Some people explore for experiences. Excitement. The fast paced stride through bustling cities with buses, trains and planes.

But I often prefer a quieter, more scenic approach. My excitement comes through sweat, heavy backpacks and endless miles of trails.

Wherever I go, I am mystified by trees, grass, birds and whatever four-legged creatures inhabit the place. I just have to look around.

On nearly every family trip since I was a child, we would go hiking. It has always been the highlight of these trips for me. There is something about landscapes that enchants me.

I looked forward to when our car would pull into any kind of park system. A national park, state park or local city trail. Getting out on the gravel meant a new adventure. 

Some of my favorite memories involve walking along a muddy path with a stick in hand and stumbling into the warm embrace of trees and shrubs. 

When I hike, I almost dread the end. More mileage may turn others away, but it draws me in. Each new trail I walk gives me unique experiences and a fresh perspective of nature.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sweating buckets walking through the Arizona heat, taking in large orange pillars of rock glimmering in the sunlight. At the same time, I have found great satisfaction in taking in the views of the Rocky Mountains, the snow so bright at midday I would squint just to continue to gaze at the peaks lining each valley.

When I finally got a release period junior year, I did not always use it to go straight home. Instead, I would spend considerable amounts of time meandering through the trails and parks at Coppell, observing geese, squirrels and rabbits as I strolled with friends for hours.

Hikes are also a flexible activity. They can be relaxed. They can be steep and intense. They can be long and strenuous. It is an activity which gives freedom — the liberty to bask in nature however one sees fit.

Hiking teaches me to value patience and embrace the journey. Many of my most memorable moments have not been at the scenic view that ends the trail. Instead, I hold closer the moments of seeing bison, deer and rolling hills through the windows between branches. 

The sensation of shaky legs at the end of the day. The cold, stingy breaths taken in the early morning cold. These give me a sense of satisfaction. 

I hike not for the end goal, but for the sake of sauntering through forests, deserts and hills. Each step gives me a renewed sense of relief. A mental break disconnecting me from the stress of an urban world. Primitive yet peaceful.

So if you see me struggling up a hill with a backpack dragging down my shoulders, I am where I want to be: blissful in these brief moments amongst the greenery.

Follow Yug (@YugTalukdar) and @CHSCampusNews on X.