If there is anything that you are out to do on a hike it is overcome. You are overcoming mosquitoes, wind, rain, elevation gain, a poor fitting boot, a broken trekking pole, or a bad fall.
Overcoming is what we all do when we are hiking. At least that is the way I look at it. As I have said before I don’t go for “nature walks.” Funny story. I asked a young lady years ago to go hiking with me. I just wanted someone to go hiking with but she somehow thought it was a date. So we get the top of the mountain and I am almost instantly getting ready to go back down. She, on the other hand, lays down on the ground and when I stand there for a moment staring, she says, “Don’t you ever take time to smell the flowers.”
Overcome The Mosquitoes.
I am allergic to mosquitoes so in order to overcome them I have to either out run them (keep moving), hope for wind, or apply lots of repellant. Some people that hike with me ask me if I ever take a “break: and I tell them I can’t. It is too dangerous!
They usually travel in packs or maybe that’s “swarms,” but it is the lone wolf that typically finds me. Did I tell you I am allergic? So if he is successful his or her bite will swell up my face or hand to the size of a balloon. Actually, the was when I was younger. Now it is more like a tennis ball.
Wind
Wind amongst the trees! Have you seen the results of a huge wind storm in the woods? On one trail there are trees from one such storm still laying all over the landscape. So there is the danger of falling trees. How do you overcome that? You don’t go hiking when the forecast is for 50 mile an hour winds!
How about 25 or 30 mile an hour winds? Well, it will lower the temperature for sure. How low? Usually at least 10 degrees. If it is already cold, it can make it something to overcome. Just dress warm.
Elevation Gain
That’s why you hike. To gain elevation!
If you don’t like to gain elevation I offer a remedial course to correct your thinking.
So let’s go hiking!