Embedded Files
I'm not sure if I can point to one specific memory that made me love hiking. I've loved the outdoors ever since I can remember. But, in August of 2023 we adopted our dog, Bailey. We joke that he is "Kisses, Cuddles, and Chaos." We quickly decided that we needed to regularly get Bailey out on adventures to burn off some of that energy. Bailey's first hike with us was at Knox Farm. He was immediately a fan of hiking with us. Bailey loves going on new adventures, meeting new people, meeting other dogs, and sometimes he even seems to appreciate the views. Once, he was even able to meet horses as we started our hike. He was even happier than usual during that hike. Hiking with Bailey has made our adventures even more special. - Rachel Stoddard
In August of 2019, I lost my Grandpa. Then in March of 2020 the world began to shut down due to the Covid pandemic. I had been painting kindness rocks for a bit and decided to get out and leave a little "happiness" for others to find. I set a goal to take 17 hikes in the month of March and leave a rock along the way. My Grandpa's birthday was March 18th and I knew I'd need some help to get through that day. I knew exploring outside would make me feel closer to him. Boy was I right, and it started me on a journey to discover many places in our area that I had never been before. I knew he was with me every time I herd a bird sing, noticed a new type of plant, or asked myself, "I wonder why that is?" He is so ingrained in every part of who I am that I can still hear his voice like he's right beside me on these hikes. I promise to keep exploring and wondering, and most importantly, appreciating. Thank you Grandpa for teaching me there is beauty everywhere...as long as we take our time to notice it. - Stephanie
In mid-October 1992, my wife & I found ourselves with a weekend to ourselves. Our two daughters were occupied, and in good hands. We decided to head to the Adirondack Mountains and enjoy some hiking.
Earlier that year I had read an article extolling the fun to be had climbing New York's highest peak, Mt. Marcy. I was fired up & called the DEC (Dept. Of Environmental Conservation) for info. The person I spoke with dissuaded me from pursuing Marcy. She counseled me that, for our first High Peak, Marcy would likely provide a less-than-optimal experience. This helpful lady instead recommended we start smaller, with a less challenging mountain.
Thus, when some rare free time opened up, we opted for hiking Cascade Mountain. It was a High Peak, reached via a marked trail, with a trailhead right off a major roadway. Perfect.
We booked a modest cabin near the trail, and drove 6.5 hours to reach it in the wee town of Keene NY. That night, we carbo-loaded on home-cooked pasta and readied our daypacks. Our excitement & anticipation were palpable.
Hike day (Oct 18, 1992) dawned cool and gray. We dressed and drove the 4 miles to the trailhead off Rte. 73. It was 45F when we hit the trail (circa 9am), and the day did not warm appreciably thereafter.
Up we went on the steep but straightforward trail. We saw a few fellow hikers, but not the hordes reported in summertime. The feeling of moving my body ever upward was awesome. The trail felt welcoming yet still offered challenges. Views, muted yet glorious, began to shyly show themselves. "Look, there's the ski jump near Lake Placid!" As we moved toward the top: "Those must be the Green Mountains of Vermont!!" And all the while the temps were dropping.
Finally we hit the gorgeous, rocky summit - where it began to snow!! With us were some obviously more experienced hikers (from Quebec no less) , all of whom were properly dressed in colorful, synthetic, snow-shedding gear. Friendly folks, indeed. But we noticed them noticing our jeans and my ridiculous kid's daypack. Looking back, those pros must have chuckled at the two rookies sharing the peak with them that wintry day.
Soon enough we were on our way down, stoked about every aspect of this new thing we'd found. Back in the car, we raced to the High Peaks Info Center and probably overwhelmed the staff there with our gushing, first-timer enthusiasms. Talk about being hooked!
Back at the cabin, the gas grill had just enough propane in it for me to grill a steak to perfection. With some mashed potatoes and leftover pasta, it made for a truly kingly feast. Enjoying glasses of humble but hearty red wine, we ate ravenously.
We felt ourselves members of mountain royalty. Sleep came easily, sweetly, that night in the mountains.
Over the years, this experience has become one of our marriage's seminal stories. From it sprang our successful quest to become 46ers, our forays to the Catskills and our enjoyment of countless local & regional hikes. Sparked was I by Cascade in '92! - Peter Corrigan
There were two big sparks in my hiking life. One at about age 14, one twenty years later.
The first one came on my first girl scout tent camping trip. I loved everything about it. From the doorway of old canvas tent, I could see a trail in the woods. I wanted to drop everything, run out the door, and get on the that trail. We hiked it during the weekend. Looking back, it was more of a nature walk, but it was so good to be on that trail. There was something new to see and learn around every turn.
20 years later, in 1992, my husband and I hiked our first Adirondack High Peak, Cascade. Once again, it was full of novelty and discovery. Rime Ice! Huge Glacial Erratic rocks! Eroded trails full of tree roots, Snow squalls in October! We met other folks on the trail whose wide grins echoed ours. How good it felt to move and breathe in this new place.
That October day is the day we became hikers. We sought out local hikes wherever we could, joined the Adirondack Mountain Club, brought our children to the 'Dacks and hiked, first tiny hills, with them, and eventually become 46ers. i admit there were times I dragged my feet on that challenge, not wanting it to be over. I was so wrong. There are so many other challenges to complete, in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, all over the U.S. and right here at home. There will always be a trail beckoning me. I am grateful. - Teresa Corrigan
As a kid, my best friend's house backed against acres of incredible woods with a creek & a valley that was beautiful. We would frequently go exploring through it on our own. My friend was the super outdoorsy, not afraid to pick up a worm or a frog type and I was the "doesn't like to get dirty and super clumsy always ended up falling in the creek type." I didn't particularly enjoy our woods playing back then because I didn't feel "good at it." Fast forward to my college years when I attended an enormous university in a bustling metropolis. I loved the hustle and bustle of the city but at the end of the day, everything was 20 shades of grey, concrete, and steel. One weekend my sorority organized a retreat at Hocking Hills. We stayed in a beautiful little in-the-woods resort type place and ended up doing so many amazing hikes. I connected differently this time and thoroughly enjoyed the peacefulness of being so far from the bustle. I also really liked the caves and rock structures and found that I did like hiking! It took me a while as I found my adult life footing to be able to make it a part of my regular routine (and the WNY Hiking Challenges put on by Outside Chronicles has really helped give me an organized way to keep myself accountable to it) but I am still friends with that same best friend and when we go hiking now she will still occasionally comment on how much she can't believe I am the same person as when we were kids. (For the record though I am still the one who won't pick up the frogs or worms- let them be in peace! 😉 But it makes me laugh when I see her kids be just like her and they LOVE to torment me by pretending to put one in my lap😂) - Laura
It was March of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic just started, I was 11 years old and in 6th grade and feeling bored of staying home all day trying to do my schoolwork. One day, my mom suggested going out for a walk at the Lockport Nature Trail, so I agreed, and I found it enjoyable. A day or two later, we went back to Lockport Nature Trail, but with my older sister too. On certain days, we decided to go for walks at different parks (including state parks), and eventually, we started going on hikes, got hiking gear, and even joined the Summer of 2020 Western New York Hiking Challenge (my first hiking challenge). I've taken hiatuses from hiking due to blisters, possible injuries, and even a temporary loss of interest/mental health, but I eventually got that spark back, and even though I had that feeling of regret at times before, I don't regret hiking. - Rhiannon Myers
I have always been very drawn to nature as a child and had a natural sense of calming in the outdoors especially being around water. I first began hiking at during camping trips with my father who truly showed me what it was to live nature, camping, and fishing. I have loved waterfalls since I was a small child and I have recently gained such an appreciation for their power, beauty, and just presence in the world. the sound and the way I feel around them just brings immense peace to me and I often sit near them while journaling and self-reflection and just the ability to refresh and recharge my thoughts.
Hiking and being outdoors has helped me through a major depression and dark times that seem to never come to an end, yet after these experiences I feel a great sense of calming and just gratefulness to be able to enjoy each day in life as a gift and hope for the future. - Jessica Webber
Growing up, my family and I were outdoor enthusiasts. We loved hiking, biking, camping, swimming, or just sitting outside and enjoying each others company. It wasn't a surprise to anyone that my first job in high school was a camp counselor and each of those summers hold a special place in my heart. But going into my senior year of high school, the organization made the decision to shut down the summer camp program, and I was devastated. It felt like a part of me was being shut down with the camp that I not only had worked at, but had attended for years prior in the summer as a camper. At the same time I was grieving my camp, I was also applying for colleges and thinking about my future a lot. In many of the visits, I was always intrigued by the schools that had outdoor learning/experiences that students could be involved in. When I was accepted into my top choice, I was excited to apply for the outdoor adventure program that they offered for incoming students. I found out I was accepted on the same day I visited my camp for he last time before it was officially closed. It felt like that saying, when one door closes, another one opens and I was excited for this new adventure. I had no idea how life changing it would be for me.
The program split the participants into small groups, with one male and one female leader. We arrived on campus early and were grouped with other freshman/incoming students that we had never met before, and we had little idea of what events and activities we would be participating in. We did many adventure course activities in the first few days in the woods on campus and learned about ourselves, our group mates, some skills we might need, and the nature around us. Then we got on a bus to an unknown destination with our hiking backpacks and started the best part of the adventure!
We hiked and camped and canoed in the Adirondacks around cranberry lake for close to a week and it was the most difficult thing I have ever done. Constantly moving my body, carrying everything we needed on my back, blisters on my feet from my new hiking boots, finding 5 star places to poop in the woods, and spending 2 nights on my own with only my sleeping bag, journal, and a few snacks and water not only challenged me physically but mentally as well. But even through all of those challenges, it was such a life changing experience. I made lifelong friends, I learned skills I can use for the rest of my life, and I gained resiliency for when hard times come my way. Any time I feel as though something is too difficult and I can't accomplish a goal, I remind myself that I spent the night in the woods by myself (knowing there were bears, which I am terrified of!!), I ran 5 miles with a horrible cold, and I climbed a mountain while singing the same Elvis song over and over because it was the only way we could motivate one of my group members to keep walking!
That trip changed me in so many ways and I have so many incredible memories from it. It reignited my love for the outdoors and for the beauty that it holds. It reminded me that I am strong and capable. And it showed me that fresh air, a little dirt, and some tall trees can make any problem seem small! - Vicki Harrington
I have always enjoyed going out for walks, or going for hikes, but once I met my beautiful girlfriend, Brittany, she introduced me to the WNY Hiking Challenge. It opened my eyes, not realizing how many different trails were all around Western New York! Now, there is always an excitement to checking out a new trail that I've never seen before! But I officially got the spark after taking a trip to Ithaca to hike Watkins Glen! I've always wanted to go there, and seeing the beautiful sights, and overcoming the challenge of completeing the hike got me addicted to getting out there and hitting the trails! - Jason
My spark hike story happened at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. I first tried the WNY Hiking Challenge in the summer of 2022. I figured it would be a good way to get outside after adopting a puppy. Unfortunately I only finished about 3 hikes that summer, but during one of those hikes I did some self reflection and realized I needed to make changes in my life to be happy, including time in nature where I can clear my head. After that hike I took inventory of my life, ended the relationship I was in, and moved. I wanted a partner that would want to go outside with me, and that was not the partner I had chosen. I believe that everyone should be with someone that is supportive of the things that brings them joy and that is not the life I was living at that time. That was one of many reasons that I made the decision to end the relationship but it was the final thing that got me there. I don't regret that decision for a moment and now I spend a lot of time hiking alone, with my dog, my friends, and now a new partner who enjoys it as much as I do. - Aly
Growing up in country Australia, we lived next to a state park full of pine trees. Much of my youth was spent wandering through the forest. I have always loved pine forests because of this, amongst the trees it gets darker and quiet, with the pine needles cushioning the sound of your feet. It feels magical. When I joined Outside Chronicle's hike challenge in 2021, I discovered that WNY has many beautiful forests where I can experience that again, and now I'm hooked. - Alli
My mom used to take us hiking/creek walking as kids. I still have strong memories of hiking up stream for what felt like hours, reaching the end and seeing a massive waterfall at the end! Unfortunately someone bought up the property and doesn't allow hikers anymore, but I will never forget that adventure - Greg M
I've been trying to come up with a spark story for a while but realize I have more a spark person than a singular story. That person was my father. He had me hiking, canoeing and fishing since I could walk. He was an earth science teacher and helped to stimulate an insatiable desire within me to learn about how the natural world worked. One of the earliest hikes i can remember is going to the Eternal Flame Falls in Chestnut Ridge park. Scrambling up and down hills, rock hopping in the gully...
Once I grew older I didn't get out as much until he rekindled my drive to be outside by introducing me to geocaching. This was old school geocaching with a Garmin etrex that you had to manually enter coordinates into and you only had info about the caches if you printed it out. Geocaching helped to give my wife and I an incentive to check out different parks and trails.
My final big adventure with my dad was after he passed away in 2017. I flew out to Vegas where my parents lived and drove back to Buffalo in vehicle he had left me. In the passenger seat? A thermos full of his ashes strapped in. The thermos was also wearing his Buffalo Bills cap. I planned out a route that let us hit geocaches in 13 different states. Once we reached NYS, however, I realized that I hadn't picked a geocache here to bookend the trip.
The choice immediately became clear to me though. I pulled into the parking lot and carried him to the Eternal Flame. This was the first time he had been back here since he had brought me here over 40 years earlier. I found the geocache there, signed the logbook with both our names and then scattered a little bit of his ashes. I still tear up when I think about it. - Divddsky
I honestly remember when I developed a love of hiking. I grew up on a mountain farm in West Virginia, so most of my early childhood memories involve being outside, playing in the woods and hills. We didn't call it "hiking" then, but rather, going for a walk, or climbing the hills and ridges. I live in the suburbs of Western New York now, but still spend as much time outside as I can, and enjoy the restorative experience of being in the woods and "out in nature." It's a real privilege to live where I can be surrounded by trees and plants within moments of leaving my home. - Penny Messinger
Growing up in South East Ohio and the Ohio River we always did a lot of things outdoors - hunting, fishing, and hiking. Hiking often meant hiking to a favorite fishing spot. We also did a lot of hiking at the Lake Vesuvius recreational area in Wayne National Forest, often combined with a picnic. - Phillip Payne
I've always enjoyed hiking, and on some level I think I always knew that it was a thing I'd take more seriously one day. I have many fond memories of hiking in the mountains near my family's home in Lynchburg, VA. And I lived in Charlotte, NC for almost a decade, and did some great hiking around that state as well. But the experience that told me my "Hiking Phase" had officially arrived was when my young children started begging me to take them off the paved paths at Chestnut Ridge and onto the trails. They were very young (3 and 5) so we started with some easy stuff ... the Reservoir Trail at the Ridge, Birdsong in Orchard Park, and others. But the experience of sharing nature, and dedicated time just to walking and talking with them, was the best feeling. I used to joke that I was "training" them to be my future hiking partners, although it wasn't really a joke - the groundwork was being laid! So when the pandemic hit, and we needed this kind of thing to get ourselves out of the house, I jumped at the chance to sign up for our first WNY Hiking Challenge. That year we had to complete 20 hikes, and the kids did most of those with me, including camping overnight at Letchworth State Park and doing a couple hikes there. After our pug passed away, my young kiddos took his picture on the Beehunter Trail hike at Allegany State Park to give him "one last walk." We made so many great memories that summer, and we completed the Winter Challenge that year as well. They are 8 and 10 now, and we've stayed out on the trails almost weekly during the warmer months. We always make sure hiking is part of any traveling our family does! This year we're very close to completing the 2024 challenge, which will be our third finish. Hiking has become one of the most important and valuable things in my life, and I will never forget how it started half a decade ago: "Daddy, can we walk in the woods?" - Mike Sherry
I had always loved the outdoors as a child. I was always out in the woods. As an adult life gets busy and we often put our interests very low on a to do list. my son was 16 and asked to go on a hike when we went to New Hampshire. we decided to give some lower hikes that trip. it was fun to be out in the woods again. The next trip we went and did Mt Washington in NH and that was such a wonderful, hike we were hooked. the pine smell and open rocky areas the scrambles were so fun to experience we were hooked and decided to do the Saranac 6 as a Ultra. thats when we did Casscade the same weekend as the 6er. yes we just did Casscade and had to go back to catch porter completely new to the adk 46er journey. we are 44 of 46 as of now. This wny hiking challenge gets families together to put being outside on the to do list a priority. - Anonymous
The hike that got me hooked on hiking in the WNY area was at Reinstein Woods. It is such a peaceful place to enjoy nature, but also I always feel safe hiking there even alone, as the parking lot is never too far away. And to this day I'll hike there when I'm happy, sad or just need time away in the woods. And it encouraged me to go find other hikes in the area, and eventually link up with the Hiking Challenge. - Brittany H.
The time that got me hooked on hiking was when I went to Yellowstone National Park with my BFF . As we now live quite distance from one another this was a trip we planned and to incorporate hiking. we did several hikes, and we were hooked. The beauty and the splendor of the outdoors is amazing.
Hiking is something you can do anywhere, anytime at any age. You can explore areas you've never been or go in your favorite hike as many times as you like .You can get out into the fresh air and do a short hike, you can spend the entire day and pack a lunch, or you can build a trip around hiking.
Ever since our trip to Yellowstone each year we build a trip around going to places where the hiking spectacular! - Sue Beington
A few years ago I was struggling in a bad relationship and overwhelmed by the demands of single parenting a special needs teen. I had been participating in a cycling group but this became too much. I needed a calmer activity and one that demanded less of f a time commitment. The 34 acres out my back door was my salvation. That acreage connected to a lot of other private land that was open to my wandering. It also abutted some land of a conservancy.
As I started to live my meandering more I ventured out to another supported trails, state lands, and trail systems. This time in nature gave me such peace. I found the strength to leave a relationship that was so unhealthy. It also gave me more patience and strength to handle some of the concerns with my child.
I became a different and better person. I feel those 3 years helped me make so many positive changes in my life. I joined the Western New York hiking challenge which opened a whole new world to me of places to visit.
I feel that starting to hike in my early 50s has changed my life. At the time I stated the challenge I was ready to make some big changes in my life. The time I spent hiking was so cathartic and has changed who I am. - Tracy
DOUBLE BLAZES
Many years ago on a frigid, but sunny winter day, I was riding around with an old boyfriend, as he was showing me his hometown of Hornell. ("Hornell is swell but Jasper is faster!", he used to say.) A hiking road sign caught my eye. You know the kind; an illustration of two stick figures and a directional arrow. Both intrinsic explorers, we pulled over and donned ski jackets to follow the sign. We clambered to the top of a long hill to discover a trail register with a brochure inside about a footpath across New York State. It was the Finger Lakes Trail! Sweaty, out-of-breath and full of adrenaline from our climb, the idea of an end-to-end hike of hundreds of miles settled into our brains. It was the 21st of February in 2007, or '08 or so. I remember the date because from that high point in the woods, we called James, his son, to wish him a Happy Birthday! - Sarah B.
One of my first experiences of "proper" hiking was when I was a student in the UK in 1988.
A friend and I decided on a whim to spend a week hiking in the Lake District - an area in the UK known for its pristine lakes and rugged fell mountains. We mapped out our route (paper maps) and bought a Youth Hostel membership.
I remember getting my first pair of hiking boots and feeling really proud of myself for attempting some "real" hiking rather than walks in the woods.
The UK being the UK, I think it rained every day. But each hostel was equipped with a drying room where we hung our outerwear and boots on racks and winched them up to the rafters.
I loved every mile, despite the gray and the rain. Despite wearing in my stiff new hiking boots. Despite the snoring of dorm life in hostels.
My favorite memory is sitting in the most remote hostel one evening, fire roaring in the big stone fireplace, eating homemade soup with fresh baked bread, while a fellow hiker played guitar in the corner. We had no electricity or running water. No locks on the doors. No road nearby.
It's the sounds that I remember the most, and what still call me out to the trails - trickling streams, birds calling, rain pattering on the leaves of the forest. Nature soothes me. It's home.
My spark hike was at Knox Farm. We went there to do a challenge trail but it's also a known spot for good bird watching. I was with my girlfriend and her parents who were not into birds at all. I pointed out all the different birds there and they got really excited when they were able to identify them on their own. It made me feel great to see their excitement. We all now go out together, not only for hikes but also to do some bird watching. -Anonymous
My first hiking trip was on a whim in 2019 when two of my good friends invited me along to their California trip. I didn't really know what to expect, but agreed. One of our stops was Yosemite National Park and the first hike we did was Upper Yosemite Falls. In retrospect, as a more seasoned hiker now, I was nowhere ready to complete that hike, but not knowing any better I still went. I had never experienced views like what I saw on that hike. Eighty percent of the time I felt my body was going to give out on me and I would die right there in the most beautiful place I had ever seen (not a bad way to go honestly). I did not die, but I was hooked on hiking after that. - Anonymous
I had just moved to D.C. and didn't really know anyone. A co-worker invited me to go hiking and I agreed even though I was really out of shape and suffering with asthma at the time. We went somewhere in Virginia. Suffice it to say my co-workers' 13-year-old golden retriever did better than I did. I struggled uphill but when I got to the top and turned a corner suddenly we were surrounded by butterflies. They were everywhere. It was magical. I just stood there in complete awe. I was immediately hooked. - Anonymous
During COVID-19 lockdown, my now-fiancé, Alex, and I were in the first year of our relationship, and both living at home with our families. In order to safely see each other and protect our families, we'd get COVID tests, book an Airbnb for two weeks, and then get tested again before we returned home. During our third Airbnb trip, in early February in Henrietta, New York, we decided to make a concentrated effort to incorporate more movement into our days since we'd both become a little more sedentary and noticed it affecting our energy levels. For every day of the two weeks we were together-even though it was freezing!-we sought out fun places to walk.
One day, we discovered the Horizon Hill Conservation Area. We decided to be spontaneous, and embarked on a hike without knowing what kind of trail it was, how long it might be, or what was waiting at the top. (Ah, the magic of young love-we thought we could do anything!) We kept following the trail markers, but as time went on, we began to wonder if we were going the right way, how long this hike might be, and if we'd make it back before dark. There were many steep hills (made especially "fun" in the snow and ice), twists, and turns. I got nervous and scared more than a few times, but Alex was there to hold my hand, guide me down, and say, "You can do it!"
When we finally reached the top, the view was INCREDIBLE. I remember Alex saying, "Oh, wow," and then we both just stood there in awe and silence, taking it in. The sun was getting lower, but still in the sky, and we could see over what felt like the whole town. I remember feeling like I was part of something much bigger than just us.
We headed back down-because it was getting dark-all the while discussing how we couldn't believe our luck and how glad we were we'd stuck it out. When we got home, I checked my fitness app and discovered the hike had been a total of 7,000 steps, three miles, and the equivalent of 29 flights of stairs!
I think this was a spark hike for me because I am not a super spontaneous or adventurous person, so I felt so proud of myself for taking a risk and not giving up. The fact that we did the whole hike not knowing there was an amazing view at the top allowed me to experience the value of the hike for what it was: experiencing nature, a new activity, and growth; trusting the trail, getting some great exercise; and making amazing memories with my partner. The view was a huge bonus, and was an unexpected reward, but even had there been no view, the rewards would have been plentiful.
While I've since gone on more hikes, seen many views, and made lots of memories, this one will always be special. - Sabrina K.
I didn't grow up in an outdoorsy family and didn't have any experience with hikes or nature trails. I remember some friends hiking in college and me always turning them down, saying I was more of a city person. When I met my husband a few years later, we went on a few easy hikes together but it was never a huge part of our relationship.
In April 2020 we had our second child during a wild time. The world had shut down, my husband was furloughed from work, our 1st grade daughter only had a couple hours of schoolwork at home each day, and I was on maternity leave. We needed to get out of the house but there was nowhere to go. I saw on social media about a WNY hiking challenge. I love a good checklist and was craving being able to accomplish something and bring some structure back to our lives. It seemed like a very safe activity in a time where so much was unknown and everything felt potentially dangerous with a newborn especially.
We fell in love with hiking that summer. My baby strapped to me, needing to take plenty of breaks for feedings. My daughter looking for frogs and newts and crayfish and being thrilled anytime there was a creek to dip toes into. We loved the added goal of looking for a challenge landmark and trying to practice navigating when directions have never been a strength for us. We got used to being muddy and sweaty, packing a bag with whatever we might need, and just being able to enjoy the sunshine.
We certainly don't have as much time available these days to carve out hiking but we still prioritize it and appreciate this challenge for helping our family realize our love for the outdoors. - Stephanie Vroman-Goodrich
I discovered Meetup when I was looking for local clubs to join. I joined several groups, one of which was Buffalo Day Hikes. I met a lot of great people, some of whom are still my friends today, and I discovered a love for hiking that has taken me on many adventures. - Anonymous
When I first started hiking I was too little to remember. But when I really started hiking was when I was 4. I would go to a place called Tift nature preserve. Perfect for a four year year-old with little feet. 👣 the trails were flat and I had a lot of interesting things for a four-year-old. It had a place where you could see turtles and it lots of birds that were interesting to look at and moss they could look at and touch
We started doing more difficult trails as I got older, and then I started Love hiking. Yay! - Eleanor
My hiking story started during the pandemic. I work in a hospital so I couldn't be around my family as there were newborns and immuno compromised folks among them. I needed an outlet and a way to relax and reset after every tense week. Hiking became that refuge during the storm and loneliness of it all. And it has continued to bring me peace and brighten my day when I'm out in the woods to this day. - Amanda General
I liked hiking. I used to go with my girl scout troop as a kid but I fell out of it as a teen when I stop scouts. I didn't really have any family or friends in my area who shared my interest in hiking and over the years I really grew to miss it. Still I was a bit too timid to try it on my own. Then 2022 rolls around and I massively herniate a disc in my lumbar spine. I spent about 5 months with sever pain and not even being able to stand up straight. Luckily it was fixable with surgery and the summer 1 year following my surgery I decided I was going to start working on doing the Finger Lakes Trail Branches. I may not be completing this goal any time soon but I'm not going to waste any more of the time I have when I'm at least moderately heathly. - Anonymous
"Take your time," I had said, and I meant it. I was alone now and I loved it. I had just been dropped off at the boulder that marked our camping spot. My friend, who's family owned the land, was now on his way back down the hill ripping his way along the trail on the four wheeler to grab the next kid and more supplies. It was my job to set up the tent and collect firewood for the evening. I'd have at least another 40 minutes by myself and I couldn't be happier.
This pattern had become a beloved routine over the summer. Our group of friends would get together and enjoy an overnight in the woods on a hillside in our small hometown. We were all too young and naïve to be getting into any real hijinks in the mid nineties. We just enjoyed the autonomy and the adventure of camping. It was a fair distance up the hill and to save time (and have fun doing it) my friend would shuttle us one by one up the trail on his fathers four wheeler, drop each boy off with the few supplies we could carry and then go back for the next person.
I enjoyed being the advanced scout. I always opted to set up camp ahead of the arrival of the others. It gave me time to enjoy the peace of the woods. I had set the tent up enough times that I could get it constructed in only a few moments. Downed wood was plentiful and we'd built a small supply of it over multiple trips here so gathering enough for an evening didn't take long either. That left me plenty of time to enjoy the noises of babbling water from the small stream just off the side of our preferred camping spot. I could listen to song of birds and watch them flit amongst the tree tops. On a few occasions, if the day were colder, I'd get a small campfire started atop the large glacial deposit boulder we'd camp next to and listen to the wood pop and snap.
The time spent there in quiet contemplative reverie are some of my most cherished memories. It instilled in me a deep sense of wonder and appreciation for the woods. I felt like an adventurer from one of the many fantastic stories I read in my youth. I felt relaxed and at ease, there were no pressures to be anything other than just "present".
Once we were all gathered it was common practice to explore a new section of the hillside during the camping trip. What an extraordinary racket a group of teen boys can make! But we were in our element then, kings of our own destinies exploring the unknown and regaling one another with tales of our individual victories or struggles. Those woods and that hillside became the backdrop to a group of friends growing up and eventually growing apart to forge our own paths.
Today when I set out on a trail I often do so alone. I still like the solitude and enjoy the quiet of the forest. It's become something of a spiritual practice for me to recenter and reconnect.
On occasion I can convince one of my tween-age children to join me. It's difficult to pull them away from their screens but when they acquiesce to their old man I'm delighted to see them look up into the canopy and watch the birds flit about or see them close their eyes to listen to the breeze move through the pine trees. I catch the wonder on their faces or I hear the merriment in their voice as the excitedly exclaim about how beautiful the trail is we're hiking. In those moments I see reflections of a younger me sitting alone in the woods starring up in awe at the beauty of the world. When I'm very lucky one of them will ask me if we can linger in a particular spot just a bit longer to enjoy the magic of the place and I always respond, "Take your time," and I mean it. - Anonymous
I started hiking as a young child as we always went camping at Allegheny State Park. it was a family affair. as a child I did not always love it but as I grew older I began to embrace it and see the beauty of the forest and the calmness of being in the woods. everyone was always so happy when we were there too and if course our dogs always had a big smile on their faces and came home tired but happy. - Merle
By the start of winter 2020, I was feeling very trapped. We were on month 10 of homeschooling our daughters and I was in my first trimester of my little surprise kiddo. Getting outside each day was a lifesaver. I had offered some hiking retreats that fall for work and the saw that Outside Chronicles had a winter hiking challenge. I'd never thought about hiking in the winter but signed up myself and my daughters (then 6 and 8). I bought all of us microspikes and poles from very limited supplies at the store. I downloaded Avenza and learned to use it. I packed up a hiking bag for us to take. I then impressed (and absolute horrified) my family by completing the 8 winter challenge and 20 of the WNY Hiking Challenge hikes before giving birth the my son the following June.
My spark was wanting something to be outside, move my changing body, and have some control in a time when life was out of control.
One specific hike was being at Allegheny for the first time and completing Beehunter at almost 9 months pregnant. My feet were so swollen we walked to the lake right after to soak our toes. I loved showing my daughters what I and we could achieve, despite any obstacle. - Sarah Signorino
My Spark Story started after I ended a six year relationship. I moved out to my own apartment which was the first time in my life I have ever completely lived on my own and I had no idea what to do with my time. I met a friend who enjoyed going to various parks and walking the trails for exercise and after that I was hooked. I started going on my own and challenging myself to more and more difficult hikes and found the Hiking Challenge as well as the FLT 50. Both of which I completed as quickly as I could. (Might have been a little obsessed). Since then I have upgraded my gear and also got into camping which I do regularly and travel all over the country. Being out on the trail is my happy place. It's where I go to clear my head and think about anything that might be bothering me. - Michelle Hatch
I joined the Wilderness Club in high school, probably because my friends did, over 30 years ago (yikes!) I remember making plans to go on a weekend backpacking trip in Allegheny National Forest and not really grasping the enormity of that challenge. I was overweight and out of shape, but it sounded like fun! Most of the time, I was at the end of the line, strugggggling. I remember being embarrassed when I had to take breaks, but there was just something about the forest, it was so beautiful-the sights, the smells, the sounds, I was hooked. The feeling of accomplishment when we arrived back at the parking lot is still indescribable.
The WNY hiking challenge resparked my love of hiking in the winter of 2020-2021. I'm not the same girl I was in 1992, I'm healthier and have been able to create beautiful memories with my kids, friends, and family on the many trails in WNY (and around the world). - Anonymous
It was the Spring of 2020 and my son was a Junior in high school. He had to do points of activities for gym class and I needed to get out of the house. So he and I hiked a lot for his gym class. In the Finger Lakes area we are lucky to have a lot of easy to get to trails. While he has since given up hiking I continued as I have found it challenging, outside my comfort zone and exciting all at the same time. Over the past 4 years I have had to stop running and I am grateful I was hiking already and so I found a new passion that would keep me activity and give me a chance to find new places to explore. -Kristina
Not being positive about which hike came first, I believe it was Reinstein. Needing to get outside during COVID I saw something about the WNY Hiking Challenge and decided to get my husband to take me to that park. He is not an outdoor person but came with me. He enjoyed the walk there so much that he agreed to drive me to all of the hikes in the Challenge.
Meanwhile, my brother was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and was told that to slow the progression of the disease, movement was highly recommended. He readily decided to join the Challenge with me and has been coming ever since we started.
Since I have some depression, the peaceful and quiet forests, the beautiful water and falls and the soft gentle ground are such an awesome environment for me. In the winter, the hikes are invigorating and the light exposure are super helpful for Seasonal Affective Disorder. The Challenges are so motivating to me as they really encourage me to get out, get fresh air and move.
Another amazing thing to me is that I had never been to any of the places we have experienced on our hikes.
My sense of direction is marginal so having my brother along is a safety valve and my husband has great driving direction so we have little trouble finding places.
The hikes help each of us to point out special things that we see while hiking and make us pay attention to each other's limitations. Talking to our friends has gotten a few of them to hike also and some to even join the Challenge. Furthermore, I have a shut in neighbor who loves to hear about where the next hike iis and how it was. I often share pictures with her. On my last birthday the entire family including grandchildren came to Rock City with me and had a ball.
The Summer Challenge as well as the Urban Challenges have been a large part of my life in the last few years and I am so thankful for them. - Anonymous
I kinda have a Cinderella story. I am not new to hiking. Growing up, I didn't go out often, but typically when camping out at parks or going to the beach, I would do a trail here and there, but never owned hiking boots I always just wore sneakers or Teavas. About 20 years ago, I went shopping with some friends at the Waterloo outlet mall and stumbled upon some 10.5 Merrell hiking boots. Never in my life had I found a pair of footwear that was my actual shoe size. I always struggled with having to bump up to size 11 because the women half size stopped at 9.5. I remember my excitement when I found them and literally felt like Cinderella I now could have the perfect footwear when I went on my adventures, increasing my desire to take on new challenges. I broke my boots in at Hunters Creek, Western New York and have taken them to the highest peak of New York State, in the Adirondack, on Mount Marcy, and since then I have enjoyed every step! - Kisa Kragbé
Hiking up to St. Regis mountain Fire Tower with my youngest on a Boy Scout trip about 7 years ago was my first "spark" moment. I was the last in the group to make it up and had paused several times thinking "I'm never going to make it!" I learned about the Fire Tower Challenge and want to start that this Summer. - Barb Y Ben
On December 17, 2023, I shared photos on the Hike WNY Facebook page of a recent hike to the Eternal Flame Hiking Trail with my 14 year old son, Matthew. I noted how my son had autism and short hikes in WNY had become "our thing" with Matthew typically trying to lobby me for post-hike ice cream. I also expressed that I was looking to find some more challenging hikes for my boy in 2024.
The response was supportive and overwhelming with a few hikers suggesting that we sign up for the WNY Winter Hiking Challenge. We were winter hiking newbies, but Santa got us some new hiking boots and poles for Christmas, and we were off! We explored several trails for the first time, including: Eighteen Mile Creek, Erie County Bureau of Forestry, Franklin Gulf, Emery Park, and Artpark State Park. In total, Matthew and I completed 10 of the challenge hikes.
My son has a somewhat limited vocabulary, but planning hikes is the topic we discuss most often. We've gone from occasional short hikes on a handful of trails to exploring trails of varying degrees of difficulty throughout WNY on a weekly basis the entire year.
I am not the first father of a son with autism to figure out that taking your boy on a hike is fun. But it's been a joy to find an activity where he can get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors at his own pace and be his authentic self, which includes hitting me up for post-hike ice cream or hot cocoa. I now have a teenager obsessed with going on weekend hikes with his father. - Joe Brown
My family didn't spend a lot of time outdoors when I was growing up, but as I got older, I started having some interest in exploring some parks. I struggled with feeling overwhelmed by all the options, and was nervous to hike alone. I started dating someone and we completed our first WNY Hiking Challenge together after I saw it online. The moment of truth for me was after a horrible break up and completing a pretty hard hike by myself. I was at my lowest having health issues, a broken heart and alone on the getaway I had planned for us. I would have normally avoided a hike like that, and definitely wasn't feeling up to it, but I tackled it head on and never felt so good about myself. It changed everything for me. I gained a confidence in being able to achieve things, including going out alone, that I lacked before. I hike alone all the time now and crave the sounds and smells of the trail. It's the one place my mind can be quiet and I don't feel the need to fill the air with chatter. I don't know when the moment hit, but it became the place for me to disconnect but feel more connected than ever. There's something beautiful about feeling like you and your problems are so small in the history of the trees around you. Hiking started as a way to build my relationship with my ex, but ended up being the thing that built my connection with myself. - Kathleen Kratochvil
I have always enjoyed hiking, even when I was a little kid. It was something we did as a family a few times every summer. Otherwise I resorted to walking the woods in our backyard, getting scratched up by weeds but enjoying every moment of solitude. My first memory of really loving hiking though, occurred when I was dating my future husband, Jeffrey. A majority of our dates revolved around the outdoors and hiking local areas. One day he took me to Zoar Valley, and as we were walking the creek we took our shoes off and just sat with the water trickling between our toes. Then all of a sudden, a rush of water stole my sneaker and it quickly began floating away from me. Jeff wasted no time and ran along the sharp rocks in his bare feet to rescue my sneaker, gallantly bringing it back to me as if it was no big deal. I asked him why he would have run across the sharp rocks like that just for a sneaker, and he responded, " What else was I to do on one of our first dates? Sit here and then make you walk back barefoot for two miles?" It was then I knew I had found the right guy, the love of my life, and it was then that I fell in love with hiking as well. - Michelle Martin
I have enjoyed hiking, casually, occasionally, for as long as I can remember. This spring my husband and I had to make the drive from Erie to Slippery Rock, and decided it would be a good time to tour Route 666. I had heard about the scenic Route on the radio recently and wanted to check it out. It was already late in the day when we finally were able to reach the start of the Route, so we decided to look further into it and find a place we could walk the dogs along the route the next time we were able to drive back. Some unseasonably warm weather at the end of February gave us a great excuse to go check it out, and to take the dogs out at the spot we'd "discovered" at Minister Creek in the Allegheny National Forest. We hiked the center trail up to the overlook and came down the outer section of the Middle Loop. The stunning scenery, massive rocks, and fresh early spring weather had me itching to go back and check out the other trails. We returned the following week to hike the South Loop and part of the Middle Loop, and saw even more beautiful scenery than before. It flipped the switch from "casual hiker" to "we need to do this every week!" And we have! We haven't missed a single week and have hiked all over Western NY and Western PA. It even inspired us to join the WNY Hiking Challenge this year. Seeing such breathtaking landscapes, smelling the delicious forest scents, enjoying the birdsong and wildlife, and getting some exercise is proving to be addictive. We love hiking! - Anonymous
I bought my first pair of hiking boots in the 80s when I was at college in the UK. My friend and I decided that we should go hiking in the Lake District - a beautiful area of northern England known for its fell mountains, quaint little towns, and pristine lakes.
We headed out with Ordnance Survey maps (long before cell phones, internet and GPS) and as many clothes as we could cram into our barely waterproof backpacks.
It rained every day. We stayed at hostels that had drying rooms, ate hearty "full English" breakfasts, and met some amazing people along the way.
My favorite hostel had no road to it. There was no electricity and no hot water. The evening was spent singing songs around the roaring fireplace, eating soup, and making new memories.
Since that initial hiking trip I have always found peace in nature. I hike slowly and mindfully, tripping over roots as I study the shadows in the tree tops... I stop for every crawling caterpillar, hopping toad, and beautiful fungus.
My student days of discovery are long gone, but I still find a sense of wonder every time I hike. -Wendy Annal
My Spark Hike story began 25 years ago, as of the time of this writing. I was a fifth grader in Mrs. Lesniak's class at All Saints School, a Catholic School in Buffalo, NY. Our big field trip for the year was a day trip to Watkins Glen and Corning. I was very excited to take this trip. The day was great and featured a lunch trip on Seneca Lake on the Captain Bill's Excursion boat (where I dropped my baby back ribs on the ground and had to wait for them to recook it) and a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass. Both of which were cool destinations and very memorable, but the game changer was the hike we did at Watkins Glen State Park. I remember us all, kids and teachers, running through the lower parking lot to get to the gorge trail. I remember how amazed I was at the caverns that you had to go through on the trail and the beautiful waterfalls that dotted the gorge. I vividly remember walking behind Cavern Cascade and getting wet from the rushing waterfall. I stood in awe as I walked out of the cavern adjacent and saw the tree-lined walls of the gorge. It was a memorable sight! Every part of the gorge was different, and I remember it being nothing like anything I had seen before or honestly, since. Watkins Glen State Park is one of a kind. My visit on that class trip set off a spark- a love of hiking that continues to this day. - Matthew J. Bucholz
I just started hiking this year, I when on a nature walk on a whim and I've quickly fallen in love with hiking. It helps that it's a way to trick myself into exercising! I actually look forward to getting out there and challenging myself with harder and longer trails. - Anonymous
I was working as a camp counselor in the Adirondack Mountains one summer. At this point in time, I had done easy hikes at Stony Brook growing up but nothing ever too serious. A friend working at the camp invited me to stay at her place for the weekend and go hike Cascade/Porter. Looking back, I was overwhelmingly unprepared for the grueling six hour hike. It pushed me to my absolute limit but nothing felt better than sitting at the top of the mountain, taking in the view and feeling of accomplishment. I was hooked! Ten years, two pairs of boots and many miles later, I am working toward completing the WNY Hiking Challenge with my favorite hiking companion - my dog, Noodle. - Laura Lee Tingley
I started going on "hikes" and really enjoying it when I would go camping in the Adirondacks as a child. Every time my family went we would pick a mountain. The first ones I remember climbing are Bald Mountain and Panther Mountain, one of them had a fire tower and I remember how cool it was to see the mountains from up there. They were pretty easy hikes (for a mountain) but I've loved continuing the tradition every time I go there. - Anonymous
One of my best friends decided to travel cross country after graduating with her bachelors degree! She invited me to fly out west with her and travel with her for a week and a half camping and hitting major national parks. I've always been active but I've never been a big hiker/camper. The time we spend in Yosemite was life changing! We went during June of 2019 and it was one of the wettest-wet seasons they had in a long time! We were completely soaked on the Nevada falls hike- we had to stop and ring our boots out! But we had the best time and I was overwhelmed with a sense of reverence and peace. We even saw a bear cub (from a distance). We've done a lot of amazing hikes since but this was the one that started it all (: - Emily I
I've always enjoyed being out in nature. When I was little, my dad would take me to my Great Uncle's land in Boston, where he and my grandfather used to hunt. The thought of hurting animals never sat right with me, but he'd take me target shooting, fishing and for hikes in the woods. We would pass by an old hunting shack that my dad swore was Rumplestiltskin's home and we'd share a pack of Rolos. Recently, I've been working on my mental health and prioritizing things that make me happy. I chose to join the WNY Hiking Challenge to reconnect with those good memories and disconnect from the day-to-day grind. Whether I complete the challenge isn't what I'm here for, but it is a nice goal to have. - Erin
I was hiking in Tennessee the moment I got hooked. On Mount Leconte, I realized I could just dart up the mountain with ease, and when I got to the top, the views were absolutely stunning. I've been chasing that adrenaline rush ever since, and continue to go on longer and more difficult hikes as the years go on. - Jacob
I lost my husband to Alzheimer's in 2019. The grief was overwhelming, and one of the ways I coped was to start walking then running. Unfortunately, my right knee didn't like me running. My surgeon told me I could not run--I could bike, swim but no running. Biking did not give me the same "high." My massage therapist suggested I try the WNY Hiking Challenge. So, I decided to try it in 2021. I grew up in PA and hiked as a kid some. The first hike I did was Lockport Nature Trail, just 2 miles from my house. I had lived here for 25 years and never been there! Oh my gosh! It was eye opening and washed over me like a healing shower! I quickly became addicted to being out in the woods, losing myself to God's creation! Hiking has been a big part of healing me from grief. In Nov 2022, I had a total knee replacement, so I could enjoy hiking even more and do more difficult ones! My dogs and I love to go. I'm thankful to Mike Radomski for launching this wonderful service to WNY! - Sue
At 15 I went away to the Adirondacks and I was a volunteer with the YCC in Newcomb New York! We worked every day on trails, parks, etc. We stayed in the carriage house to the great Santanoni preserve and Lodge. - Sally Naetzker Baer
About 11 years ago I had a truly devastating year. My marriage came to an abrupt end. While struggling with the loss, a few months later I learned I was type II diabetic. This was compounded by the fact that I was at an all time high for weight at 252 lbs. In my youth, I was constantly playing sports whether it be hockey, soccer, baseball or even a little cross country. All these factors left me in a place I was not used to, alone, unhealthy and wondering what had happened to my life. The next couple years I stumbled through by completing some Tough Mudders and trying to be more active. What I started to realize was that I needed to find a consistent healthy output for my stress and physical health. Then 2017 happened. A coworker turned friend, had introduced me to the fire towers that dotted the Adirondacks. In July of that year, we planned our first trip to Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain and Fire tower. With not knowing what to truly expect and having a very real fear of heights we started the ascent. This is when my moment happened. After coming out of the woods to one of the many look out points, I found myself staring out over the skyline and thinking how calm I felt. No worries about my weight, or what was going on in my life, just a peace in my head and heart that I only truly get when I'm with family and friends. I have made it part of my life every since that moment. - Tee
I have always loved the outdoors and hiking, but the moment that really got me hooked was a cross country road trip with a friend. It was absolutely amazing to wake up early every morning, hike to beautiful places, hang out by lakes and rivers in the afternoon, and see amazing things with a great friend. From there I started hiking locally every chance I got, started planning trips around hikes that I wanted to do, and am now out on a thru hike of the PCT doing what I love every single day. I have met the most amazing people and seen so many beautiful places now that I've embraced this part of my life. - Erin (trail name: Resource)
The experience that first got me hiking was the day that I found my first geocache in the summer 2007. My first geocaching experience was in a local park where I found three geocaches. I enjoyed walking on the trails in the park as well as the hunt for the geocache. Next I did a few park and grabs but they were not nearly as much fun as those found in parks or on trails. As the weather got colder, hunting geocaches gave us a reason to get outside and do so walking. Then we ventured out further and discovered more parks and nature preserves. My niece went to Ithaca College, and this gave us a whole new area to explore. One geocache challenge including visiting the trails that took us to 9 different waterfalls in the Ithaca area. My sister did a hiking challenge in the winter when I was in Florida. She suggested I join her for the summer challenge so I joined in. We still look for a few geocaches if they are near where we are hiking, but mostly now we enjoy the exercise and getting out with nature. - Anonymous
Mount Dana in Yosemite is at 13,058 feet. I hiked it in 2007, starting from the Tioga Pass entrance at 8,500 ft. It's the most elevation gain I've hiked in one day. I was a much younger man then although I wasn't doing any consistent hiking. Just reaching the top was inspiring. I left a "Go Bills" message in the journal. Besides the fabulous scenery, the most inspiring events were being passed by a young family with two kids about 8 or 10 years old and by a guy who blew past me and stopped long enough to say he was training for McKinley (!). The iPhone had been announced just seven months earlier. There was no SDK, no Apple Store, and no All Trails. I don't recall what sort of maps I had. - Terry Westley
My spark hike was at Letchworth. It was a team-bonding time with a group of co-workers and we were hiking the lower, middle, and upper falls. We were all talking about the beauty of Gods creation and the fact that it's amazing that we are able to walk in and admire it. It caused a spark in my mind that I want to continue to walk through and admire Gods works. Listen to the songs of animals, watch the color changes of the sky, and challenge myself to make it to places I wouldn't have gone to before. - Gracie
I fell in love with hiking when my mother took me to Letchworth State Park when I was a child. I loved the scenery, the smell of the forest and the way the sun would shine off of the trees and rocks in the gorge hiking also allows me to get in better shape And enjoy the outdoors in my way and pace. I enjoy the sounds of the wildlife and seeing new things and honestly hiking is my therapy. - Jamie W.
I've been hiking since I met my husband in 1988. We would hike and chat and explore. Then I had 5 children who we took hiking at various locations. One of my fondest memories was looking out over the expanse from high in the Adirondack Mountains. It was breathtaking. But if truth be told, I was asked to do a study during covid about exercise etc. The gift for completing the study was entry into my first WNY Hiking Challenge. So I began it. I liked doing the hikes with my husband or sons or daughters or even on the phone with one of them. It was great bonding time. But I truly fell in love with hiking when I was running and walking the trail at Franklin Gulf. About 2 miles in, I was totally alone in the absolute quiet of the forest. It was nature and me. The feeling was like nothing I've ever experienced. My soul actually could breathe. - Peggy Pozzuto
I've always enjoyed the outdoors and camping since I was young. Life sometimes steers us in other directions and it's easy to forget the joys from the past. A decade+ later....... While attending a work conference in the Adirondacks, a few co-workers decided it might be fun to 'hike' a High Peak. I did not know I was in for such an amazing surprise! This was anything but a leisure walk in the park, which now I realized was what I was really doing in the past. This amazing experience and group of people and view from the summit was surreal. Words and pictures cannot explain the feelings and emotions from being on top of the peak overlooking the Adirondack Mountains. There is a quiet, calm, peaceful feeling where everything else in the world does not matter at this point of time - it's paused and I'm disconnected and unplugged from the routine day to day life. It is, and was, a true feeling of "there is more to this world". To capture that experience is impossible any other way. It was at that point that I knew it was only the beginning for me. - Jon
I've always enjoyed the outdoors and would often wander around in the woods behind my house as a kid. In my late 20s I started hiking, but only knew about 2 places and would hike maybe once a month and my "limit" was 6 miles.
My hiking spark came when I met a hiker in Glacier National Park in 2018 and he talked me into hiking the Highline Trail at 12 miles. I definitely didn't think I could do it, but I DID!!! I immediately thought, "What ELSE can I do?"
That's the year I decided to stop waiting for others and went to explore the Adirondack high peak area on my own. I figured I'd try out two "smaller" ones and see how it went. Well, I accidentally missed a sign to turn for Wright mountain and ended up summiting Algonquin, the second highest peak!! I remember complaining out loud that the hike was much harder than the book said Wright would be and a fellow hiker saying, "Oh, girl. You're on the trail to Algonquin! You're more than half way there, so you might as well keep going!" When Covid hit and I discovered the summer WNY Hiking Challenge while scrolling on FB, I went from hiking once a month to every other day or so! I even did two rounds of the Summer and Winter challenges! That's right! 64 and 32 trails! When the ultras became a thing, I figured I'd try to do one and ended up doing them all! To say I'm hooked on hiking is an understatement.
I'm so grateful to Mike with OC for helping me discover that hiking is such a passion for me! I was holding out on myself! I'm constantly amazed by how far I keep pushing my limits and discovering what I am capable of. Hiking has brought me confidence, strength, incredible friendships, and so much healing emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I can feel it when too much time has passed between hikes.
What a gift the Outside Chronicles' Hiking Challenges have been for me. They have significantly improved my life. - Debbie Smith
I've always enjoyed the outdoors and would often wander around in the woods behind my house as a kid. In my late 20s I started hiking, but only knew about 2 places and would hike maybe once a month and my "limit" was 6 miles.
My hiking spark came when I met a hiker in Glacier National Park in 2018 and he talked me into hiking the Highline Trail at 12 miles. I definitely didn't think I could do it, but I DID!!! I immediately thought, "What ELSE can I do?"
That's the year I decided to stop waiting for others and went to explore the Adirondack high peak area on my own. I figured I'd try out two "smaller" ones and see how it went. Well, I accidentally missed a sign to turn for Wright mountain and ended up summiting Algonquin, the second highest peak!! I remember complaining out loud that the hike was much harder than the book said Wright would be and a fellow hiker saying, "Oh, girl. You're on the trail to Algonquin! You're more than half way there, so you might as well keep going!" When Covid hit and I discovered the summer WNY Hiking Challenge while scrolling on FB, I went from hiking once a month to every other day or so! I even did two rounds of the Summer and Winter challenges! That's right! 64 and 32 trails! When the ultras became a thing, I figured I'd try to do one and ended up doing them all! To say I'm hooked on hiking is an understatement.
I'm so grateful to Mike with OC for helping me discover that hiking is such a passion for me! I was holding out on myself! I'm constantly amazed by how far I keep pushing my limits and discovering what I am capable of. Hiking has brought me confidence, strength, incredible friendships, and so much healing emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I can feel it when too much time has passed between hikes.
What a gift the Outside Chronicles' Hiking Challenges have been for me. They have significantly improved my life. - Debbie Smith
I have been heading outdoors since I was little. Growing up at the base of the Adirondack Mountains afforded me chances to spend on the water and on the mountains, but I think I must have taken it all for granted because I never thought of myself as a hiker until I joined three colleagues and twelve students to tackle three high peaks to raise money for the Brian Moorman P.U.N.T. Foundation. I was the Co-Advisor at the time for Educational Outreach, a school club that began as a way to build schools for girls in Afghanistan and morphed eventually moved into a number of different community service projects. The year I served as advisor, we decided that we would take our junior and senior members on something called the Climb for a Cause, a three-day climb of Giant, Cascade, and Rocky Peak Ridge Mountains - three of the Adirondack 46ers. We trained, we raised money, and we gathered what we needed to drive from Orchard Park to Lake Placid to begin our adventure. On our seventeen hour trek across Giant and Rocky Peak, my 5'1" frame got the best of me. Try as I might, I did not have the leg span to scale one of the rock faces. I watched the kids climb. I watched my colleagues climb. And I wondered if I needed to just head back the way I came and attempt to find them later. And then I heard a kid shout, "I'll be right back." Bryan, who I had as a student his freshman, junior, and senior year, who was headed for military service in a few short months, said, "Tedo, I've got you." And as if I was a light backpack, he hoisted me up and, once I got my bearings, said, "let's go!" I caught up to the others and eventually, when we summitted (and I couldn't for the life of me tell you which peak we were on), I looked out at all of these kids who had not only worked so hard to accomplish this goal, but who refused to leave me behind. We gathered, we smiled, we took pictures. And that night, we all cooked dinner together and shared stories (my rescue being one of the highlights), and I realized that hiking wasn't just about ticking off boxes or collecting summits. It was about togetherness, community, and a shared sense of adventure. And even thought it might have taken place hours away from my classroom, it might be the highlight of my career. - Julie B.
I've always enjoyed hiking! About 21 yrs ago, I hiked in the Adirondacks for my first time. The views were incredible! I remember thinking, wow! this is so rewarding! I've hiked throughout the years around western NY but didn't have that Ah-ha moment again until last summer when my son and I went on a road trip out west. We hiked a few different national parks. Glacier, Olympic & North Cascades. Being on the west coast was a totally new experience! My son and I plan to go to Acadia National Park in Maine this summer. What really sparked me to do this challenge was getting a puppy in January. Hes a Samoyed, bred to be a sled dog. I knew he needed LOTS of exercise! We plan to bring him on our trip this summer. We began hiking Sprauge Brook Park because it's the closest to where we live. I was excited to find out about this challenge because now we get to discover new trails together! Bowie, my puppy, is only 6 months old. This challenge will end right before his 1st birthday! I'm looking forward to our adventures together and to see how many miles we get in during this challenge! - Stef
Well I have not written a story for at least 50 years. so anyways here it goes. I started hiking like 20 years ago. I decided to do this hike at Chestnut Ridge with my group Buffalo Day Hiker's. I had just started getting my gear slowly but surely. Someone's loaned me their micro spikes which were in my backpack. I had never used them before so really didn't have any clue, plus the leader said it didn't seem we needed them. So needless to say. We were walking the Old Boy Scout Trail, which I didn't know anything about that trail either. I was so excited and thrilled I was hiking in this beautiful land of trees. there was up and downs which I was much younger than, lol. There was no achy knees no pulled meniscus. All was good!!!!
We are now going to a spot where it goes down on a thinner trail and then a bridge and then going up a thinner kinds trail. Here this is where the horses use to go? Anyways I didn't realize anything different about this spot other than it didn't seem so wide and I wasn't sure about going over that. Just stepped off the bridge and slipped thought this to be the end of me. I thought I was going to die. someone tried lifting me up and I said no. I'm not moving, which of course I had to. My feet were dangling over the side. A fellow hiker asked about these micro spikes I'd I had them, I said yes but there was no way I was moving. Finely my leader came back to me and told me to crawl to the side which at the time looked like a wide wall. there was very narrow part that was not icy. I made it walking that wall and got to the side and asked my Leader was there anymore or these and her response was I hope to God no. I just started crying. The rest of the hike was beautiful again the feeling of being in the forest but I never forgot about that day. there was a picture of me someone had taken, that memory will never go away. I found out after that 4 other people slipped. I hadn't done that trail since that time. Last year I broke down and walked it. Scared but determined. There on that say I ran into my new Leader and took a picture with him on that bridge. I felt so proud. I will never find that to be my favorite hike. I don't like skinnier trails by cliffs. I stay away from edges. So it definitely did start my fear of that. so proud of me being able to go back and so my nemesis I overcame. I love hiking today. I have grown so much since that first hike. Thankfully for Outside Chronicle's I will always be grateful!!!❤️❤️❤️-Doreen
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