Why I Keep Going on Hikes: Back to Nature, Back to Myself

In a world full of noise, I hike to remember the silence. In a life filled with excess, I hike to feel the power of simplicity.

🌿 Introduction

We live in a time where almost everything is a tap away food, entertainment, people. Life is faster, easier, and more comfortable than ever. But ironically, something feels missing.

For me, that “something” comes back every time I go on a hike.

Hiking isn’t just a physical activity. It’s my way of unplugging from the artificial and reconnecting with the natural, the real, and the meaningful. It’s not just about reaching the top of a hill it’s about returning to myself.

🧠 Hiking Is More Than Fitness – It’s a Mental Reset

Yes, hiking strengthens your legs and boosts your stamina. But more than that, it clears your mind.

In the forest, there are no notifications. No deadlines. No judgments. Just your breath, your heartbeat, the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, and the sound of wind moving through trees.

I go on hikes because I need that space where I can think clearly, breathe deeply, and feel grounded again.

🍲 The Roti and the Mountain: A Lesson in Gratitude

One of my most unforgettable hikes was to Shivapuri Peak, a journey that taught me something far beyond the trail itself.

I had gone with two of my closest school friends. We left early in the morning, excited but unprepared. None of us had eaten breakfast, and between the three of us, we had packed only a small meal just three rotis and a box of chana tarkari.

The climb was long. The stairs felt endless. The forest was thick, misty, and silent except for our tired breaths and the crunch of dry leaves underfoot. Every step took effort. Every break felt like a blessing.

By the time we reached the peak, we were completely drained. Hungry, dizzy, and cold. We sat down quietly, opened our tiny lunchbox, and divided it carefully one roti each, a few spoonfuls of curry (Chana Tarkari).

It wasn’t much. In fact, if someone had offered me that same meal at home, I might have shrugged and said, “I’m not hungry.”

But up there at 2,700 meters, after hours of uphill walking that humble meal felt like a royal feast. Every bite was sacred. We ate slowly, in silence, with nothing but the sky and the mountains watching.

That moment taught me something I’ll never forget:

👉 In a world where everything is within reach, we often lose touch with value.
👉 In our chase for more, we forget how good “enough” can feel.

Hiking strips everything down to the basics. You walk, you sweat, you breathe, you feel. And when you finally stop to eat even if it’s just one roti you’re overwhelmed by gratitude. Not because the food was fancy, but because you earned it. You needed it. You felt it.

And that’s what I carry with me every time I hike:  A reminder that less can be more, and that gratitude lives in simplicity.

🌲 Nature Has a Way of Teaching You

Every hike teaches me something new:

  • Patience when the trail gets long
  • Humility when the uphill gets steep
  • Respect when the weather turns unexpectedly
  • Stillness when I sit quietly beneath towering trees

Nature doesn’t rush. Nature doesn’t compare. Nature doesn’t judge. It just exists and invites you to be part of it, without expectations.

đź’¬ Final Thoughts: Why I Keep Hiking

I keep hiking not for the photos or the Instagram stories but for the stories I live in my own heart.
I keep hiking because the forest doesn’t need me to be anything just present.
I keep hiking because, in the stillness of nature, I hear the parts of myself I forget in the city.

If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or numb, try taking a walk into the wild. You don’t have to go far just far enough to feel the ground, see the trees, and remember that you are more than your daily routine.

🌄 Related Reading:

👉 My Full Guide to Hiking Shivapuri Peak – With Tips & Personal Experience

📸 Got Questions or Planning Your Hike?

Leave a comment below or message me on @being__phurba.