Slipping into spanking new hiking boots and strapping on the camelbak, for a split second, you’d think I was a bonafide outdoor rat. This was my first hike in a long, long time. A simple 5-miler along the banks of the Potomac which led to Great Falls, I was giddy as a school kid. Driving through curvy backcountry roads towards Riverbend Park, mansions dotted the hills with posh cars parked on manicured lawns. I wondered if they enjoyed the trails too. To stay accountable, I’d joined a couple hiking and backpacking groups within the last week. Years ago while living in Ohio, I fell in love with hiking. Joining a budding adventure club back then, I was introduced to rafting, orienteering, and racing.

When had I taken this love for granted? Somewhere along the way, a fast-paced jet-setting life replaced my outdoorsy.

The group gazed upon my arrival like I was ready to summit Everest. “I’m in training!” I explain. I had to. Everyone else was dressed for a leisurely park stroll. A chilly mini hailstorm teased us, but we were determined to complete our five miles.

Every 2-inch elevation change was treated like a 20-ft climb. I hopped over small rocks, dodged 6 inch long twigs, and traversed 0.1-inch deep mud pools.  I was totally in the zone, psyching myself up until the occasional kid or two skipped along past me.

Who was I kidding?

If I was going to survive the Inca trail, this wasn’t gonna cut it.

Regardless, reaching the powerful cascades of Great Falls reminded me just how beautiful my background is and how it needs to be explored regularly. If I wanted my outdoorsy back, this was the first small step. With camelbak in tow, my hike turned into a leisure stroll as I chatted up group members, getting to know them better.

Even though I barely broke a sweat, the fresh air revitalized my lungs by hike’s end.

Invigorated, I raced all the way up stairs from my basement parking to the eleventh floor upon arriving home. 

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Check out the sunset from my balcony today. A wonderful cap to the nature lovefest raging within me all day!