What Makes A Hike A Hike?

This weekend, I visited another nature-loving friend who recently brought forth a new human into the world with her partner. We spent the weekend chatting about her birth story, her baby’s firsts, and how much the new human has grown in such a short time. However, I sensed a little drop in enthusiasm when the conversation focused on me and my ongoing escapades.

Although this friend was excited about her new bundle of joy and getting used to having another person in her home, she was reminded of her love for the outdoors when I came to visit her and her growing family. My friend mentioned that she really wanted to go on “real hikes” and camping trips with me but was hesitant about entering the outdoors with such a new human and a heavy full-time work schedule.

“First of all,” I told her, “there are no such things as “real hikes. A hike is a hike. It doesn’t matter where it is, how long the distance is, or how long you take to complete that distance.” Hiking means walking outdoors on a trail, or off a trail for recreational purposes. In my mind, those people who walk and jog a marathon have still completed a marathon. When you snap a picture at the end of the race at the finish line, no one who matters will ignore the fact that you have still completed a marathon.

I also reminded my friend that “every bit of nature counts. You can enjoy and commune…