In the Absence of Great Adventure

The great poet Robert Frost wrote, “Two paths diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” That man knew how to create his own adventure: taking the almost unrecognizable pathway through a forest full of animals and other unknown dangers. Now, Robert Frost spent much of his time in the New England area, a relatively flat landscape, which means his pathway wasn’t fraught with the perils of steep cliffs and rock slides potentially blocking off the main trail. I don’t know if I could call his walk through the woods a hike; it’s more of a stroll really. And that is why he took the path less traveled by. He must have found the well-traveled paths extremely mundane and tedious. In the absence of great adventure, Robert Frost had to create his own.
Here in Utah, we have numerous trails that, as seen constantly in the news, pose a considerable risk to the people hiking those trails. Great adventure (i.e. coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake, holding onto tree roots to keep from falling off a 100-ft. cliff) is only minutes away from many of our houses.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but I love hiking. There was a time in my adolescent years when every day I blazed my own trails (or followed very narrow deer paths) through the forests of Rose Canyon, near the Kennecott Copper Mines. We lived right smack dab in the middle of nowhere, and there was plenty for a young boy to explore without having to travel too far. On summer days while the city kids were complaining, “Mom, there’s nothing to do…there’s nothing to eat…it’s too hot…” I was climbing to the top of a mountain that I had climbed three times previously that week. And each climb was as exciting as the last. Each day was a brand new day and I never knew what I would find or experience.
All across Utah, there are hiking trails that typically lead to a point of interest, whether it’s a waterfall or a cool rock formation or breath-taking beauty. (By the way, there are very few areas in the United States that can compare with the wealth of trails and hikes that Utah has to offer. Nebraska, anyone?) Some of my favorite “hikes” would probably be termed “strolls” by my reckoning, like Cascade Springs in American Fork Canyon or Silver Lake near Brighton Ski Resort. Both provide the strollers (as I will call them, since I cannot bring myself to call anyone a hiker who does not struggle to reach their destination) with a wooden pathway around a beautiful body of water. There are other trails near the main wooden pathway that you can take and evolve from a stroller to a hiker within seconds. And the pathways are very family friendly. If you have young children, such strolls are ideal to expose them to the wonders and joys of nature.
Some weekends I don’t have any grand adventures planned, but I still want to enjoy the outdoors. A hike is always the perfect solution. I can choose to take a small hike (15-30 min.) or a longer hike (4-6 hours), and there are plenty of each within a reasonable distance from my home. Back in my Rose Canyon days I could easily slip away on a hike and not worry about taking any sort of supplies. Now I generally have to prepare for hikes, mostly with water and a snack to keep my energy up. Sometimes even a map is required, especially if the hike is full of paths less traveled by. If I’m planning on a longer hike, an extra pair of socks and a first-aid kit are necessities. I may not have been the best Boy Scout, but I can appreciate their motto of “Be Prepared.”
If you’re in-between adventures, or your children are telling you that there is nothing to do (they already ran through the sprinklers and built a chair tent), consider a hike. They’re healthy, easy on the eyes, and typically free, other than fuel and supply expenses. And if you’re going to take the path less traveled by, be prepared and know that it will make all the difference between mundane and adventurous.