1. Hiking is great for your mental and physical health.
This is one of the most obvious and true ways that the Catskills can change your life. No matter who you are, fresh air and getting your heart rate up can help you to feel better during and after the hike. Especially when you finally get to eat at the top of the peak, am I right?
2. You create life-long friends.
Throughout my years of hiking, I have always wanted someone to go with me. Hiking can be as long or as short, or as easy or as difficult as you would like it to be. So whether you are starting a new friendship, or continuing a long friendship, hiking can be a great place to work as a team and talk about things you may not ordinarily be able to talk about in everyday conversation.
3. You learn that you are SO capable of whatever you put your mind to.
Recently, my boyfriend and I started long-distance. He was my hiking partner most of the time, so I was used to how we worked together and supported each other. One day when I was wondering how in the hell I was going to hike on my own or for that matter be on my own, I decided to hike. I went on a hike in the Catskills with one of my closest friends and I made it to the top. Not only was the view and the adventure great, I confirmed to myself that I could do whatever I needed to do without him.
4. Anything you work hard for is worth the climb.
Usually about a mile into each hike I am wondering what is wrong with me and why I always decide to do a big hike. But as you get further into the hike, you begin to realize that you can do it and you feel good doing it. Even if the hike was really difficult for some reason, the top always makes it worth it no matter how much rain or how many times you fell on the way up. The view is always worth it; the same goes for life.
5. You get inspired to try new things.
Because hiking makes you feel better mentally and physically, you create lifelong friends and you realize how capable you are, and that it is worth the climb, you get inspired to do new things you may not have realized you had the capability of doing.