This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Clemson chapter.
5 reasons why hiking is my new favorite hobby
I have a really good friend who goes to another college and she has recently been posting Instagram after Instagram of her and her boyfriend / friends hiking. She got me thinking; hiking must be somewhat fun right? I was skeptical at first when thinking about the daunting task of a 9-mile hike. Once I overcame that “fear,” I realized hiking is amazing.
- Do it for more than just the Instagram! Take in all of the beautiful nature around you with your eyes (not through your iPhone’s camera app), it’s honestly breathe taking.
- It’s cardio and a “body weight” leg day all in one. The cardio is self explanatory but hiking uphill…and then downhill…is really a GREAT leg work out (step ups and lunges and sometimes squats).
- Connect with those around you. Some hiking trails have little to no service. Scary right? No it’s really not. For starters, you shouldn’t be hiking alone and trails are usually pretty well delineated. Being outside with no cell service forces you to actually have conversations, really long ones if you’re hiking nine miles like I did.
- It’s a great way to spend a day. My recent 9 mile hike took roughly 4 hours.
- When you get to the top, it’s a huge accomplishment. Once I saw the signs that we were close to the top, I got a burst of energy and was so excited that I was finally there!