Reasons To Do More Hiking

We live in a world which is very much focused on being inside these days. But one of the greatest pleasures in life is enjoying the world in all its glory, and one of the best ways of doing this is by embarking on a hiking adventure.

Whether you are planning a day trip in your local national park or a once in a lifetime adventure, there are all sorts of reasons why hiking is such an incredible activity. Here are a few of them.

Breathtaking views

You can look at a thousand photos of being in a place, but nothing beats the feeling of actually seeing it for yourself. And when you embark on a particularly difficult hike where you feel like you need to give up, it is the views which make it all worthwhile and remind you why you are doing this in the first place.

It can be social or solitary

You have the option of whether you would like to head out on your own or with a group. On your own you give yourself plenty of time to think and let your mind get lost in the landscape. But this could also prove to be a highly social activity. Invite some of your closest friends and you are bound to bond in the shared experience of overcoming the challenge which you have in front of you. Otherwise, there are plenty of hiking groups which you can find online, giving you the chance to meet an entirely new set of friends.

Improves your health and fitness

Obviously, hiking provides a major boost to your health and fitness. And unlike the gym, where you are just staring at a screen or a wall, hiking gives you the pleasure of taking in beautiful landscapes while you are getting fit. Of course, you certainly need to have the right travel gear to make sure that you can hike comfortably.

Just some of the positive benefits which you can enjoy include an increase in your muscle strength endurance, an increase in stamina and a break from the stresses of day to day life.

Pushes your limits

Whether you are climbing a mountain or trying to reach the end of a trail, you know that you simply have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And there may be times that you feel like you should give up but the thought of the finish line keeps driving you onwards. You can take the lessons which you learn while you are hiking and apply them to other areas of your life as well.

A different high

Hiking gives you a ‘high’ which you can’t get from other recreational sources. It gives you a combination of a great sense of accomplishment and a boost in serotonin levels. And you may well find that this can be a very addictive feeling in itself.

Any one of these five reasons should give you the reason that you need to embark on a hiking adventure yourself.

Photo by Tembela Bohle from Pexels