![hidden lake katy hidden lake katy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jw1Cuuvi9vo/maxresdefault.jpg)
One year, I even took my fourth grade class on a hiking field trip. Some of my best memories of the two of us are from this summer.Īfter I graduated from college, I taught fourth grade outside of Eugene. A month after we met each other, we spent a weekend camping and hiking up the McKenzie River together. When I met my current husband, we spent many hours during our first summer of dating outdoors. These were the moments that I craved: hiking renewed my soul. Whether you are a religious person or not, it’s hard not to feel something spiritual when you can see the Earth from that kind of view. That moment of catching your breath and looking around at the world below you is unmatched. There’s something so rewarding about spending all that time and effort hoofing it uphill for slow, tedious miles to finally reach the summit.
![hidden lake katy hidden lake katy](https://blog.goodsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/gsb_201519839_03-768x576.jpg)
My most favorite hikes were always the ones with a view. If I was stressed out about finals, or work, or boys… I would grab my hiking gear and hit a trail. It was something that I did to escape from everything. Hiking in college took on a different meaning for me. It was not something that I sought out to do by myself. As a teen, hiking was simply something that I did with the Search and Rescue group, or with friends. I was ill prepared for it, but it was still a blast! My feet were covered in blisters, my back ached from my pack that didn’t fit properly, and I was ready for a shower. We spent the night and then hiked back out the next day. My first backpacking trip consisted of a five-mile hike into a hidden lake under the shadow of the South Sister in Oregon. I complained about it at the time (like most high schoolers would, I suppose), although I secretly enjoyed most of it. Hiking in high school was just something I did with my search and rescue group. It was my first experience with hiking, and I was hooked. We had monthly meetings and outings where we received training on various aspects of outdoor life: snow shelters, survival training, backpacking, map and compass skills, and other outdoor skills.
![hidden lake katy hidden lake katy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9jfT6fOtUqA/maxresdefault.jpg)
I joined our local search and rescue volunteer group who worked with the sheriff’s department. It wasn’t until high school that I discovered hiking. It’s about hiking through the different seasons of my life. Based on the title of this blog post, one would think that my story is about hiking through the different seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for the outdoors and exploring in nature. We spent lazy summer days catching salamanders, listening to bull frogs, and picking the juicy blackberries that surrounded the pond. My brother and I built a raft that we used for our adventures on the pond. I have so many amazing memories of playing at the small pond located behind my parent’s house. I spent countless hours of my childhood exploring the outdoors with my brother. I grew up on a farm outside of Eugene, Oregon. Hiking has been a part of my life for more than fifteen years.