Need to de-stress... considering going on a walk-a-bout

steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
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I did this once before. Loaded up my daypack with water and a small lunch. Walked on the road to a local wildlife reserve. Walked around their trails for a while then walked home. Was gone maybe 4 hours, did just shy of 10-miles. Didn't really know where I was going or when I'd turn around and come home.

Stuff has been getting to me lately. I feel really burned out. I am really thinking about doing this again, maybe go all day or even overnight. Sorta like a semi-urban BP'ing trip. Mix in some off-road trails, etc. Stop at a diner or tavern for a meal. I don't know. My minds going in circles over this.

Ever just take off on an unplanned walk?? Not really know where you're going? Or when you'd come home? I'm already starting to get my pack ready... I am that seriously fed up with it.
 
steve-in-kville said:
I did this once before. Loaded up my daypack with water and a small lunch. Walked on the road to a local wildlife reserve. Walked around their trails for a while then walked home. Was gone maybe 4 hours, did just shy of 10-miles. Didn't really know where I was going or when I'd turn around and come home.

Stuff has been getting to me lately. I feel really burned out. I am really thinking about doing this again, maybe go all day or even overnight. Sorta like a semi-urban BP'ing trip. Mix in some off-road trails, etc. Stop at a diner or tavern for a meal. I don't know. My minds going in circles over this.

Ever just take off on an unplanned walk?? Not really know where you're going? Or when you'd come home? I'm already starting to get my pack ready... I am that seriously fed up with it.
Click to expand...

I used to. I backpacked some of East Texas, about 3 months worth, so yea, I feel ya. I good overnighter gets it done for me, but really wish I could spend weeks. I love being out and about without anyone or anything to worry about. I got kids now, a mortgage, a full time job, full time second job, and there is not really any time for myself, hardly. I have to schedule dirt time like it was an appointment. Go have some fun, relax, check out Nature, but be safe. And take pics so we houseflies can see what the woods look like. Moose
 
I do all the time-living right on a trail system of more than 500 miles makes life easy in that regard. In fact, I go on unplanned multi-day hikes all the time. I have multiple packs ready and waiting, all I have to do is fill up on water, grab and go. I do that for a reason-when I'm free and motivated, it takes me all of three minutes to prep, and I'm gone. Grab the mountain bike at 7PM, ride back into the mountains til about 9, make camp, make dinner, stargaze for a few hours, asleep by 12, wake up at first light, make coffee and breakfast, pack up camp, bomb the 6,000 foot mountain at 25 mph and make it home by 7AM. Plenty of time to clean up, grab the school bag and head to class.
 
I do! Sometimes I even take the dogs, a good decompression is sometimes just what the Dr ordered.

Just take a Map an Compass or GPS, it's nice to get away, it sucks to get lost.
 
Ya man - grab that pack and the minimal gear for a quickie over-nighter - right now!!! The sooner you shut down your 'puter the closer you'll be to de-stressing.

Make a fire somewhere (safely of course) and just enjoy it. I can have my kit ready in about 15 mins and out the door just for times likes these. If you're dying from concrete poisoning/stress there's not much better than a nice fire to unwind by.

I also find some hardcore aerobic exercise is a great "fix" too - just mix into a over-nighter and instant relief!!!
 
unplanned walks? it's been a long time. :rolleyes:

unplanned bike rides of 50 to 100 miles? used to do that almost every weekend! on either street or mountain bikes. :D

not so much lately. :(


but, like they say; "you're only two feet from freedom!" grab your kit, put one foot in front of the other, repeat as needed.
 
Head to one of the nice State Parks in PA and relax. Maybe spend the night and enjoy the sights. Everyone needs a break from time to time.
 
I'm not really near any wilderness sufficient for that here in NJ and state land is closed to access at night (legally, I can just walk in if I really wanted to). I did do some long walks when out at university in PA though to de-stress. Small towns are creepy to walk through around 1 or 2am. I'd usually stop in the dunkin donuts which may have been 24hr, or at least open extremely late for a few dollars worth of food, then go back to walking along the highway.
 
O I would love to go on a walk about but I live nowhere near good wooded areas. I used to walk in the woods alot before I got married to blow off steam now I just hop on my bike a ride a while.
 
There's a state park about 25mi. from the city where a 800ft peak rises from the surrounding relatively flat land. There's a walking trail that leads up to the peak that's fairly aggressive and ends with about 300 railroad ties as steep steps. At the top you're at the top of a rock wall where you can set up for climbing or rappelling and see the city in the distance. There are areas isolated enough not to run into anyone.
I've been know to disappear once in a while and end up there. Last time I started a little late and ended coming down in the dark.
 
I was a big weed walker when I was younger and I get the de stressin' aspect but safety first, make sure some one knows your plans and route, never walk into the woods alone if ya can help it and always make sure some one knows.
 
There are planned hikes that we go on? Almost all of mine are unplanned. My last 2 trips to Tennessee weren't really finalized til the day before we left. There was always discussion of going to a cabin only an hour away and we ended up on an 8 hour trip to Tennessee and visiting Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
 
Hike in, pitch a hammock by a view and just let the world pass by. Damn, now you got me thinking about it.

Paul
 
I do this often. I also have several packs ready to go, toss in water, some snacks, and good to go. I spend more time picking which knife to take than anything else! I don't get lost since there are so many paved trails around here, and many are empty when I'm out and about. Gives me a lot of in-my-head time.
 
Absolutely do this. I do this alot.
Get outside as often as possible.
Breathe, move the legs, see things.

I live in an area where people seem to forget about the state/national parks from Oct-March. I have gone to state parks and been the only one there many times.

A few years ago, I walked down a beach about 3 miles, set up a shelter with driftwood and tarp. Made me some java with the Esbit and read a book for the afternoon. Packed up and walked back to the truck. Home by dinner, and refreshed. A little exercise, coffee, a good book, fresh air and the Pacific ocean as the soundtrack. Just about a perfect day.
 
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Brush fire in the back yard right now... gonna be at least a week before I can hike again. Used to be an artillary range so they're closing off the trails worrying about UXO's, not to mention the smoke in the valleys and canyons make hiking impossible :( Beautiful fall day too... if it's this nice this weekend I'll have to find an alternative for a camping spot...
 
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