What is it about hiking that has fueled this obsession? Why do I feel like a junkie with an addiction? Why can't I go even one day without thinking about hiking a mountain, or backpacking some ridiculous distance? Is this bad? God, I hope not and if it's wrong then I do not want to be right ever again. I don't know why I began hiking or when I fell in love with the sport, but I am glad I started and I have most definitely fallen in love the the sport, and fallen hard. There are so many benefits associated with the sport that I can't even think of them all and there are probably so many more that I don't even know of, but I do know there are quite a few reason why I have become obsessed.
One of the main reasons I have become so obsessed with and have developed a love for hiking is because how fresh the sport is to me. I have only started hiking last year so the sport is still new and I have only scratched the surface of all that hiking has to offer. Because it is still new, each time I go off on another excursion, it is a totally unique experience for me and I don't think that this will change no matter how long I continue to hike. I also enjoy the sport so much because each time is a learning experience. I usually learn a lot when I'm on the trails. It may be something about the mountains, about hiking technique, history, or even about myself.
Another reason I have become obsessed with hiking is for the scenery. The beauty of nature that you can experience while out in the wilderness is nothing short of breathtaking. From the majestic views from the summit of a mountain to the fantastic flora and fauna found throughout the area. While I am out on the trails in pursuit of a summit, I find myself at a whole other level of living. I am so much more in touch with nature and with myself. I love all of the personal reflection that I experience while trekking the mountains. Each time I set out on another Adirondack adventure, I leave as one person and come back a changed man, more in touch with my inner self and a step closer to the man I desire to be and man I am becoming.
I also enjoy hiking because it is an escape. I leave all of the troubles and worries of my daily life behind and I am on a mini-vacation with a clear mind. No technology to distract or annoy me. I can go on these vacations alone or with a friend or even a group. I can take a vacation for a day, like the one I have planned for tomorrow. Yes, I am so obsessed with hiking that I couldn't wait all the way until October 2nd to go again, so I planned a day hike to Mount Colden with my fiancee for tomorrow. I'm like a junkie who needs his fix. (I am so excited I want to leave right now, I can barely focus!)
Finally, I know that a major reason that I am so obsessed with hiking is definitely the athlete in me. With any sport or game I play, whether it's foosball or baseball, I play and practice and train until I am better than anyone else I know and then I train, play and practice some more. Hiking is no different. I am obsessed with being the best I can be at it and being a 46er before any of my friends who have been hiking the high peaks much longer than myself. (Shhh, don't tell them.) Maybe I'm too competitive, but I love that drive and the adrenaline. I love the challenge of hiking. Every summit I strive to reach, presents many challenges and obstacles and I love it. You know what they say, “If it was easy, everybody would do it.” I'll be the first to tell you, it's not easy. That's probably why I love it too. I also love the exercise factor. I love the cardio workout it provides and the muscular strength and endurance it helps to build. You can get the workout that you want out of it everytime because you can challenge yourself as much as you want to. I love to push myself as you all probably know by now and I push it everytime. I also love the fact that you can set goals during hiking and you can be a goal-oriented hiker. I have plenty of hiking goals already, such as becoming a 46er and hiking the highest peak in all 50 states, and I have only been hiking for a year or two. I can't wait to see what my goals are one year from now. I often set out to conquer a mountain and cross it off my list, but as Sir Edmund Hillary once said, “ It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
These are just some of the reasons that I have become so obsessed with hiking and why I love the sport so much. Why do you love the sports that you do?.
I really liked this article because i think it can pertain to a lot of people when it comes to their sports in general. There is that obsession whether they believe it or not and sometimes it takes over a person's life, but that isnt too bad is it? You just need to find someone who is as obsessed with it as you are. Obsession is a great thing, but remember you have a life to, there are other things. But i honor the fact that you can admit this and that it doesnt matter what people think, you do what you want to do and thats great! Congrats on the new hiking adventures!
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