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