Top Five Reasons to Adopt Long-Distance Hiking as a Hobby

What follows is a list of some of the best reasons to become a long-distance hiker. However, the best reason to adopt this hobby is because it is pure FUN.

1. Long-Distance Hiking Gives You Unprecedented Freedom.

Imagine it is 6PM and you are at 10,000 feet above sea level sitting atop a mountain well above timberline watching the sunset over a distant range. Yes, this is possible when you are a long-distance hiker. When you go on day hikes, you still hold all the frustrations, stresses, and concerns of your daily life. You may be huffing and puffing up the mountain and enjoying time with friends, but ultimately, you know that tomorrow holds another day of work and normal life. When you are a long-distance walker, all that you need to concern yourself with is food, water, shelter, and warmth. That's it. And that's freedom.

2. You Get To See Wildlife As They Are.

Sure, you can go to the zoo and see the lions and the monkeys and the seals and the giraffes, but when you see wildlife in the natural world, it is a completely different experience. Imagine climbing up a hill, focused on the next step, the next rock to avoid, the next tree to grab, and all of a sudden you hear a loud 'SCHRUFF!' You look up and standing three feet from you is a moose the size of Texas. He's stamping, huffing, and looking directly at you. After you pull out your camera silently and snap a few pictures, he heads into the brush to find lunch. Now, this experience can be a bit harrowing, but at the same time, it is a thrilling rush. Now, imagine this happening with bears, deer, marmots, owls, pheasants, and snakes. Yeah, it's not the zoo. It's better.

3. You Meet People Who Are Living Their Dreams.

For many, walking a path like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail is a a lifelong dream. For many others, it is something that is only a pipe dream, an unrealized goal, or an 'I'll do that someday' thought. And, for the very few, it is a passion that lingers for years and years, waiting out marriages, graduations, and retirement until the right moment where it can be accomplished. In normal life, it is rare to meet someone who is truly living his/her dream AT THAT MOMENT. If you walk the long trails, you will meet someone living their dream every day. Guaranteed. Further, the culture of these dream-chasers is electric and highly motivating--you may find yourself with connections to future jobs, future wives, or simply great friendships. Dream chasing is a lost art, but in this niche of society, it is alive and well.

4. You Live Simply.

One of the massive complications of our lives is, well, complications. We all have deadlines, meetings to attend, activities to plan, work, and, of course, exercise. Our calendars fill up six months in advance. You often hear people say, 'there aren't enough hours in the day,' or 'I wish I had more time.' Further, we as humans tend to collect things. We have houses full of our collections--books, furniture, appliances, exercise machines, DVD's, computers, plates, knives, etc. If you have moved recently, you know what I am talking about. When you are a long-distance hiker, you carry everything you need on your back. You have one spoon, one bowl, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and maybe five articles of clothing. With this simplicity comes peace. There is no need to worry about what matches your shoes for the day, or if your black belt is OK with brown shoes. Instead, you wear the same outfit, eat from the same utensils, and sleep in the same shelter. Even better, living simply in the woods often translates to normal life, and can help you cut back on areas of excess.

5. You Get to Witness Immense Beauty.

Walking a long trail is more than a long hike, it is an experiential journey through wilderness. It changes your perceptions, and helps you slow down and take in the wonder of your surroundings. And, it shows you different forms of beauty all day and every day. One day may offer a majestic view of a granite mountain range, and another may leave you resting for hours at the bank of a lovely mountain stream. You will see fields, snow, boulder fields, stretching plains, mountains, dense forests, and arid deserts. The world is filled with beauty, and by spending months out in the wild, you will be sure to appreciate your time here.