has a calming effect. Hiking and/or Backpacking is a great way to "de-stress" your life and your mind. There is something that happens after your first few steps on the trail; you find that all those burdens you were carrying around in your mind become a little lighter and sometimes disappear completely. As an added benefit, especially if you're solo hiking, you discover how thoughtful your mind becomes. With nothing but you and nature, it becomes easy to open your mind and think about issues, people and events in your life. You may very well find your mind opening up to ideas or answers to problems that you had not considered before. It's a great opportunity to contemplate subjects you may have consciously forgotten as well as some that may be fresh in your mind.

Hiking or Backpacking does "feel good" and these are just a few reasons why. Getting Outdoors, your Physical Health and your Emotional Health are some great reasons to hike.

The copyright of the article Reasons To Hike in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by Jeff Wetherington. Permission to republish Reasons To Hike in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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