Take a Hike

Take a hike! This is an idiom expressing rudely for someone to go away or leave. If you ask me if anyone has told me to take a hike, I will have to plea the fifth amendment. However, I want to discuss the expression in the context of taking a hike and its wonderful physical and mental health benefits.

In this week's episode, my guest, an avid hiker, and professor relates his personal odyssey of hiking the John Muir Trail, starting from Yosemite to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states. He speaks of traversing this famous trail of 211 miles in 28 days, including his wild animal encounters, which inspired him to author the bestselling book, The Trail.

There is something incredibly special to hiking in nature, to be an integral part of the living world of outdoors, and my guest even admitted that there was a definite spiritual component to his adventure.

The engagement of your eyes when scanning your surroundings seem to fit perfectly in all its beautiful and natural symmetry, the array of fragrances that you smell denoting of life and its biological diversity, everything has its own distinct smell. Have you ever gone up to a tree and use your olfactory sense? It smells alive and earthy! Then, you include the melodious sounds of many of bird species, this will also give you pause. The warmth of the sun on your face, the sound of the rushing soft howling and whistling of the wind making the tops of trees dance, as if they are waving at you, the soft breeze caressing your skin, and the soft ground under your boots as you hear the snap and crackle of dry twigs. These natural experiences are not only enjoyable but emotionally soothing, thus, it contributes to mental health.

This type of exertion will build a strong muscular and bone structure in you, no question about it. A few months ago, we aired an episode that encourage strong bone density, especially, if you are dealing with osteoporosis which is an extreme condition. hiking will build bone density, because Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise, which demands for your bones and muscles to work harder against gravity. I remember that this episode related that his mother had osteoporosis and through his research, he was able to reverse his mother's bone condition by means of therapy. However, my view has always been and will always be to take steps to prevent this bone condition, or any other potential physical health issue, and you do not have to be a kangaroo to accomplish bone health. This exercise translates into having better balance, will improve your heart health which incidentally, we will have a cardiologist on the show in a few weeks to speak of your heart health which you will find that it is a part time job. Additionally, it will lessen the problem of certain respiratory issues. To go hiking, as you would expect, your legs need to be strengthened. And I know that to go hiking cold turkey as it were, it may be difficult, so why not train by walking a little more, climbing stairways instead of taking the elevator, just begin somewhere to build up your strength. The four major muscle components you want to build up are the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves of which you can do squats, leg raises and lunges as well.

Being in nature will also elevate your attitude and character and this quality time in the great outdoors mitigates stress, placates anxiety, and you are more apt to experience less depression, according to researchers at Stanford University. In fact, I have heard of doctors prescribing this type of activity to improve the overall health of a person, referred as functional medicine.

Some of you may be wondering about whether how much I have been in the great outdoors, and I can say yes, many times. I have been on Mount Whitney, the Sequoias, Los Padres National Park and on the Tehachapi summit. Allow me to incentivize you a bit, when you climb the Tehachapi summit of about 9,000 feet above sea level, you will find a plastic bag with a notebook inside to sign your name verifying you were there.

My recommendation is not to go alone as my guest emphatically indicated, for precautionary measures or if you decide to go on your own, make sure you inform others and your estimated time of return. However, if you invite a close   friend, or a family member, you will have much more fun on your excursion. Hiking with a companion, will also strengthen the bond of friendship. There is a sense of camaraderie   Because both of you are experiencing the same challenges of climbing and the not so difficult trails that allows you to share your thoughts with one another, concerns, and to reflect.

Look up trails you can enjoy right away that are not challenging and of which do not require a permit, otherwise, you may have a long wait for permission from the forestry department. Do your homework as what to wear and what to bring along with you such as bear spray, yes, that is right, you may encounter a black bear which are harmless, if left alone, according to his empirical experience, my guest said. And keep your backpack light of no more than 12 pounds if it is only a one-day trail hike. So, if anyone tells you to take a hike, take them up on it!