My Hiking Memories Frozen In Time

“It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the packaging fads or philosophies of any particular era or even getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and desserts, streams and rocks, rivers and grasses.” – Cheryl Strayed, Wild

I always loved to hike! For as long as I can remember, I have preferred the mountains to the beaches. While I never really planned it, I invariably would end up hiking at least one trail in most places I’ve visited.

My favorite hikes are usually the ones that are challenging, especially the climb towards the Taktsang Palphug Monastry in Bhutan and the steep stairs to the lion rock in Sigiriya. Then there are those like the Dzukou Valley in Nagaland, which at the end of the mountain climb, offers a view so gorgeous that it simply takes your breath away. Whether it is the raw intimidating beauty of Arizona or the dramatic landscape of Cappadocia, each trail leaves me feeling overwhelmed.

There was always this simple joy of putting one foot in front of another, the joy of finding beauty in every step of the way and the joy in being able to connect with myself. Here are some of my hiking trail memories that are frozen in time.