The Symbolic Importance of a Good Hike
Why Everyone Needs a Good Mountain in Their Life
Welcome back everyone! Many of you may know, and many may not, that I recently returned from an extended trip abroad in Europe. My brother and I spent 6 weeks traveling through seven countries, eating delicious food, drinking great beer, exploring historic cities, and hiking the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. I hiked as often as I could and even convinced William to join me on a couple of them.
Here’s a video I filmed while hiking down a mountain in Spain.
I love hiking. It’s perhaps one of my favorite things to do. It seems to resonate with a foundational part of me. My desire to hike is somewhat of a mystery. Why would I want to climb up steep slopes for hours, rain or shine, and end up exhausted? Just for a nice view at the top? No, I think it runs deeper than that. Hikes are very meaningful to me. They excite me. For years now, I’ve even had recurring dreams of beautiful mountains and discovered trails. Many of my friends joke that mountains “call” to me. Perhaps they do. But why? Here’s what I think…
A mountain, and it’s trail to the top, is a symbolic physical metaphor for Life and the pursuit of a goal.
William and me on a hike in Belluno, Italy
The summit of a mountain is the goal. That’s where the beautiful view waits. That beautiful view has to be earned. A climb is required to get to the top. In other words, effort must be put in to reach a goal. The higher the summit, the harder the climb. The harder the climb, the fewer people at the top.
That journey up the mountain is where everything important happens. It’s where growth occurs. It’s where challenges are faced and overcome. It’s where strength is found. The climb is what makes the summit rewarding. At the peak, it’s the knowledge of what it took to get there that gives the view a deeper beauty. A beauty that goes beyond physical.
Each mountain, each goal, is an opponent, and the journey to reach the peak is the test to see if you are a worthy rival.
At the base of a mountain, the summit stands high and looks down intimidatingly, daring me to attempt the ascent. The climb is difficult, but there is a purity to the challenge. A peace that comes over me as I begin to see myself making progress towards the top. Progress towards a goal brings positive emotion. The journey upward is filled with its own beauty as well. Waterfalls, fields, flowers, and other hikers.
One just needs to look for beauty to see it.
Many people get too caught up with the end goal and forget to enjoy what’s around them as they advance. In doing so, life loses its beauty and turns cold. I would also say that if one does not see the beauty on their journey up, the likelihood of reaching the top diminishes. Someone who enjoys the hike will go much further than someone who enjoys the view.
There’s beauty to be found in every hike, and each one is unique. Everyone has their own path to follow. Their own goal to chase. Their own mountain to climb. Some people never attempt the climb. Don’t be one of them. Keep your eyes open for the good and beautiful, and find a hike that you enjoy.