Hiking or mountain climbing is an adventure I have always loved from when I was a kid. Growing up in Jos, Nigeria, we were surrounded by little hills and we made it a point of duty to explore them every other weekend. I wrote about that experience here.
This experience over the years has translated into a natural love for the outdoors and every other weekend I am joining my favourite hiking group in Abuja as we set out to conquer another hill. One striking thing is that no matter how many hills/mountains you climb, there is always a higher one to conquer. It is just like Marianne Williamson’s saying “The top of one mountain is always the bottom of another.” There will always be new adventures!
People always ask, what is your motivation for hiking? Do you just like waking up in the wee hours of the morning and climbing hills/mountains? Well, Yes I do! But apart from that, it makes for great physical exercise and also it teaches your mind & body how to preserve. I can’t count the number of times I saw a hill and I was like, nah, I am not doing again but when you remember previous experiences, it serves as needed motivation to conquer a new hill. Getting to the top of the hill has to be one of the best feelings in the world. It releases sweet endorphins all over your body.
Most of my hikes have been in Abuja but I did Shere Hills earlier this year and later this year, I plan on conquering Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa). My heart beats faster just thinking about it but that is the thrill for a hiker.
If you are reading this & really interested in taking up hiking either as a sport or interested in trying something new, these are a few things to consider:
- Get good sneakers. Most people advise that you get hiking boots but I find boots really heavy for me and I really love to be comfortable when hiking so I use sneakers with very sturdy grips.
- Always have water handy. Hiking can really be energy sapping so it is always advisable to have water so you can rehydrate quickly.
- Hike with a group. This helps to keep you motivated as seeing other people climb shows that you can do it too. It also helps in case of any emergencies.
Hoping to have you share your hiking adventures with me soon. If you have more questions, you can send me an email at hello@journeymanrocks.com. Keep being a journey rockstar!