Take a Hike
If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be living in SoCal and hiking twice a week, I would’ve laughed. I was NEVER a nature girl: I hate flying bugs, my sinuses are always acting up, and I wasn’t particularly active back then. You were more than likely to find me on the couch eating chips and catching up on shows.
That was my dad’s way: sitting in his recliner reading or watching TV. I guess the spud didn’t fall far from the couch potato. 😊
Now, all of a sudden in my 40s, I own trail runners and a safari hat and do weekend hikes at canyons, woods, and beaches. That’s much more like my mom. Back in Massachusetts there was something called the Ramble, which was a hike to the summit of Mount Greylock, and we would go every year. As we got older, we’d walk to the top and Dad would drive up and bring us back down. But my mom still has the most energy of any almost 80-year-old I know.
So here I am, literally a walking cliché. I’ve become that LA person who can bore you with details of different trails: the difficulty, how many inclines, where there’s shade, which ones have bathrooms, etc. I have long discussions with my hiking buddies about where our next walk will be. And now my boyfriend has joined in, which makes way more sense because he knows a LOT about plants and wildlife. Not only does his family own a ranch in NorCal, but he also enjoys nature shows.
Me? I just started because I was bored during the pandemic and have a couple friends who said they would join me. Now, it’s part of my weekly exercise routine and has grown into an enjoyable tradition. I often take for granted how lovely the weather is on a regular basis. I know it’s hot right now, but we rarely have to check for bad weather. I only recognize the stark contrast from the East Coast when we’re visiting there and suddenly have to look at the 7-day forecast to figure out plans.
That’s not to say I don’t miss the seasons—I get pretty homesick during the fall and winter, when my friends and family are posting gorgeous pictures of colorful foliage or sledding down hills. Of course, my boyfriend reminds me how much it sucks to shovel snow, and I immediately remember having to wake up hours before work to clear off everything. But that’s what I grew up with, and those are the scenes that make me nostalgic for curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate, watching the snow fall.
But that’s also the great thing about where we live. Drive a couple hours out and up the mountains and you’re at Big Bear Lake, where you can have a white Christmas. There the winter boots are a necessity, not an accessory, along with a scarf and hat. And I’ve loved stopping at the apple orchards on the way back for hot cider and donuts. It’s perfect when you’re looking for a colder climate.
And I can’t deny the beauty of this place either. We’ve lived here for 8 years, and people are always asking, “have you been to [insert vacation spot]?” or “have you checked out this [insert trail]?” and I keep adding more names to the list. I’m sure we’ll never make it to every place, but it’ll be fun to try while we’re here. As much as I miss the people and the atmosphere back east, it is cool to have so many travel options. And my exploration is just beginning.