“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R Tolkien
This ubiquitous quote remains one of my favorites because I identify with it so much–indeed I wander to find myself. I usually feel far from lost while on a trail or not (except this one time in Utah when the sun was getting low, and we could not find our camp site after a post-dinner walkabout). With a decent map and a fair sense of direction (and the help of today’s technology) getting truly lost can be fairly difficult. As far as hiking goes, I am quick to qualify many wanderings and walks as hikes. If I’m wearing hiking boots, walk on trails away from a roadway or take more than 30 minutes, my walk becomes a hike. It turns out I take lots of hikes!
We found snow while wandering through a mountain meadow a couple weeks back. Yay Snow!
Reading your post was totally amazing. I have been sitting at this same job now for about 21+ years and how I envy your life style. I went to Alaska two years ago, but from a tourist point, no hiking and getting into the wild. Once you get past a certain age you are afraid to do anything mainly fear of the unknown. I commend you for all that you do for yourself your family and your surroundings. Wishing you the best always. Maria
Fun hike, unfortunately I don’t walk very well so all hiking will have to be done through you and your wonderful family.
God bless.
Hey Alex! You DO look happy out on the trail and so does Ava and your pooch! Reading your post reminded me of the hiking my hubby and I used to do in the Sierra Nevada’s. We hiked Mt. Rose ( a great day hike) with great friends one day with a reward of bbq ribs at the end of the day. Boy did we need it… Trail mix and water only go so far on an 8 hour hike! We also mountain biked, canoed and cross country skied too! It seems like forever ago.. These days our walks are mostly on the beach but you post has inspired me to get out and discover some of our forest walks/hikes. Yes! Even in winter! Max our corgi and my moms dog Barkley would love it! I miss wondering off the beaten path and getting to know a different piece of land well. Blessings to you and your sweet family! Love, Deb, the Beach Farmgirl!
I run and swim and so exercise class on the bike every week. I used to hike when I was a child with my family, but that was a while back now. I would love to get back into hiking because of all the benefits you mention here, until then I’ll keep fit so when I can get back to hiking I’ll be fit enough to enjoy it
Alex, what a great post with beautiful pictures! And your precious little Ava is just such a doll baby. Where in Utah were you when you lost your campsite?! My husband and I lived in Southern Utah for 27 years. Raised our kids hiking all over the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (our property actually bordered it). My son also rode his horse for miles and miles in the Monument land. He “rescued” a number of tourists that, unfortunately, relied on their GPS to get them where they were going and got lost, stuck, or ran out of fuel in that vast Monument land. You can probably relate to that in Alaska too huh? Loved your post. – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –
Thanks, Dori! We spent about a month in Southern Utah about 4 years ago and LOVED it. There is something really special about the desert. I can’t wait to go back. We were camping on one of the Bear’s Ears near Blanding when we got lost. It’s so cool that you lived there with land bordering a NM! Your kids must have had awesome (and unusual) childhoods.
When my kids were small, I think I would have lost my mind if I hadn’t been able to get outside and walk, both alone with my babies and with other moms. It was good for all of us. Don’t be afraid of the weather…ours was always rainy…just bundle up and go for it!