“I know a man who drives 600 yards to work. I know a woman who gets in her car to go a quarter of a mile to a college gymnasium to walk on a treadmill, then complains passionately about the difficulty of finding a parking space. When I asked her once why she didn't walk to the gym and do five minutes less on the treadmill, she looked at me as if I were being willfully provocative. 'Because I have a program for the treadmill,' she explained. 'It records my distance and speed, and I can adjust it for degree of difficulty.' It hadn't occurred to me how thoughtlessly deficient nature is in this regard.”
― Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Almost every Monday, except for the Mondays that are holidays, I start dreaming of the mountains. Can’t wait to get out of Chattanooga and head for the hills. By Friday, we all cut out early and off we go towards the Cherokee National Forest, Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As soon as I see the mountains in the Cherokee National Forest, my blood pressure drops and I start smiling .
Autumn starts this week and with it comes the clear, fresh air and cooler temperatures. This makes for a perfect time to get outside and go for a hike. If you have any vacation time available, this is the time to get to many of the National Parks and National Forests to view the awesome beauty of our rich forests.
Whether it is an easy stroll or a strenuous hike, there are plenty of benefits in going out for a walk. Getting out into nature and fresh air is a treat both mentally and physically. Your family and pets will love it, too. Note: dogs aren’t allowed on the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These vacations are so much better than going to Disney World, Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Get out into the park and the whole family will have a memorable time. The wondrous beauty within the forests ensures you will not have a dull day, like you might at the gym or on the treadmill.
The trees, flowers, birds, snakes and animals all add to the great adventure. We’ve discovered all kinds of scat and tracks that provide us with worry and excitement. Some of the paths are so narrow and steep that they work every muscle and every bit of my concentration, so by the time we finish, I am exhausted physically and mentally. Sadly, I do some strenuous hikes, then find out that I didn’t even make 10,000 steps for the day.
Where is your favorite place to hike? Please share it with us. I love vacations where we are out in the woods and mountains and would love some more suggestions from everyone. For many of us, our favorite exercise is a pleasurable walk outdoors. What’s yours? Where do you like to go?
The DKos Health and Wellness group meets up every Sunday at 8AM ET to discuss aspects of health and wellness that impact our lives. It doesn’t matter if you’re just curious about how to live a healthier lifestyle, or an old gym rat. Wellness is something that a lot of us in the group are passionate about, and the intent of this group is to provide a forum for some serious discussion of how (and why) every one of us makes our physical and mental health a higher priority in our lives. If you'd like to follow our group, just go to the group page and click "follow". If you'd like to join the group and get involved, just ask.
Upcoming group schedule:
9/11: [your name goes here!]
9/18: Sandy on Signal
9/25: Richard Cranium
10/2: Diana in NoVa