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72 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 Why hike? Of course, there are the obvious reasons. Walking has indisputable health benefits and being in nature is proven to help with mental health. But perhaps most intriguing is how versatile it is. Hiking can be solitary or social. It can be challenging or relaxing. A trail can be familiar and at once full of newness. The longer the hike, the more important it is to home in on your "why." Earlier this year, my partner, local hiker Trent Mosely, walked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail – a feat that takes six months. For him, hiking has been a way to slow down today's fast pace. He said, "In a time where our attention spans are becoming smaller and smaller due to short-form content and social media, hiking provides a remedy to that. It reminds us of the timelessness of mother nature and makes us focus on the grandeur and minute details found in the wild. Additionally, the physical connection with our body and the ground gratifies in a way that few things do in our treadmill-like day-to-day existence." Each hiker must find their own motivation. If you are just getting started, try an easy hike and look for the moments when you feel elated. Notice what it is about that moment that brought you joy – remember it when the trail gets challenging. Hiking Tips Sunscreen and bug spray are your friends Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate Get to know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace We all trip now and again; wear close-toed shoes Check AllTrails before taking a hike to see how the weather may have impacted the trail Take a small bag with you for any trash Listen to nature! (If you need music, wear headphones) Check for ticks upon completion Avoid wearing cotton if you can (it traps sweat and can make you too hot or too cold) Find your why Have fun! When you go, send us a photo for FACES. hello@maconmagazine.com Macon Mental Health Matters and Southern Queer Folk Hikes teamed up for a Healing Hike with families, couples, and solo hikers at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in September. Photo courtesy of Pam Pinkston.