HIKING

HIKING

Unlike tornados, lightning, meteor showers, and the like, which are most beautiful when they are wracked with violence, some places were simply meant to be enjoyed in their most intimate and serene magnificence.  Only one method of human conveyance can truly appease such unfettered experience.  Hope you have a comfortable pair of shoes!

Hiking and Walking, although categorically similar, are two very different experiences for me.  Walking is what I do when I'm window-shopping downtown, or when I have to park 2 miles away from whatever major event I am trying to attend, or when my car runs out of gas on the freeway offramp.  Walking is generally something I have to do.

Hiking, on the other hand, is something I want to do.  Maybe it's a matter of attitude, but I rather like to think the difference is in the experience of it.  To me, Hiking is a way of experiencing someplace I can't see from a sidewalk or get to with a plane, train, car, bike, blades or board.  Hiking is Exploratory Walking, and it provides a more internal joy and sense of being than any other activity I participate in.  It is the least distracting and most fulfilling of all the experiences discussed on this site.  Of course, many will argue with that idea.. to each their own, I guess.

But to me, Hiking is the best of everything. It takes almost no intelligence, experience or concentration (just an eye for exposed tree roots and loose rocks) - thus, the mind is completely free to simply enjoy everything absorbed by the senses.  Hiking is self-paced - stop and go on a dime; change direction on a whim; backtrack a couple steps to take in the perfect view; approach and admire wildlife stealthily; even eat and drink on the go!  Hikers need only rely on themselves - no equipment failures or trail accessibility to worry about, and it can be enjoyed solo or in groups (although my experience is that the overall personal joy of Hiking decreases in direct proportion to the number of people tagging along - I recommend keeping to groups of four or less - even if you split up a larger group into smaller bundles that explore independently and meet only at predetermined places and times).

Thus, I give you Hiking (not Walking)...

Jump to...
WyrdWyrld Main
Biking
Rafting/Kayaking
Climbing/Bouldering
Camping
Writing
Photography

Coming Soon...
Sky Diving
SCUBA/Snorkeling
Skiing/Snowboarding
Cruises
Adventure Travel
Art
Theater
Music

Me and Mom doing some casual hiking in the Boulder Lake area around McCall, Idaho... Yes, that is snow, despite the 80+ F temperatures in June.

Unexpected Hiking Pleasures...

Magone Lake - John Day, Oregon
Iron Creek - Stanley, Idaho
City of Rocks, Idaho
Shaffer Butte - Boise, Idaho
Hulls Gulch - Boise, Idaho
Hidden Lakes - Twin Falls, Idaho
Boulder Lake - McCall, Idaho



Note: This section will list the little-known or off-the-map places that are worth experiencing.  Links will be provided when available, as well.

The view we had from the patch of snow above...

If you have stories, descriptions and/or photos of places that fit this category, email them with your name or a "handle" and I will consider posting them in the expanded coverage pages!  Keep total submissions to less than 2MB, please.  I will ask permission to edit or clip content before posting, if necessary.