#28
Occasionally, readers who look at my list will comment, “I cannot believe you have never done [insert activity that a number of other people do all the time here].” One of the most common items that elicits this reaction is “Go hiking.” So, there is one lesson to take from this blog post: Give into peer pressure.
In all seriousness though, going hiking with the outing club at my school was a blast. My roommate along with some other friends and I met up around 7 am last Saturday to head out to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland, which was absolutely beautiful.
On the way there, a friend tried to take a nap, while the rest of us took photos next to her. In the photo below, another friend suggested the caption should be, “Look, I finally made a friend”; even though said friend is passed out, it still counts, right?
The mountain was only a little over 1,000 feet and we wound up starting off at the summit, which was actually a relief since it’s hard to enjoy the views when you’re gasping for air on the way up. Or maybe, that’s just me being lazy! Then again, one of my friends who went on the hike had not only gotten just two hours of sleep due to working until 4 a.m. the night before, but she was also fasting because of Rosh Hashanah. I give her the most credit of all for staying so energetic.
I remember spending hours on the jetty rocks when I was a kid and have always loved climbing, so hiking was right up my ally.
Even Will the Panda got to enjoy the view.
We hiked for about five hours and stopped for a delicious lunch (hummus included) in between.
You can’t beat friends, fall, and nature on a beautiful fall day. After this experience, I would definitely go hiking again and maybe even go on a longer one next time.
So has anyone crossed this item off his or her bucket lists? I’d love to hear about your experiences!
I have grown up camping and hiking. Glad you have found out how amazing this pastime can be! Loved the pictures!!
Yes, it was awesome 🙂 That’s so cool you do it all the time and thank you!
I go as often as I can. My state is filled with state and national parks, it’d be foolish to not try and see them all! I’m glad you had a great time. (I have some posts about hikes on my blog if you’re interested).
That’s awesome! And I will definitely have to check them out 🙂
Always a fun activity for exercise and seeing the beauty of nature. If you ever get the chance, I would recommend taking a hike up Pike’s Peak in Colorado. I did that hike years ago and it was great. Then take a side trip to the Garden of the Gods; a truly amazing site.
Yes, exactly! And I’ve heard hiking there is awesome. I will definitely have to try both places someday; thank you for the suggestions 🙂
Hiking is how I stay sane when I’m not traveling! It’s so nice to take a quick weekend camping/hiking trip when the next adventure is too far away!
Haha, yes that is so true 🙂 It feels like a mini-vacation!
Reblogged this on hadassaab.
Thanks so much for sharing this post 🙂
your pleasure dear…………☺
Is that a Panda in picture six down?
Haha, yup it’s my friend’s stuffed panda 🙂
I thought you were hiking in China.
Hahaha, nope, just in Maryland! 🙂
I have been to sugarloaf too. Its a nice place to be. I dont remember but there is a vineyard somewhere nearby. Its nice once in a while to move away from the noise and pollution.
Yes, it really is! And I heard that too; I’d love to go to a vineyard 🙂 But so true Ni!
Maybe you should try the Camino de Santiago! Everyone experiences it differently, but you take it at your own pace and meet so many awesome people along the way!
Ohh I will definitely have to try that! Thank you for the suggestion 🙂
nice landscape.. my hobby is hiking and i always hiking with my friend.. lets try hiking in Indonesia mountain.. 😉
That’s awesome! And haha, I would love to go to Indonesia someday 🙂
Love camping and hiking, this looks so much fun. BTW, I really thought that was a real panda there for a moment 🙂
Hahaha, Sherri, it does appear that way! But yes, it was a lot of fun 🙂
Oh it looks like such a fantastic trip! Nature is definitely worth it!!!
It was great! And yes, I totally agree 🙂
Living in Scotland, there’s plenty of chances to go hillwalking. I have a blog of some of the walks I’ve done here – http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/blogs/hippy66 It’s a great site for walkers in Scotland, as it’s got maps of the routes etc.
Oh wow, what an awesome idea for a blog! I’d love to go to Scotland someday 🙂
When the weather is good, it’s stunning. When it rains, it’s still stunning, but wet. 🙂
That still sounds awesome :)!
Wow that looks beautiful. Is this range in Western Maryland, because I don’t know that I’ve heard of it?
It was really nice :)! And that’s a really good question that I sadly don’t know; I’m not too familiar with Maryland! But I will definitely have to find out now lol
Definitely do! I go to UMD and live right outside of Baltimore so I’d definitely love to know how far out that is from me 🙂
I just realized that I am one of those people that is shocked when other people don’t go hiking and I am now slightly embarrassed. It’s just what I would do if I had a spare weekend. I lived in Newfoundland, Canada for years when I went to university and I had access to Canada’s East Coast trail which was always unreal. I would recommend it for any hiker!
Oh wow that must have been so amazing! You’re really lucky and I’d love to go there someday 🙂
I’ve been following your blog for a while now and didn’t know you’re around the DMV area. My first ever hike was the Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls (Maryland side) and it is probably the best hike you will have in the DC Metro area (just look at the reviews on Yelp). I hike there at least a few times each year. Highly recommended!
Another one, that is quite strenuous, but the views are WONDERFUL is Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah. The hike will certainly exhaust you (took us 6-7 hours with breaks!) but it was AMAAAAAZING.
Wow just the name alone sounds awesome! I will definitely have to check it out 🙂 But yup, I go to school in that area! And I feel like I’ve heard about that one, but I bet it’s great. Thank you for both suggestions Patrick!
I did a lot of hiking in Japan. The rainy season was my favorite season to hike because the rain drops look so beautiful on the leaves and flowers.
Sounds like a great day…cool pics!
I’ve been hiking…but my experience was not nearly as fun, lol. I went with a good friend of mine and this other guy who was basically trying to get with my friend with the whole time…so I think the better company you have, the more fun it is. I did feel pretty bad ass climbing up a mountain, and when we reached the top, the view was pretty gorgeous.
I think I’ll do it again…this time minus a guide trying to impress my friend. 😛
Hiking and camping were a huge part of my childhood growing up in the Southwest…glad to see somebody else discovering the joy for the first time! Your posts are always full of great stories about what others do or what you do for others–it’s great that you took some time out to give yourself this gift. Cheers!
That’s awesome you grew up with hiking and camping! And thanks so much 🙂
I LOVE hiking! Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, it was so much fun 🙂
Beautiful pictures. Hiking is one thing on my to-do list, but living in Florida I have no mountains. :o(
Thanks so much! And even so, I’m jealous that you live in Florida 😉 Lol
Beautiful pictures 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Wonderful experience hiking! Congrats! 🙂
Thanks so much :)!
We hike all the time. It’s great to be outside. if you’re looking for more hiking in Maryland, check out my recent blog posts on Cunningham Falls and Gunpowder Falls State Parks. You do NOT have to have a child to enjoy these parks! They are fun for everybody!! http://www.theinbetweendream.com
Ohh, how perfect! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Hiking is awesome! Just went today. Looks like you all had a blast.
That’s awesome! But yes, it was great 🙂
I’m just back from a week of hiking on the Hardangervidda in Norway. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, and the Norwegians have an awesome set up of trails and huts across the country. Worth a visit.
Omg that is amazing! I would love to visit Norway 🙂 Maybe I’m a little biased because I am partially Norwegian, lol
I’m from Australia and was more the arty child, I hated being active even though I had never really given recreational sports the time of day. When I was 15 my single mother had only enough money to send me on the survivor camp which was five nights of hiking in the Grampians, Victoria; I begged her to let me stay at home but thank goodness she forced me to go and I discovered a new love, hiking is one of the most amazing experiences and now I jump at every opportunity and have been hiking in 4 different countries since. If you ever head to Australia make sure hiking (and abseiling if you can manage it) in the Grampians makes the list as well as Ayers Rock 🙂
Omg that is an amazing story and awesome you’ve done it in various countries 🙂 And what is abseiling?! It all sounds so amazing, lol
Thanks 🙂
Abseiling is going over the side of a cliff tied to a rope and repelling down the mountain, so it’s like how you get down from the top of a rock climbing set 🙂
Omg that sounds absolutely amazing :)! Love it!
Hey.
Love your posts, and glad you’ve discovered the joys of hiking the wilderness.
Thanks for sharing,
Steve, at http://twentyfirstcenturynomad.com/
Yes, it was awesome! Thanks so much Steve 🙂
Beautiful!
It was a lot of fun 🙂
😀
Gah, that is such a beautiful location to go hiking! I haven’t been hiking before, but that looks like a lot of fun for sure!
Yes, it was really nice there 🙂