Why Doesn’t Anyone Want To Hike with Us?

Jun 25

The Benefits and Aversions to Hiking

My lifelong friend was visiting our outdoor playground here in the beautiful Lake Tahoe basin, and as we set out for another hike together, we pondered why no one ever wants to go with us?

She lives near the North Bay with the beautiful Pacific coast in her backyard: Mount Tampalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Cascade Canyon Preserve, just to name a few… Why would she have trouble getting people to go hike with her?

Redwoods illuminated by the back light of sunshine. — Muir Woods National Monument, photo by author

The American Hiking Society notes the following benefits of hiking:

Soothes and clears the mind.
Makes us more mindful.
Rejuvenates and increases happiness.
Nature offers us advice. For example a tree can offer something simple like “Go out on a limb” or a river: “Go around the obstacles.”
Provides us with a peaceful escape.

So, if there are all these benefits, why doesn’t anyone want to hike with us?

For my 40th birthday, it was my dream to not only go and see Machu Picchu, but to hike the Inca Trail for four days to get there. Our good friends were with us and at the end of the hike, my friend told me that my vacation planning privileges were revoked!

So, maybe it wasn’t a luxurious “vacation” with frosty drinks being delivered to us poolside, and four days is a lot of days of hiking back-to-back, but there was something so exhilarating about having accomplished that feat. (Aforementioned friend definitely agrees even though she said my privileges are still revoked.😂)

A view through the trees on the Monkey Rock hike trail overlooking beautiful Lake Tahoe on a blue bird day. Monkey Rock sits up above Incline on the east shore. — Beautiful Lake Tahoe, Monkey Rock hike, photo by author

“Navigating a winding, wooded trail can help your body build endurance, strength, and coordination.””

— Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

Hiking can offer what interval training in a gym does. Where your heart rate escalates on the incline, and then declines as you are descending. Also, the unevenness of the trail can work more muscles than walking on a treadmill or an even path in a park.

In addition, there is a term called “shinrin-yoku” or “forest-bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere” that was developed in Japan in the 1980’s as a physical and psychological exercise. The purpose was twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests.

. . .

We no longer have to fight off saber-toothed tigers, and foraging for food is a thing of the past unless of course, we want to→ please see my KPCopy blog: Foraging the Fun-guy: The Elusive Morel for more about that…

Our daily stresses are more from civilization (please note: driving to and from and navigating parking or even getting into the some National parks- get there early!) and our rapidly advancing technology:

Simply, our ability to “keep up” in our radically advancing and changing world.

In addition, I have found our Population Explosion to be a contributor to our ongoing stress…This book was written in 1991 and was oh-so-right in predicting what was going to happen with the disproportion of births to deaths and was going to be the main source of Earth’s problems. Simply put: there are too many people.

Getting out in nature seems to be the answer to many of life’s stressors: Reconnecting to our roots, enjoying less crowded trails, and clearing our minds while getting some great exercise & Vitamin D.

There is also a theory that hiking doesn’t even feel like exercise! Dr. Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, says "Some people who eschew exercise will gladly go for a hike.”

So, where are my peeps at?

Is it too dirty?

Too hot?

They would rather be doing something else?

(Frosty bevs poolside come to mind…)

. . .

Another beautiful view of Lake Tahoe's east shore photo by author — Monkey Rock hike, Lake Tahoe, photo by author

From Reddit: r/unpopularopinion: Hiking is not fun, enjoyable, relaxing or remotely worth it.

“Yes I said it, and some may argue “you don’t live in the right area for beautiful views” I live in the pacific north west and at the end of the day I still cannot grasp those who enjoy hiking. I hate the bugs, the sweat, and just about everything about it.”

From my research, others say that it is:

Aimless (sorry, but a treadmill is the most aimless thing I have encountered…)
It requires “too much gear” (ok, hiking boots and a backpack?)
Safety reasons (fear of mountain lions or bears)
Too crowded (definitely- ahem… Population Explosion. But, going early helps.)

Fatigue (people don’t drink enough water and get cramps or simply are out of shape 🤷‍♀️)

. . .

As with anything in this wondrous, beautiful life…

Hiking is up to you!

Hate it, Love it, you do you.

We all know my stance on it, and I hope to be one of those old ladies out in Desolation Wilderness with her hiking poles, tracking at a slower pace doing what they love best. At least I know ONE person who will hike with me… 😉