So, I grew up pretty isolated from "Nature." My idea of roughing it while growing up was going to the beach for the day and being without air con for more than four consecutive hours in the blistering Miami summer. My family loved the beach, so we did this a bunch, but it wasn't like even this version of "Nature" was part of my day-to-day existence. We were, and mostly still are, city people. Even more specifically, I was a total geek and did not go outside much even within that city.
Unless it related to my Star Trek novels, computer games or math homework, I really couldn't be bothered, much less to go outside. So, fine reader you ask yourself: Why does my tubby, mostly-under-air-con youth have any relevance today? Well, on this trip I"ve effectively done some of the world's most famous, and best hikes. And I've kinda loved it. It's pretty easy to see how this is at best, inconsistent with my past. Truly, aside from loving trail mix (while watching Star Trek: The Next Generation) there really was no experience in my past that would have led me to believe that this is something I would enjoy. That said, I think my version of enjoying hiking is a little bit different than someone else who maybe grew up with a more outdoorsy disposition. Basically the entire time I'm hiking I'm pretty convinced there is something that is going to kill me in every direction or even in the air! Some Examples:
- Poisonous Plants: While hiking all plants are like land mines to me. Don't let exposed skin touch that one - it's bound to give you the flesh eating disease! Cactus pricks in Israel, Tall spiney grass on Easter Island, Peet moss in Patagonia - It's all gonna get me. QUICKLY.
- Altitude: This is a big one. The feeling of being up at 4,200 meters or 5,000 meter is pretty shitty. Particularly for someone who has spent the bulk of their existence at or below Sea Level. Even more particularly for someone who is convinced they will have some kind of traumatic reaction to the lower percentage of oxygen in the air. I remember being at the border crossing in the Andes between Bolivia and Chile (this is without even doing any hiking - just existing!) and being convinced that the lack of oxygen will somehow cause of my heart/head/liver/face/foot to explode. It wasn't a good scene in my mind.
- Rare Tropical Disease: Usually transmitted through various bugs, insects, creepy crawlies, etc. Any bug gets on me and I'm pretty sure its got something that is inhospitable to my wellbeing. Strange spores in the grass, etc. It's all carrying the Outbreak Disease.
- Grass: Literally tall grass scares me. It's shameful! What could be under that grass! Any of the other stuff on this list for example!
- Shit: Typically there is the feces of various animals out there on these walks. Usually I spend a little time thinking about what kind of diseases could be in this crap and how that could possibly make its way into my biology. On my recent trek around Easter Island I was pretty sure I could get some version of mad cow diseases. From the horse shit.
- Isolation: This is the catch-all fear of nature that really gets me going when I'm out there on these treks. Basically, any thing could happen to me and I am convinced that being a day's walk from civilization is the thing that will do me in.
So given all these things, Why Do I Hike?
I hike because I like stuff that is hard. Stuff that pushes me to challenge myself. Stuff that is active. I hike because there is a ton of stuff out there you'll never see if you don't use your own two legs to get yourself there. I also love the thinking time: this is time away from facebook tags, tweets, emails or text messages. It's legitimate quiet time. Maybe thats the best part.
Today I hiked to a beach I'd been to three times in the past week, each time by car. Each of those trips took approximately half an hour in the car. Today's hike was supposed to take about six hours, I did it in 4.5. But regardless, even though I'd been to the beach a few times before, it looked nothing like it did today. The view as the beach finally revealed itself in the horizon was pretty great. And not just because it was beautiful. It was. But also, because I had a while to think about enjoying the beach before I arrived. It definitely didn't feel anything like it did after trekking for five hours along the Rapa Nui coastline.
I hike because sometimes being in the middle of nowhere is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I hike because its important to me to get a different perspective. I hike cause sometimes a random bull along the path (as it did today) gives me a look that I know means he hasn't seen another dude walking along here all day, maybe in a few days. And that look is pretty freaking cool. I hike cause I can. So in spite of all the fears listed above, I hike. 