Where the Trail Becomes My Therapy
There’s something about the sound of my shoes against the dirt, the way the wind feels on my face, the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, it calms me in ways nothing else can.
I didn’t start hiking for the views or the thrill. I started because I needed to breathe. I needed space. From the noise, the expectations, the never-ending cycle of stress. Somewhere along the way, the trail became my therapy.
The Healing Power of Being Alone in Nature
Life can be loud. Work, social media, daily obligations, it all adds up until your brain feels like it’s buffering, stuck on an endless loading screen like the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul Fight. That’s where solo hiking comes in.
When I step onto a trail, the world gets quiet. Not silent, just peacefully quiet. No social media notifications, no emails, no small talk, just me, my thoughts, and I can be my genuine, quirky self. And in that moment, I can actually hear myself think.
I’ve had some of my most honest, raw conversations with myself on solo hikes. No distractions, no outside influences, just me untangling the knots in my mind, step by step. It’s like therapy, minus the couch and the insurance clusterfuck.
Processing the Heavy Stuff, One Mile at a Time
I remember exploring the Bentonite Hills in Hanksville, Utah. I found myself sitting atop the Bentonite Hills in complete silence. Not the kind of silence where you can hear distant traffic or the rustling of leaves, just pure, uninterrupted nothingness. As I absorbed the breathtaking views, I suddenly felt a tear escape my eye. I couldn’t help but wonder, “What the hell is this?” It took me by surprise, but there I was, shedding tears in the middle of the desert, surrounded by silence, and it felt absolutely incredible.
That’s the thing about solo hiking, it doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives you the space to carry it differently.
Nature Has a Way of Putting Things Into Perspective
Ever stood on a mountain top and just looked around? Like, really looked? Suddenly, all the stuff that felt overwhelming back home, deadlines, disappointments, whatever nonsense was taking up mental real estate feels so minimal.
Nature doesn’t care about your to-do list. The trees don’t judge you. The river keeps flowing whether you’re having a good day or a terrible one. There’s something incredibly humbling about that.
I once met a guy a guy in Charleston, South Carolina who left me speechless. I asked him about the seemingly slower pace of life in the area and why people seemed content to travel under the speed limit. His response resonated deeply with me. He simply said, “Why speed through life when you can drive slow and appreciate the beauty surrounding you?” His words hit me right in the feels, leaving me momentarily speechless with my bacon cheeseburger poised mid-air.
The Solitude That Heals, Not Isolates
Now, let’s be clear, there’s a big difference between being alone and feeling lonely.
Solo hiking doesn’t feel lonely to me. If anything, it’s the opposite, it makes me feel connected. To nature, to myself, to something bigger than all of this.
There’s an old Japanese practice called Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” which is basically the idea that being in nature is healing for the mind and body. Science backs it up too. Studies show that spending time outdoors reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and boosts mood.
And honestly, I don’t need a scientific study to tell me that. I feel it every time I step into my element.
Why I Keep Coming Back to the Trail
Hiking doesn’t “fix” anything. It doesn’t magically solve my problems or make life perfect. But it gives me the space to breathe. It reminds me that movement is progress, even when I don’t have all the answers.
When I’m out there, just me and the trail, I feel free. No expectations, no pressure, just the simple act of walking forward. And sometimes, that’s exactly what healing looks like.
So yeah, I hike alone. Not to escape, but to process. To heal. To remember that no matter what life throws at me, I can always take another step.
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