Week #1: Let's go hiking

Reed Gjonnes started hiking with her dad when she was just four years old. Reed’s dad is a skilled long-distance hiker. So at the start, hiking was just family fun for Reed. 

“Hiking has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Reed said in 2013, when she was in eighth grade. “When I was a little kid, it was because I wanted to spend time with my dad and go camping. Now I love everything about it—the beautiful scenery, the wild animals, and meeting other people on the trail. It’s all pretty great.” 

Reed began looking for longer, more challenging hikes. She asked her dad if they could hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It runs a length of 2,650 miles (4,265 km), stretching from Mexico to Canada. That was just the start of a big adventure. 

Before she turned 14, Reed and her dad had hiked the three longest trails in the United States. She hiked the Pacific Crest Trail at age 11. Next, she hiked the 2,192 miles (3,528 km) of the Appalachian Trail at age 12. And at age 13, she hiked the Continental Divide Trail, which covers 3,100 miles (4,989 km). Hiking all of these three trails is called the " Triple Crown " of hiking. Through 2018, only approximately 400 people had achieved the Triple Crown. And Reed was the youngest person known to have hiked all three trails. The Triple Crown totals 7,942 miles (12,781 km). To complete the Triple Crown with her dad, Reed hiked in 22 states and wore out six pairs of shoes. 

Reed's hikes are amazing. But a new hiker can learn the basics, starting with short, simple day hikes. As hikers gain skill, they can tackle longer trails. Hiking is a sport in which age and athletic ability do not matter so much. Hikers can choose trails ranging from a flat path through the woods to mountain climbing. 

People can choose a hike that suits their ability and build from there to more difficult hikes. 

HEALTHY ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG AND OLD 

Hiking is both fun and good for a person. With hiking comes the fun of being outdoors and enjoying the scenery. But there are many health benefits with hiking too. Hiking helps improve cardiovascular health while strengthening hip and leg muscles. The core muscles around the middle of the body are strengthened by hiking too. A person's balance is improved by hiking . And hiking is good for the mind , helping to boost a person's mood and ease stress. 

Some people enjoy solo hiking. But it is more fun, and safer, to hike with others. That makes hiking a great activity for family members and friends to do together. And because athletic ability is not as important as in some other sports, people of different ages can enjoy hiking together. 

For some sports, people need to buy a lot of costly gear just to get started. But for hiking, a person can begin with just a sturdy pair of sneakers and some comfortable clothes. Hikers can always add other gear later. But a lack of hiking gear should not stop a person from just going on a hike right now. So lace up a pair of sneakers and hit the trails!