This free inquiry project has been very beneficial for my progress in hiking. My initial goal for this blog was for it to hold me accountable with keeping up with hiking throughout the busy semester. Wanting to stay consistent with blog posts was definitely an incentive to go out and hike more, but I had a few other major takeaways from this experience.

One benefit of this blog was that writing about hiking reminded me why I started hiking in the first place and proved how much I enjoy hiking. I had never taken the time to reflect on why I hike, I just did it. After recording my thoughts on my blog, my hikes have become more intentional. Hiking is an opportunity for me to get into nature, connect with friends and family, think more clearly, support my mental health, explore new places, and challenge myself physically. When I felt really busy with school and work but wanted to keep up with my hiking entries, it was always so worth it to go hike because I always feel so much better afterwards.

Another benefit of this blog was that I learned so many new ways to implement technology into hiking for both enjoyment and safety. I researched how technology supports safety in hiking which will be necessary knowledge if I start hiking alone. I also discovered multiple apps that can be used to track hiking stats, progress, and routes. I am very competitive and love to beat my personal records, so keeping track of my stats and reflecting on my progress is a really fun aspect of hiking for me. Apps are also a great way to connect and compare data with friends, families, or even strangers who share the same interests. Additionally, I took time to think about ways that I’m already using technology in my hikes by researching hikes/routes, as well as using my phone and my apple watch during my hikes.

One other key take away from this blog was that I took the time to make future goals. My last inquiry post was my hiking bucket list which includes hikes that I want to work towards and ideally complete one day. I had so much fun researching different incredible hikes around the world that cover different terrains and environments. It was also really cool to real people’s reviews and experiences hiking them. It definitely sparked an excitement for me to continue to hike often and experiment with more difficult hikes, so that I’m prepared for a new and challenging hike one day. I messaged my family group chat after making my hiking bucket list and asked if they are interested in hiking mount Kilimanjaro one day, and they all said yes, so fingers crossed that that plan will be executed!