2021-07 Enjoy The Hike
The other day we visited Zion National Park located just outside of Springdale, Utah. As you enter the park, the sheer awe of the towering cliffs on each side is just breathtaking. The contrast of the green trees up against the red rock along with the blue skies farther up… it’s perfect. It’s truly how I personally imagine heaven to be.
My family is one that loves the outdoors. We jump at any opportunity to hit the trails. Within Zion National Park there are many trails that you can explore. There are trails that are on the beaten path, and are so well traveled that the National Park Service has paved the way for anyone to enjoy if they require strollers, wheel chairs, or any other assistance. There are also those trails that are hidden in plain sight from those who are passing by not even knowing what they are missing… almost like muggles in the Harry Potter world.
This last trip, we took things a little slow. The prior month each one of us was sick with that virus that has been going around… so our lungs are not 100% back to full function. But, in reality that was a blessing in disguise as we were walking along the trails. It forced us to take a break every so often. It caused me to reflect on how often we tend to hike for enjoyment, rather than for the destination.
Anyone who has hiked with me can attest that I usually get lost at the back of the pack. Naturally I tend to be the caboose of the train when we go as a scout group. The same when I am hiking with my family. Part of the reason is because I want to make sure that none of the members of the group are left behind and are safe. But, a larger part of the reason is I’m taking it all in. The smell of the trees. The sound of the dirt or sand or crunchy leaves under each step. The wind blowing around me. I’m the guy that is sitting with his tripod and camera recording Caterpillars hatching in the spring. Or getting the close up picture of the brown bear munching on his lunch… it’s the little things I guess.
Back to this last trip in Zion, as we were taking one of our many breaks, I found myself observing a different creature than I usually do… humans. I could tell which people were taking it all in, those that had had one objective to get to the destination and then head back out, and those who truly did not want to be there and were only there because mom and dad had the keys to the car. We even witnessed a gentleman watching a movie on his phone as he was hiking along a trail that had 1500 foot drop offs! Each case is totally fine, well… except for watching the movie. Safety first, keep your eyes on the trail. There is not only one cookie cutter way to complete the hike. Everyone is different. That’s what makes this world so unique and beautiful.
Life is very comparable to hiking on these trails. Sometimes the path is easy. And sometimes it's a little sketchy and scary. Especially when the only thing that is keeping you safe from falling a couple of thousand feet is a chain that has been bolted into the rock. There will be periods of time when a project at school or work will take all of your time. And you just want to focus and complete it as soon as possible. There will also be those times when life is good and school is out for the summer. No matter the difficulty level of the trail that you are currently on. Take some time and reflect on the little things around you that are making the big picture. Take a breath of fresh air, and enjoy your hike.