After my article on Mountain Love I got to thinking about what makes a good hike. Why exactly am I dissatisfied with my local area? Here is an attempt at a list of things for what makes a good hike:
- Is not paved and takes you through a natural-appearing environment – needs to have a natural surface underfoot for at least part of it.
- Must be strenuous enough to be work, and long enough to be work, but not long enough to make you exhausted.
- Should be free enough of vegetation that you can stride out rather than be bushwhacking.
- Can have an element of risk, but should not be dangerous – you should be able to do it without being eaten alive by bugs, bitten by snakes, attacked by a bear, or subjected to heatstroke.
Optional – includes a viewpoint or destination – somewhere you can look down on a river, ocean, valley, or even just houses below, or something you’ll be glad to have reached. Includes a resting spot – rock or log you can sit on to munch on a snack. Should be sufficiently uncrowded that you don’t feel you’re at the mall!
What do you think? Does this look like the criteria you’d use? Let me know. Also, what is your favorite hike like?
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I agree with your list. With little ones, bushwacking is a no-go for us. If it’s paved, I might as well go into town and walk on a sidewalk and look at folk’s pretty gardens (which is fun, but for a totally different reason).
My favorite hike ever was when we were in Montana at my DH’s aunt’s and uncle’s house–beautiful scenery, but I wasn’t used to being in a higher altitude, so it was a much shorter hike than I’d normally take.
Yes Sarah that altitude gets me too. It kinda makes it easy though I guess for the people making the hiking paths if a lot of visitors get tired quickly. One problem in my area is that the hikes are really short, you know, about 1 mile long. That’s not enough to get me tired!
I love a hike that has the option to climb something. Our favorite preserve has several trails of varing difficulties. One has this incredibly steep incline that isn’t too high, but it offers a challenge to an out of shape mom. The hikes we like the most have some kind of view of something; treed valley or body of water, preferably.
Hi jbantau, thanks for visiting. It’s good to hear that you have a preserve with hikes close to you. I like a steep incline too, though I wonder how I’d manage these days. I need to do what Sarah is doing and get on my Nordrictrak – I have one sitting in my basement unused!
Oh well, my kids will be grown in just a few years and I can choose how to spend my time and not have to, um, accommodate their needs and wishes, when I want to do things. If I can just get over the gas that I’d use to drive somewhere maybe I could get in a hike like I used to.
I’m off to look at my book that shows local hikes. There just might be something in there I should try!
I agree with your points – for me it must not have many signs of other human life, and a posting at the front that dogs are allowed – on a leash, of course!
Come to our house. We have trails across the mountain. It’s best in April when the trillium are in bloom. It’s still chilly in April so we’ll have nice hot cocoa, tea or cider when we get back to the house. Dogs are welcome. (The more the merrier!)
Janet, are you making me jealous or suggesting a blogger gathering?
I seem to be rather jaded these days. Maybe it’s homeschool burnout or something. Somehow the idea of traveling across the country to hike in a wonderful location is not exciting me.
Well, I decided I should take another look at hiking close to home. I mean Kansas is not 100% flat. I’m even really close to the Missouri border. Maybe I’m rejecting the possibilities simply because they are not familiar.
I’ll keep you all updated.