After more than 50 years of hiking, I can't really say I've ever hated it. There have been more than a few 20+ mile days that were way longer than I wanted them to be, but it never really reached the point of hate. Of course, almost all of my hiking has been in the West, and I've rarely had to hike more than several miles before there was a view. Many times there was a view for the entire hike. Good luck with your schizophrenic relationship with hiking. And thanks for sharing.
I can relate to feelings of loneliness as I walk the GR5 solo, but I also treasure the time alone. Last year as I hiked through the Netherlands, however, I did become a bit bored with the flat, monotonous landscape. Looking forward to more variety as I do the first Belgian section this August. Every hike is an accomplishment, as you know. That feeling keeps me going. Cheers!
Hiking the GR5 sounds like quite an adventure! I think that monotonous landscape makes me more likely to focus on my footsteps, which makes a hike feel like a slog. But a great view (or even a rain shower) is usually enough to jolt me out of the doldrums.
Monotony, yes. Frustration, type 2 fun, tired, sore, hangry, annoyed with the trail conditions. Check. But not hate.
What I do struggle with lately is not getting in the car and going. Once I am there, I'm fine but leaving the house or even making a reservation is just not happening.
I miss having my calendar filled with hiking plans and anticipating a big trip. I"m trying to give myself grace and just plan some small trips but I'm cancelling more than I'm committing right now.
... to the point of 'hating' ... I'm not sure. I have sure felt miserable. This year I am back in the West, 'starting again' of sorts, and until I find a hiking buddy, my hikes have been solo. Being alone, and in Grizzly country, I am taking it slow, to avoid injury, primarily, but also to be able to be alert for Bears. I don't push too far, and so have not yet hit 'misery'. I am setting my goals low (by my standards), and stretching a bit farther each hike ... and am enjoying it immensely.
I find that the times I’m most likely to really dislike hiking are when I’m doing a hike because it was preplanned and even though I wasn’t in the right headspace to be alone in the woods, I feel like I need to do it anyway. Sometimes it is a training hike for an upcoming backpacking trip, sometimes it is the middle of a backpacking trip after the adrenaline of the planning and start has worn off, and sometimes it is a hike on vacation when I feel like this will be my only opportunity to do it. The feeling almost always passes before I finish, but the emotions in the moment can be quite intense!
I have been on two hikes to which I could attach the title 'Death March' ... though the title only officially fell to one. Were were deep in the White Cloud mountains in Idaho. The night before we weathered a brutal thunderstorm, soaking everything, including our sleeping bags. And we lost some equipment in a campfire that somehow got out of control in the midst of the storm (pitch-soaked snags). We waited till 10 AM to see if it would clear (so we could dry out our stuff). It did not. We loaded up our packs and hiked basically non-stop 28 miles to the TH, stopping only once. I don't remember the pain, though I do remember that the last several miles were in the dark, and one of us fell flat on our face, picked ourself back up, and kept going, basically without words. The second trip was truly painful (though I don't remember 'hateful'). Two miles rugged off-trail miles down to a lake to fish, two miles back up to camp, four miles XC to the trail, and five miles down the trail. The only thing that kept us going was that we were talking about some very epic spiritual and historical matters. Everything hurt. I slammed my thumb in the door at the car, and, compared to the rest of the pain, I didn't even say anything. My buddy just caught my eyes, and nodded. And, yet, I am still hiking.
After more than 50 years of hiking, I can't really say I've ever hated it. There have been more than a few 20+ mile days that were way longer than I wanted them to be, but it never really reached the point of hate. Of course, almost all of my hiking has been in the West, and I've rarely had to hike more than several miles before there was a view. Many times there was a view for the entire hike. Good luck with your schizophrenic relationship with hiking. And thanks for sharing.
I can relate to feelings of loneliness as I walk the GR5 solo, but I also treasure the time alone. Last year as I hiked through the Netherlands, however, I did become a bit bored with the flat, monotonous landscape. Looking forward to more variety as I do the first Belgian section this August. Every hike is an accomplishment, as you know. That feeling keeps me going. Cheers!
Hiking the GR5 sounds like quite an adventure! I think that monotonous landscape makes me more likely to focus on my footsteps, which makes a hike feel like a slog. But a great view (or even a rain shower) is usually enough to jolt me out of the doldrums.
Well said! While generally I’m happy hiking, there are those days…. And oh to have a burger food truck at the peak.
I don’t even want to think about how much I would be willing to pay for a burger in the wilderness!
Not many but there have been a few where I thought “Beam me up Scotty”.
Monotony, yes. Frustration, type 2 fun, tired, sore, hangry, annoyed with the trail conditions. Check. But not hate.
What I do struggle with lately is not getting in the car and going. Once I am there, I'm fine but leaving the house or even making a reservation is just not happening.
I miss having my calendar filled with hiking plans and anticipating a big trip. I"m trying to give myself grace and just plan some small trips but I'm cancelling more than I'm committing right now.
... to the point of 'hating' ... I'm not sure. I have sure felt miserable. This year I am back in the West, 'starting again' of sorts, and until I find a hiking buddy, my hikes have been solo. Being alone, and in Grizzly country, I am taking it slow, to avoid injury, primarily, but also to be able to be alert for Bears. I don't push too far, and so have not yet hit 'misery'. I am setting my goals low (by my standards), and stretching a bit farther each hike ... and am enjoying it immensely.
I find that the times I’m most likely to really dislike hiking are when I’m doing a hike because it was preplanned and even though I wasn’t in the right headspace to be alone in the woods, I feel like I need to do it anyway. Sometimes it is a training hike for an upcoming backpacking trip, sometimes it is the middle of a backpacking trip after the adrenaline of the planning and start has worn off, and sometimes it is a hike on vacation when I feel like this will be my only opportunity to do it. The feeling almost always passes before I finish, but the emotions in the moment can be quite intense!
I have been on two hikes to which I could attach the title 'Death March' ... though the title only officially fell to one. Were were deep in the White Cloud mountains in Idaho. The night before we weathered a brutal thunderstorm, soaking everything, including our sleeping bags. And we lost some equipment in a campfire that somehow got out of control in the midst of the storm (pitch-soaked snags). We waited till 10 AM to see if it would clear (so we could dry out our stuff). It did not. We loaded up our packs and hiked basically non-stop 28 miles to the TH, stopping only once. I don't remember the pain, though I do remember that the last several miles were in the dark, and one of us fell flat on our face, picked ourself back up, and kept going, basically without words. The second trip was truly painful (though I don't remember 'hateful'). Two miles rugged off-trail miles down to a lake to fish, two miles back up to camp, four miles XC to the trail, and five miles down the trail. The only thing that kept us going was that we were talking about some very epic spiritual and historical matters. Everything hurt. I slammed my thumb in the door at the car, and, compared to the rest of the pain, I didn't even say anything. My buddy just caught my eyes, and nodded. And, yet, I am still hiking.
Oh, the feeling comes and goes for sure!! Especially on longer hikes and backpacking trips
The middle of a backpacking trip better have great views or else I will start to wonder why I go outdoors with all my gear on my back for fun!