travel and rhum

Been seeing a lot of posts about fear of hiking, and want to encourage beginners to just get out there.

I was the same way a few years ago, thinking that "hiking" was some special skill and I should never go alone. I was afraid of bears and injury and having to buy all sorts of equipment.

Then one day, I just said to myself, I like walking, I like the woods, how about trying a hike?

I started out on easy popular trails and as my confidence improved, started looking for more solitude and challenging trails. Got some trail runners and poles and slowly increased the intensity and duration.

I'm still far from advanced, but at the point where I am no longer fearful and truly enjoying myself. There is no better way to de-stress than nature and exercise, and hiking gives you both.

So, for those who are hesitant due to fears, just get out there and take a walk in the woods. It's really that simple.

I just went on my first hiking trail and fell in love but there was one issue…

i went with some guy it was kinda like a blind date and i feel like i wasn’t able to enjoy the trail, and even the views as much as i wanted to. Besides being being someone i wouldn’t wanna see again, do hikers usually go out by themselves or is it common to go with a group or with others.

At the end of the day i really enjoyed the fresh air and experience, and would have to do it again.

My wife does not like me being out of touch when I go winter backpacking (well any camping or hiking), so we compromised that I bring an Inmarsat phone with me in areas where cell reception is sketchy. The people I have run onto the trails in the Catskills and Adirondacks in NY never seem to have sat phones. Am I in a small minority of people on the east coast that carry’s one? Only one backpackers I know has a satellite texting device.