The Magic In-between....

I often get asked why I like hiking so much and I usually say something simple like “I love nature” or “the views are amazing.” But those answers never feel complete.  

Today while hiking Craggy Pinnacle, it hit me.

It isn’t about the views or just being outside. It is about everything in-between.

The colors, the smells, the noises.

The people.

The conversations.

The workout.

It's the shared struggle on difficult hikes, the friendly smiles, the first sip of water on the much-needed break.

It’s the wind whipping, birds soaring, leaves rustling.

The water flowing.

Your feet hitting the dirt path.

It’s pausing on the trail so the mom in front of you can snap a photo of her children in front of the “big rock.”

It’s the out of breath exchange of hellos to strangers passing by.

It's wondering what animal created the sound of branches breaking.

It’s the “oh my gosh your dog is so cute!”

It’s stopping to show someone the trail map after they’ve asked you, “are we almost to the top?”

It’s hearing someone say “oh my God, it’s beautiful” as they make it to the peak.

So yes, the summit always deserves a celebration.

But the real magic?

The real magic is in the in-between...

The tiny connections.

The shared humanity.

The moments you'd miss if you were only racing to the finish.

That's why I hike. And that's the part I never want to overlook.