(SitNews) Klawock, Alaska - There are those who don’t see a point in walking up a trail to stand around for a while, then walk down. Especially if it’s already been done before. So hikers sometimes validate the experience in three misleading ways. Or at least I do.

Misleading reason #1 - “I hike so I can have time to think.”

False. We are constantly thinking, but the real reason behind this claim is that hiking provides the opportunity to over-think - to really socialize with thoughts on everything from how to best fix the front deck to what would happen if you sold everything built yourself a raft and did a Huck Finn. That’s what’s missing from our day, the ability to initiate energy systems to enhance awareness while over-analyzing some aspect of our lives. Ordinary hours only give us time to start getting into something before we are distracted. The phone rings, someone comes over, lunch ends, a new show comes on.

While hiking, all systems are go, but there aren’t a lot of interesting shiny things. When the trail is taking you up you’re looking down at gravel, mud or mossy muskeg. Visual stimulus is at a minimum so for 1,100 feet of elevation gain you can digest your major issue or tackle little things like the realization you had after subbing for geometry. You helped a student understand the principles of graphing parabolas which you re-learned yourself with the help of an Internet search, then taught her domain and range. Later, you realize you defined range as domain and domain as range. Ordinarily you can shake it off, but on a hike you get to question whether or not that broken trust will be the point on which the life of that student hinges.

Hiking tangents work like that because outside of an occasional appetizing view, there’s nothing to jolt you to a new thought, especially when hiking alone. Hence the potential for raucous over-thinking. Usually, by the time you get to the top you’ve untangled your life and are rewarded with a bucolic view. Visual overload then supersedes the dying storm in your brain.

Misleading reason #2 - “It’s relaxing.” No it’s not, in fact this might even qualify as an out-right lie. Bathed in your own sweat you feel hamstring fibers tearing away from the muscle it’s supposed to attach to bone. Knees crack in new entertaining ways and you can see your pulse in the corners of your eyes. Of course you can’t say that to a non-hiker because, well, duh. What I think we mean is there are few times when you’re able to put life on cruise control and steer with your knee. A hike is one of them. You’re not stagnant, you’re headed somewhere but it only requires basic alertness and little complication. It’s not like sitting in front of a TV watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy back to back to back because (to extend the metaphor) that’s sitting in a parked van waiting for the air to seep out of the tires. Should you disengage lie number one, or if you’re not a type one lier, you can move forward, but in intellectual neutral. It’s that kind of relaxation.

Misleading reason #3 - “It’s fun.” Yeah, but not in the way hikers want you to believe. You get out, breathe fresh air, work up a sweat getting to somewhere and seeing stuff from a perspective impossible from the combustion engine you left at the trailhead. But it’s not opening weekend of March Madness, a half-dozen friends, 10 dozen BBQ chicken wings, 28 layer bean dip with an endless pit of dippin’ chips type fun. It’s a fun which prevents you from struggling later with those heart-disease, obesity or a sedentary lifestyle. All of which are decidedly unfun from what I’ve seen and read. It’s a foresight of fun so to speak. A take a deep breath and see where land hits sky type fun. - a punch a column into your iPhone as you look down on a town still waking up and figuring out what to do that day type fun.

And I can’t wait to go again. Any takers?

Jeff Lund ©2014

Jeff Lund is a Teacher, Freelance Writer, & River fishing guide (Tranquil Charters) living in Klawock, Alaska
Contact Jeff at Email – aklund21@gmail.com

http://www.jlundoutdoors.com

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