Bennett Uzpen, Reporter
@BUCourant
I’d like to write this blog with the knowledge that everything about it went according to plan. With the knowledge that I got the photos I wanted, went on the hikes I wanted to do and took notes on each hike’s unique experience. But I can’t because that would turn this blog into a work of fiction.
About two-ish weeks prior to me leaving for my April break my family and I went on a hike near Quinnipiac at the Sleeping Giant State Park. My mother and I joked that this would be good practice for our upcoming trip to Colorado and we even teased my brother who kept wanting to go home. I was able to do that hike like it was a leisurely walk down a neighborhood street.
When April break did finally begin and we arrived in Colorado I remember feeling like nothing had changed about it. Our first destination was my grandparents house in the mountains. Upon our arrival I spent the day outside with my family. The next day I went outside with my camera to get photos for this blog. It was around that time when I noticed I started to pay attention to my breathing. I was born with asthma and at higher altitudes the air is thinner making it difficult for me to breathe, or at least that’s how it was explained to me. In addition to that, the dirt and my allergies worsened my breathing.
Later that day I went on a hike with my grandmother, mom, and brother. With my inhaler in my pocket and water. I needed my inhaler later and my parents advised me to stay at my grandma’s house whenever we went on our next hike. So obviously my blog about hiking was derailed when I was advised to stay home from the hikes. I did go on one other hike but it was really just a walk down my grandmother’s road. I do love to hike however I haven’t hiked at that altitude in almost 2 years so what resulted were the effects of that.
Those were the issues that I experienced during my trip. However others may encounter more pressing issues when hiking at high altitudes. If you don’t plan on hiking at high altitudes then the information below is not needed for you. One of the biggest issues that arise in Colorado is dehydration and altitude sickness, with twenty-five percent of visitors going to the hospital due to the latter. So, this is something that everyone should take into consideration when they hike: packing. Bringing the appropriate items is key to any hike. For example when I went hiking my grandmother brought an air horn in case of mountain lions, but they don’t live everywhere so researching dangerous wildlife near where you are hiking and items to bring as precautions is essential.
My favorite kind of hikes are the hikes with a view. Hikes that give a person a reward for their triumphant feat, a reward in the form of being able to look down and see how small the world seems from above. I remember this when I looked down at Fort Collins and saw how small the municipality seemed.
During my childhood hiking meant driving for roughly 30-50 minutes into the mountains and going on a walk. However a hike is defined as a long walk, especially in the wilderness. Hikes do not require a summit to climb and that is what I like about them.
And when you finally do reach that summit you can walk away feeling accomplished. And for when you prepare for your next hike keep in mind the supplies that you should bring, it may be as simple as a bottle of water. I encourage you to find some hikes near you and see what they have to offer.
