My love for hiking started as a mere hobby - as it does for most. For anyone who finds themselves on the side of a mountain, you can feel the liberation within your first step; the first crunch of a stick, the first deep breath of pure mountain air. The perks of the peak long exceed the obvious strength and exercise benefits. The journey up the side of a foothill is both rewarding spiritually and mentally. You do not come down the same person you were when you began your climb.

This slight addiction began the past summer. I saw the pictures of fellow friends on the top of summits all over the country and all I could think was “I need to be there!” so off I went, a few small goals at first: I begged friends to come along. Before I knew it, one weekend trip turned into a month long slew of trails, miles of terrain, and gallons of water. I moved up from old sneakers to a beautiful pair of hiking boots and a PERFECT day pack. And when my friends became too busy and phased out of the adventure, I trekked on, alone and blissful.

Anxiously checking the weather all week to see the conditions, I soon stopped caring. Finding myself atop an Adirondack high peak more than once watching a storm roll in; the rain feels unlike anything I had ever felt up there. It doesn’t sting and it never feels like an inconvenience. There is a certain feeling of calm when becoming one with nature. Perspective is unique up in the hills. Things begin to sink in and make sense, your mind becomes clear, and your body physically exhausted. These are the immense feelings I have fallen in deep love with.

Of all of the miles my feet have paced, ran, walked, tripped, slipped and fell... The best by far lay in the woods of the mountains. I have yet to cloud my mind on these adventures, feeling the presence of the wilderness, the stillness of Mother Nature is a perfect state, complete peace, the impeccable place to be.

It’s easy to allow our minds to constantly be distracted from our deep inner thoughts. I dare you to hike a few miles in the silence, alone. Allow your mind to wander where it would like to the pace of your feet. Reach the summit, scream, cry, laugh. You’ve made it.