1) Once you are in the woods, away from the parking lot and the public access road, you find yourself in God's country. For me, it's the equivalent (or better) of going to church. There is such serenity in the nature around you, the earthy scent of the forest floor mixed in with the delicious odor of the fallen maple leaves as they crunch under your feet. If you listen carefully, you can hear the pine needles falling to the ground, the sound is akin to a soft rain, so you look up and see the sun is shining, then realise that it is the sound of the needles falling you are hearing - magic! . You want to remain quiet for a while and just listen to the sound of nature around you, like a hymn to the glory of God (and you know, I am not even remotely religious, but in the woods... I am humbled). Yes, better than church - I am sure that there is a God when I am in the woods.
2) Water. It's always there in any hike that I have been on. And for a good reason. It's what makes the hike so special. Whether it's a babbling brook, a lazy river, a waterfall, rapids, a lake, a pond, or a bog, water is an integral part of a hike. I love to stop and dip my feet in the water along the way. I love crossing bridges over bogs, and across rivers. Waterfalls are always great opportunities for photo shoots, and lakeshores are perfect spots for an impromptu picnic. Gotta love all that water!
3) Most hikes have a goal - you are not just walking in random circles, you are going somewhere. Where depends on the hike, but there is usually a destination - a lookout point, a beach, a summit - somewhere where you can stop and rest and say ''I made it this far!''. On this particular hike, our goal was the ''Lookout'' somewhere way up there. Of course this meant an uphill hike, complete with stairs (365 stairs at one point), but once you reach the summit, you know it was all worth the effort. Did you ever notice how no matter where the mountain you have climbed is, the view from the summit or lookout point is always breathtaking? It seems that the world is such a beautiful place when viewed from atop a mountain.
4) What goes up, must come down. Going back down a mountain is just as enjoyable if not more so than going up. You are a bit more tired, having just climbed for about 8km, but the way is now easier since it is mostly downhill all the way. By now, you've had your lunch or snack, you've drunk most of your water, if not all of it, and your backpack is much lighter than when you started off a few hours ago. Chances are, at this rate, you yourself may be a bit lighter - at least until you reach the bottom and fill up with a well deserved beer - then all bets are off !
Now, on the more pragmatic side - here are a few very practical observations I made while hiking this past weekend:
1) Jeans - even your best looking jeans are not the best garment to wear on a hike. They might look good, but they don't feel so great. Wear lighter slacks - something loose, preferably with lots of pockets!
2) Shoes - running shoes are not the ideal hiking shoes. You feel all those roots, and if you step in the mud - well - you can get wet feet. If you love hiking, a good pair of hiking boots should be a priority in your list of things to acquire - you won't regret it.
3) Bring tissue paper! Somehow, all that wonderful nature around you is bound to make your nose run at one point or another. Whether you are allergic to a lot of the greenery or just the odd mushroom, your nose will thank you for bringing a tissue - and those nice pockets on those hiking pants can hold your tissues no problem!
4) Don't forget to bring lots of water! Walking uphill or downhill is thirsty stuff. Being thirsty is never fun when hiking - come prepared!
5) If your hike is over an hour, bring a snack. An apple is the perfect snack for a hike since there are no wrappers to throw out. Just see how far you can throw that apple core into the forest. Maybe next year a little apple tree will commemorate your passage! Don't carry too much! You don't want to be weighed down by unessential things - keep your lunch/snack as light as possible.
6) Those hiking poles everyone and their brother seem to enjoy walking with...what is up with that? As far as I am concerned, they are totally useless! Free your hands, ditch the walking sticks and carry a camera instead! Which brings me to my last point....
7) Take pictures! Yes, you will never forget a memorable hike, but you will remember it better when you look at the pictures you took along the way. So, don't forget your camera!
Now - take a hike!
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