In a world filled with noise and constant distractions, hiking offers something rare: peace. For some people, it’s not just a pastime, it’s a necessity.
Hiking is often described as calming, healing, fun, beautiful and a great form of cardio exercise.
Ronald Hurst, an ER nurse at Cox health, finds hiking to be a great form of stress relief and exercise.
“It’s a stress reliever,” Hurst said. “I mean, it’s good for your health. Your endurance goes up.”
Hurst has a passion for hiking and has always been intrigued by the outdoors.
“So even as a kid in elementary school, I loved the mountains, and wanted to be out in them,” Hurst said.
Before living in Missouri, Hurst found his fascination with the mountains during his time attending an elementary school in Los Angeles.
“I could see the foothills of the Sierras, the Big Bear Mountains from our school and I was always just enamored by them,” Hurst said.
The interest that Hurst found during his childhood developed into an active love of hiking and he enjoys the memories he creates while on hikes.
“We went just north of San Francisco, drove up there, climbed this big mountain,” Hurst said. “It was miserable. We ran out of water. We didn’t have any food. One guy actually poked my buddy
Joshua with a stick because he thought he was dead”
Even though there are risks, there are still chances for making memories and having fun with the people that might come along.
“Usually the hikes that I like to go on are kind of treacherous, so it makes for a cool story,” Hurst said.
Rudy Martinez, Springfield Conservation Nature Center manager, has specific essentials that he brings on hikes to remain safe.
“My essentials include a plan, trail map, water, snacks and a compass,” Martinez said.
Many people associate hiking with relaxation and a break from their busy lives.
“Hiking also gives me the down time that is so good for the mind, body and soul,” Martinez said.
There is a variety of what someone can do with hiking.
“I mean, you could tailor it” Hurst said, “You could find hikes where you can climb 1,200 feet or hikes where you can just do a flat trail and see how far you could hike.”
All over the world, there are hundreds of places to hike.
“I love hiking the Appalachian Trail,” Hurst said. “I’ve hiked sections of it from Georgia through Virginia.”
There are also a lot of hiking trails locally and around Nixa, Martinez enjoys hiking at numerous local locations.
“Busiek State Forest, Springfield Conservation Nature Center, Ruth & Paul Henning Conservation Area and Hercules Glades Wilderness.” Martinez said.
Another hiking location is The Lost Valley Trail in Ponca, Arkansas, roughly a two hour drive.
“There’s two waterfalls, there’s a cave you climb through,” Hurst said, “At the end is another three tier 50 or 60 foot waterfall. It’s like almost handicapped accessible.”
People hike these trails year round and people often hike the same trail without getting sick of it.
“Any given trail is different every day, every season and every year.” Martinez said. “Nature is dynamic and the plants and animals around us are constantly changing.”
Setting goals can be an important factor of hiking, for more advanced hikers.
“I’ve hiked 35 miles in a day, and I’ve hiked as little as three miles in a day,” Hurst said. “My goal that one time was 50 miles in a day but I only made it 35 before my legs started cramping.”
When hiking, there are many opportunities to see amazing wildlife in their natural habitat.
“Virginia is cool because there’s like wild ponies that roam through there,” Hurst said.
Wildlife is not limited to any kind of animal.
“I have seen so many different wildlife species like bobcats, coyotes, flying squirrels, owls and many other rare birds” Martinez said.