| It is with a tired, weary, and joyful | | | | light spray invigorates even the most |
| head that I ask you this question: "Ya | | | | weary of souls. Rock jumping is |
| ever hiked?" If your answer is, "Yes", | | | | fabulous here, as is wading and |
| then you surely have anecdotes of | | | | picnicking. The wading waters are |
| pitfalls or triumphs. If you answered, | | | | abolutely and perfectly clear. The |
| "No", then I must ask a second question: | | | | colored stones beneath your feet |
| "Why the heck not?!" | | | | stimulate your soles. Hikers hike up |
| You either love or hate hiking. It's | | | | their pant legs and feel the sharp pain |
| not for everyone. No, wait, it is. If | | | | of cold as the water numbs with each |
| you can walk, you can hike. Even the | | | | caress. On the trail, each hiker you |
| handicapped hike. Frequently. If | | | | pass on the trail treats you like an |
| you're a timid beginner, there are | | | | acquaintance with a warm smile and, |
| hiking trails that little kids and the | | | | "Hello". As you continue, where the |
| elderly can do. I'm not elderly or a | | | | hiking crossroads meet, you run into the |
| kid, but I am a wimp and out of shape | | | | more daring hikers coming down off the |
| person who loves hiking and frequently | | | | 3-day hikes, who readily share their |
| have the elderly and kids pass me on | | | | stories of tranquility and |
| trails, and I'd have to say that one of | | | | accomplishment as you shake your head in |
| the best hikes for ANYBODY of ANY | | | | amazement as you listen. |
| ability is "Staircase" in the Olympic | | | | So, as you sit in your cubicle in front |
| Mountains in Washington State, USA. | | | | of a computer, day after day, making |
| This hiking hot spot is not too far from | | | | excuses to yourself as to why it's OK to |
| Shelton, WA, and just a skip and jump | | | | fill your weekends with obligation and |
| from Hoodsport, WA. The drive there is | | | | duty to run errands for the household |
| GORGEOUS. I take the undemanding 1.5 | | | | "good", I ask you to raise one hand into |
| mile hike, which is lined with beauty | | | | the air-- and slap yourself. "Snap out |
| bark, breathtaking in natural beauty, | | | | of it!" Live a little. Do something |
| clearly marked, and the sign-in sheet | | | | for yourself for a change. Stop nursing |
| that you sign at the start of the trail | | | | those stupid, dumb anti-depressants and |
| daily boasts signatures of hikers from | | | | anti-anxiety pills mixed with diet |
| France, Holland, England, Italy, Japan, | | | | suppressants and sleep aids, and get off |
| Connecticut, Toronto, you name it! The | | | | your badonkadonk and get back to nature. |
| cascading waters fall in stairs, thus | | | | I'm not saying to stop taking those |
| the name "Staircase". The colors of the | | | | pills, I'm saying for you to stop making |
| rapids are the amazing aquamarine | | | | excuses as to why you can't go take a |
| turquoise color you'd see in an ocean | | | | hike. We had a great expression not too |
| shot for a Corona Beer commercial that | | | | long ago, when someone would irk you and |
| occurs beachside-So clear and fresh and | | | | you'd say, "Go take a hike, buddy." |
| the same feeling of getting away from it | | | | Well, all of ya'll sittin' around on |
| all. Oh, and the white foam of the | | | | your keisters, you're irking me if |
| rock-smoothing white waters, or as I | | | | you're not taking advantage of our |
| like to call them, "waves", from which a | | | | National Parks. Go take a hike! |