You will say you don't have time, money or equipment - just shut up, and walk. You will claim to have more important things to do or people to see - just shut up, and walk. You will express concern about your fitness, your lack of experience or your need for comfort - just shut up, and walk. Stop looking for excuses - just shut up, and frickin walk. I am, of course, trying to bully you into going on a hike.
Now, I'm not usually one to try bully people into doing things. Every individual is on a unique journey of self discovery, and I try not concern myself too much with getting everyone to see things the way I see them - it's a futile activity after all. But, this time I just can't help myself; because, I know that even if I only end up convincing a single person, their experience will be cosmically worth it. I know this because I have been convinced to go hiking myself recently, and I can bear witness to the joys a hike will bring to one's life. So, in the spirit of convincing you, let me share my experiences and let's see if something resonates...
First is a story of naïvety. I'd finally been convinced to go on a 3-day hike in the Drakensberg with 3 close friends at the start of December, 2020. Our inspiration - and preparation - consisted almost entirely of a 15-minute video that we'd watched about some other South Africans summitting Cathedral Peak. The picturesque views and ease of access of the hike were enough to convince us. It didn't occurr to us to put much further research into it - we knew where we had to start and we knew we wanted to follow the same route as our muses from the video...what more did we need? Inevitably, we needed a lot more. Over the course of the 3 days our lack of preparedness bit us in the arse again, and again, and again. There were times when we were lost and exhausted. There were times when we were freezing and afraid. There were times where I believe each of us were genuinely concerned that we wouldn't make it down the mountain. In the cold, wind and rain we were traversing a path so narrow that it follows alongside a series of sheer drops. In the middle of nowhere, nearly 3000 meters above sea level, we were huddled under a tent sail attempting to generate enough heat to avoid hypothermia. You know what though? It may have been a bit extreme, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. Over the span of 3 days, I had learned more about myself and the world around me than I had for the entire year prior to this hike.
The second experience may not have been as treachorous, but it was equally as gratifying. This time we were taking on Sneeuberg in the Cederberg. With a prominence of around 1300 meters, getting to the top of Sneeuberg is also no small feat; however, this time we made sure not to bite off more than we could chew. We didn't want to be forced into making any life or death decisions, again. So, while the hike was challenging, it left us with enough room to appreciate and enjoy being enveloped by nature. It was a short hike to our first camping spot at The Maltese Cross. We could explore our surroundings to find the best spots for the emaculate sunset and sunrise. The next day we trekked almost 25 kilometres to the second camping site, and up to the top of Sneeuberg. We spotted rock formations and took time to appreciate the flaura and fauna unique to the landscape. Atop the mountain, we embraced the full glory of the views around us - with nothing but beauty between us and the horizon. The last day leave's one with a tired body, but a replenished mind. A sweet and sour feeling washes over you, knowing that you've added a brand new special place to your world, but having to say goodbye to it, for now.
I learned different things from these hikes. One of these things is that naïvety can be a good thing. Being ill-prepared may be stupid, but it hands one a perspective of the experience that few others will be privvy to. Another is that - when all you have is the bag on your back, the thoughts in your mind and the natural world around you - it becomes infinitely easier to identify what's important to you and - most noteworthy - what's not. Most of the time we are living fast-paced lives with a swarm of things to do and people to see. When you amplify this with the connectivity provided to us through the means of technology, being truly alone with oneself becomes increasingly difficult. And so, being in an isolated environment can give you the rare bit of peace of mind we all need. Funny enough though, as important as these learnings have been to me, you will most likely not gain the same insights. In fact, I will go on more hikes in the future and am likely to take away an entirely different perspective from those as well.
Therefore, I motivate you to go walk - not to go learn anything specific, but just to go learn. Put yourself in isolated environment, appreciate the world around you, and walk - see what happens. I promise you won't be dissapointed. Stop thinking about reasons why you shouldn't - just shut up and walk, you'll thank me later.
Until next time, goodbye :-)
"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul."
- John Muir