I've recently gotten back into Longboarding (like, skateboarding), and surfing. Both are relatively cheap hobbies once you get the necessary equipment, and I've been having a blast. Feel like a kid again tbh, I feel like I haven't "played" outside for years outside of some hiking and stuff
I got into hiking like 6 months ago and it has profoundly changed me as a person
I used to go on moderate hikes pretty often as a kid, but it had completely dropped off. I went out with friends often, but had no hobbies that involved going outside
Now I need to do an intense hike at least once per week for mental health reasons. I hadn't noticed, but so many people have told me I seem way happier. I wasn't overweight but I've lost 10 pounds so far, and am significantly stronger all over than I used to be. Hiking is good folks
Also everyone has told me my next gf has to be into hiking so I have someone to go with so I'd appreciate it if all the cute leftists here got into hiking :hyperflush:
Hiking has been the biggest positive for me. I moved to Colorado just to be within a short drive of Rocky Mountain National Park. It forces you to grow in every way and then rewards you for that growth with an evermore beautiful view that fewer and fewer people can achieve. Major bonding experience and outlet for all of my other naturalistic hobbies, huge source of discipline and confidence, gives me a lot of lower body and core strength in a way that doesn't feel like working out in a gym. Plus any insurgency is like 90% hiking with weight so it's training me for what is to be done.
If there's any one hobby that will benefit someone in the most number of ways, hiking is probably it.
I carry weights in my backpack in addition to my supplies on <12 mile hikes. I'm pretty sure the military does something similar during training. Although it increases the risk of sprained ankles if you fall, it really is a fantastic workout, and I don't even feel them anymore
Working out at the gym isn't sustainable for me, but I can hike and climb all day :) I'm working toward moving closer to national parks for the exact same reason
Yes, hiking is amazing. Really, I need to do more hiking but I've been kinda preoccupied with surfing, but I've been hiking on and off for like forever. When I was a kid, I would basically spend all day playing in my local forest near a river, hiking around for miles. I really like hiking up mountains - if you ever get the chance to do Rocky Mountain NP you should definitely do it and hike Black Lake and Sky Pond. Next level incredible hikes
Totally get it, I wanted to get into surfing but I've been too preoccupied with hiking lmao
I used to wander around this canyon by my house for practically the entire day. My parents never believed me and thought I was going out with girls. Joke's on them 😎
I fucking LOVE hiking up mountains, just bookmarked them on alltrails :) I've wanted to do a road trip over there at some point in the next couple years hiking as many places as possible along the way
There's nothing like the Rockies. Also if you ever end up out in the Eastern Sierras, there's so much amazing hiking up there too. I did a trip out there for my birthday and it was just awesome, would say it has a distinctly different feel from the rockies but every bit as beautiful. The rockies somehow seem "bigger" though, even though they're not really
Although I think I've done more difficult hiking by a little bit, my biggest goal is to hike Mt Whitney as soon as I can get a permit. Sometimes I catch myself mindlessly looking at pictures of how pretty it is lol
I'd love to hike the JMT at some point also, but idk anyone else interested and idk if I'd want to do it solo
I have heard mixed things avout whitney and I myself dont really have much interest in it, but I have also wanted to do the JMT for a while now. I know it'll be tough and idk where I'm gonna get 20 days off to complete it. But I'm in the same boat, no one I know would want to do it with me and I'm like... a bit nervous to do it by myself. It's absolutely stunning though
I really need to get into hiking too, Hawaii is a perfect place for it
Oh my god, you have zero excuses! My friend told me about the kalalau trail, and (although he nearly died on it for many reasons) I'd love to hike it someday
Its great, and I did some work over there, but I need to hike more regularly
I used to love long backpacking trips before I injured my back years ago. I kind of stopped hiking of all kinds at that point, and I miss it. You've reminded me that before Covid, I resolved to sign up with a hiking meetup group in my area, but then I didn't do it because Covid. Thanks for that, I'm going to look them up again.