• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • HIKES
    • Pacific Crest Trail
    • Continental Divide Trail
    • Everest Base Camp
    • Three Passes Trek
    • Brazil Hikes
    • Japan Hikes
    • Tasmania Trekking
    • Australia Bicycle Tour
  • GEAR
    • Current Gear List
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Lists
    • PCT Gear
    • Deals & Discounts
  • SURVEYS
    • PCT Survey
    • PCT Gear Guide
    • PCT Resupply Guide
    • CDT Survey
    • CDT Gear Guide
    • CDT Resupply Guide
  • CONTACT
    • Support
    • Get In Touch

I Hate Hiking, But I Love Adventuring

By Mac 13 Comments

I loved being on the Pacific Crest Trail.

I also really hated being on the Pacific Crest Trail – like really hated.

A popular question in town (and among hikers) was why you were on the PCT in the first place. I always came up short with an answer. My reason for hiking the trail did not arise from a love for the outdoors, a deeply seeded emotional trauma, or even a love of hiking. In fact, I hate hiking.

Hiking for the sake of hiking does not interest me in the slightest. Going on a hike “for fun” sounds about as appealing as having a cavity filled or going to a Nickelback concert. To me, hiking is a byproduct of adventuring; I love adventuring.

PCT Desert Tired Self Portrait
As a hiker – miserable.

So why did I hike the Pacific Crest Trail? Why did I spend almost five months hiking? Doing something that I hate? Because walking from Mexico to Canada is one hell of an adventure (an adventure that just happens to require a lot of hiking).

When asked what my least favorite part of the trail was I would answer “hiking”. I was not lying.

More times that I would care to remember, I was 100% decided that I would never hike again following the PCT. Things have changed.

I am now itch for another opportunity to spend extended periods of time lost in the wilderness. It's difficult to explain why, but it's not because I want to go hiking.

If you were to ask me, “do you want to go on a hike?”, then chances are my answer will be no (unless, for some reason, I want to get you alone in the woods). However, if you were to ask me, “do you want to go see a spectacular view/canyon/waterfall/tree/mountain/volcano/etc.”, then my answer would most certainly be yes – even if hiking was required to reach said destination.

PCT Washington Self View
As an adventurer – far superior.

According to Merriam-Webster, an adventure is:

: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
: the encountering of risks
: an exciting or remarkable experience

The key element here is the unknown. Excitement comes from danger, danger comes from risk, and risk comes from the unknown. Excitement equals danger equals risk equals unknown. Excitement equals unknown. That's how the transitive property works, right? Booyah.

What does any of this have to do with hiking? Nothing. I hate hiking, but I love adventuring, and adventuring is about facing and conquering the unknown.

The unknown makes life exciting. The unknown eliminates the routine that drags life through a sludge of played out predictably. The unknown means not knowing what will happen next. The unknown challenges you to overcome unforeseen obstacles, and improvise solutions to problems as they arise.

The unknown is an adventure, and I love adventures.

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on Email

Pacific Crest Trail Dialogue,  Rants

Primary Sidebar

GET THE LATEST


LET’S BE FRIENDS

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube

TODAY’S TOP POSTS

  • Pacific Crest Trail Advice for 2021 (from the Class of 2020)
  • The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2020 Survey
  • The CDT Resupply Guide: Class of 2020 Survey
  • Guide to Hiking the Wonderland Trail
  • The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2019 Survey

SUPPORT HALFWAY ANYWHERE

Become a Patron!

Check out my support page for more ways to help make the internet a more hiker-friendly place.


Backpacking Gear Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Mac's Backpack

Footer

STAY IN TOUCH

NAVIGATION

  • About
  • Recent Posts
  • Backpacking Gear
  • Continental Divide Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Brazil Trekking
  • Japan Trekking
  • Nepal Trekking
  • New Zealand Trekking
  • Tasmania Trekking

LET’S BE FRIENDS

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
  • Email
  • RSS Feed

LEGALESE

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 · Halfway Anywhere