THE QUESTION OF WHY WE HIKE?

(A pleasant view along the way)

Hiking draws a variety of people, all for their own reason. I enjoy hiking, partly for the challenge of a tall peak, but mainly for the experience of the view you have from the summit of any high mountain top. I like the mountains over 3000 feet because you are usually guaranteed a bit of view, depending upon the cloud cover and weather. This is not always the case, as I found in hiking up Dial Mt. one year. You actually have to go back down the trail a few hundred yards in order to get a vista with a pleasant view.
The real draw to hiking is not that much different than many other outdoor endeavors. There is always the anticipation of what you might experience that keeps you going. Like the fisherman, who is not 100% sure of catching fish every time out, the hiker is not always guaranteed a fulfilling trip up each mountain. It is that concept of intermittent reinforcement, meaning that you are never quite sure when to expect the reward, that keeps many coming back to the trails time and again.

(A view of Wright Peak from Algonquin trail)

There are other draws, such as the challenge of distances covered or number of mountain peaks climbed, but usually it is more of an intrinsic satisfaction than any extrinsic reward that appeals to most. The old adage, “to see the other side of the mountain,” is more than enough for most. It is what it is!
When we begin comparison of this trail system to that trail system, or this mountain to that mountain, we begin to get off track of the true meaning of the hike. Yes, we each have our favorite climbs and favorite spots that renew our souls from the hectic pace of this world. There is no getting around that. But each new hike should be approached with the anticipation of what will be found along the way. This is often an unknown that only unfolds as we progress up the trail.
What new adventures are in your immediate future?