The 10 Trails

10 Trails

There are ten different trails near my house but there is something familiar and related amongst them all; they are all the same trail. Hiking opportunities can often be limited so what does one do when they live in a place with few trail options? Here is a tip I learned over time on a favorite trail of mine that is less than 15 miles from my house. To keep a trail from becoming boring or “old hat,” try mixing up the scenery a little. No, you can’t play God, but you can do the next best thing and use what He has created in creative ways to get more enjoyment out of each and every trail experience.

The first four ways to mix it up on a trail should be obvious. Four seasons equal four different trail experiences. Early springtime brings new growth and green buds, but it might still be cool enough in the morning or afternoons to keep things from becoming a sweaty mess. Summer does bring heat in many areas, but it is also a great time to view wildlife and to see plants and flowers in full bloom. Fall brings a wide array of colors in many places not available at any time of year and one can usually find just the right temperature to stay comfortable at with any type of clothing desired, i.e. getting cool enough in the evenings to wear a jacket, but still warm enough during the height of day for a shirt or possibly shorts. Winter is another world. For those of us who enjoy the cold or miles of scenic vistas with no greenery in the way, this is the time to go.

Now that the obvious is out of the way, let’s look at more subtle ways to make a habitually hiked trail more exiting. My favorite: hiking at night. Put on the old headlamp, grab some extra batteries and hit the trailhead. Many animals are only active at night and the sounds heard are amplified tenfold. If you enjoy solitude, this is the time to go. Another great way to find solitude is to hike in the rain. While I wouldn’t recommend this in winter, it can certainly be pleasant in a warm spring or summer. Falling rain can keep bugs away and the water has music all its own as it falls through the trees. Rain’s sister weather is the snow and talk about changing a trail experience. Snow can so change a trail that the first time hiking a familiar trail in the snow causes many to wonder if they got on the wrong trail somewhere. Animal tracks are easily visible as are many animals as they stand out more against a white background. The going is usually more difficult but infinitely rewarding.

What else could there possibly be to amplify and renew a trail’s experience? There are two on this trail that I’ve experienced that did change up the hiking experience and the first was hiking in the midst of a drought. Creek beds were dried up and the greenery is not nearly as thick in summer. This is also a great way to get away from bugs (mosquitoes love standing water, so if there isn’t any…). I’m not saying that droughts are good, but one should learn to find an opportunity in every situation. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have hiked this trail after weeks of rain when it was completely flooded and most of the trail was underwater, causing me to hike in the water or find ways around. It can be fun and challenging coming to a stretch of trail that is completely submerged as far as the eye can see. Once again, the excitement is in the challenge.

Finally, and perhaps the best way to change up a trail experience is to hike it with friends or even a pet. They can provide fresh perspectives or see things that you may have never noticed. Animals can sense smells and sounds that may completely pass you by and though it may be a wild goose chase following them; sometimes that is fun in itself (though getting lost doing so is not).

There are various other ways to mix it up, but those are some basics. I’ve hiked at night in the rain and before dawn in the snow. I’ve hiked that trail with winds blowing in excess of 60 miles an hour. Some people enjoy running a trail or taking it really slow and stopping for a picnic. There are a countless number of ways to change up a trail experience. Whichever way you choose is great as long as it gets you out there.