Mount Olga or “why I love hiking”

At the Molly Stark State Park you can find very clean bathroom facilities and a trail to the top of Mount Olga. As we hit the trail Peter turned to me and asked, “why do you love hiking so much?”

When I started to answer I came up with one or two reasons, but as I kept thinking I came up with many more. So, why to I love hiking?
hiking at Mt Olga

* It’s outdoors. I love the fresh air and sun shining through the trees. I love the smell of fallen leaves.
* There’s often a great view as a reward for all your work fighting gravity.
* It is free- for the most part. Usually if there’s a park fee it goes back into maintaining the trails and facilities, so it is totally worth paying.
* It is great exercise.
* It is quiet.
* There is very little commercialization surrounding it (minus EMS and REI and LLBean- but you can hike without spending one penny at any of those)
* It is family friendly. And I have great memories of hiking with my family when I was a kid.

Well, the list could go on and on. Hiking just makes me happy.

And I was happy last Sunday when we stopped into the Molly Stark campground and hiked to the top of Mount Olga.

3 thoughts on “Mount Olga or “why I love hiking”

  1. Bethany Joy Lange

    Another great reason for hiking: it creates space for talks or chants or lessons that might otherwise not happen. I STILL remember the entire Hebrew alphabet b/c Becky Smith taught it to me while we hiked Mt. McLaughlin 8 years ago. There’s something really beautiful about learning things to the rhythm of your hiked footsteps.

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  2. Rebecca Post author

    BJ- it’s true! Catherine and I have been having some great conversations on the trail. Just today we were discussing prayer. I can’t wait until I can understand her half of the conversation!

    Oh Mt Mclaughlin! Wouldn’t I love to climb there again!

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