An adventure is
a pleasurable journey
towards the unexpected.
Adventure Philosophy
WHY ADVENTURE?
Adventures are worthy of pursuit because they are experiences that expose us to novel elements of the world and of ourselves. In turn, we expand our knowledge, joy, and excitement to be living participants in the world. They can be planned or unexpected, long or brief, and also incorporate hardship and effort! Adventures are about journeys and that is precisely where much happiness is found – in the quest.
EVERYDAY ADVENTURES
Adventures can be had anywhere because they involve imagination and wonder. As children, many of us learned that building a fort at home can transport us. It is important to retain this knowledge that we can seek new experiences without traveling far. Seeking constant escape to faraway lands may cause us to undervalue our daily lives, to disinvest from our local communities, and to contribute too much to climate change. So, exploring walking routes, city parks, public buildings and art are ways of nourishing an adventurous mindset. Set out on a quest to find the best coffee and doughnut in town!
TRAVELING
Traveling, whether to a mountainous state park or to an overflowing metropolis on another continent, is, of course, what many of us consider to be the height of adventure. While we now recognize the need to reduce our carbon footprints, travel remains an indispensable means of human connection and understanding. We travel and explore for leisure because imagination and wonder tell us that our consciousness is unlimited and that confronting the unfamiliar not only presents opportunities for fun, but also expands our souls.
PLANNING FOR MAGIC
There is no one correct way to adventure, nor to travel. AA&M choses to plan outings that have an increased likelihood of containing sparks of magic. Our adventure blogs highlight places that are aesthetically pleasing and wondrous. We believe in carefully researching places in order to understand the history, social reality, and physical geography of locals in order to be respectful and to have a greater chance of ending up in the places we want to be. While there is always room for chance and the unknown, we believe that creative experiences can also happen inside of responsible planning.
Hiking Philosophy
WHAT IS HIKING?
Hiking is walking outdoors with the intention to exert physical effort while enjoying the movement and the landscape. Hikes can range from leisurely and brief to intense, risky and lengthy. Hiking is usually done on human-made trails carved into predominantly non-human made landscapes. Ideally, all hikes can be considered an adventure, but it is also recognized that as ruggedness and remoteness of landscapes increase, so to does the feeling that one is on an adventure.
HIKING AS AN EVOLVING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The experience of hiking is different for everyone, and an individual’s own relationship to hiking constantly evolves. The same hike can feel difficult, easy, exciting, boring, blissful, or unpleasant throughout time. One’s relationship to hiking is based on a myriad of factors. The most impactful one is, at least initially, one’s social environment.
SOCIAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT HIKING
Knowing others who hike makes hiking easier. We learn from others and, importantly, feel comfortable doing activities that our social circle also does. Some grow up hiking so that strapping on a backpack and walking through a remote forest in a rainstorm feels like second nature, like the proverbial walk in the park; some have always felt they belonged on hiking trails. For others, there may be a long history of danger and unfamiliarity associated with the outdoors. For example, the article “Lincoln Hills offered resort for African Americans visiting Colorado" gives a glimpse into the historical reality of many black Americans and their exclusion from having safe access to outdoor spaces. In general, Americans’ social positionality, especially their race and class, greatly impacts whether they access hiking trails. Due to inequality, hiking has traditionally been been a pursuit for the white and relatively wealthy. So, it is important to remember that everyone starts hiking with a different level of familiarity and comfort. For those of us who were socialized into hiking earlier in life, it is wise to recognize that it is easy to incorrectly assume that others have the same knowledge and feeling of comfort that we do. It is also easy to forget that not everyone is able-bodied nor in a socio-economic position that is conducive to hiking.
HIKING AS A JOURNEY
Regardless of where we begin, hiking requires us to know landscapes and to know ourselves. AA&M considers hiking to be a journey where we increase our understanding of terrain and of our own capabilities, needs, desires, joys, and fears. Responsible hiking necessitates learning principles such as “leave no trace," as well as developing an understanding of the factors that impact a hike including, weather, location, trailhead accessibility, distance, vertical gain, geography, and terrain features. We must know what we are physically and mentally capable of and what we are willing to risk. Hiking with the right clothing and gear is also key. In other words, continual research and learning are integral to hiking.
HIKING AS AN ACTIVE LEARNING PROCESS
Therefore, AA&M emphasizes that hiking is a never-ending learning process. Hikers (especially those who are new to hiking!) are encouraged to prepare for hikes by developing the habit of researching hikes! Research often evolves a combination of utilizing simple google searches, trail apps like AllTrails, and utilizing social connections including friends and social media. Importantly, research should include studying maps! While it can be easy to just take someone’s suggestion for where to go, looking at topography provides a deeper understanding of one’s orientation to the land which is both practically helpful and meaningful. Knowledge of which gear to take is also important. Updated weather information is always essential. Whether novice or expert, an individual will always continue to improve their knowledge of hiking!
HIKING: AESTHETICS, ETHICS, AND INSPIRATION
With so much to learn about hiking, there has been a proliferation of “how-to" hiking blogs. It is fantastic that there is so much information out there! Some of the “14er" blogs on AA&M will contain practical information. However, AA&M is focused on exploring hiking through the lenses of aesthetics and ethics. It also seeks to be inspiring! Check out the blog Why I Hike if you want to begin with some hiking motivation!
