ARIELLE BREEN: 52 opportunities await

I realized it was my one-year anniversary in Manistee and with the News Advocate.

I woke up and heard bird calls that sounded like they were straight out of an ocean port town and it reminded me of the first time awaking to those same noises a year ago feeling like I was definitely in a different place than the elk habitats and forested hills north of Gaylord that I had previously lived in.

Maybe someone who has lived here all their life might not even notice those small things like the particular bird sounds.

In the last year there were plenty of places I visited that were new to me and I explored those terrains, trails, sights, sounds and smells while I learned more about my new region’s particular flavor.

And as I start out my new year in 2021, I am also looking to keep with that spirit by participating in the 52 Hike Challenge.

I had followed the challenge for the last few years but never officially participated until now. I am not a particularly competitive person so anything with the word “challenge” in it does little to inspire me and actually is a bit of a deterrent since I just don’t feel I have to prove anything and simply like to do things because I enjoy them or find them to be helpful.

And then I kept seeing people I follow on social media channels using the hashtag for the challenge, I really was into their tone and it started to draw me in.

The challenge aims to get people to do one hike per week for a year in an effort to get more people outdoors. It also recognizes that participants’ goals are often mental, physical, emotional and spiritual as they gain benefits from nature and hiking.

For me, I do it because I enjoy the feel of being in the woods or outside somewhere, I like the mental navigation and finding my way as I go along and seeing all those changes in flora and the landscape as a whole.

I dig the feel of movement as I am going along with my own two feet. I also like how hiking helps to ease those ruminating thoughts and allows us to be where we are sort of like a meditation in movement.

“The culture we wish every ‘challenger’ instills is one of support for each other together, we become stronger,” reads part of the challenge’s website. “Whether you are a beginner or advanced hiker, we know you will gain more inner peace, confidence and camaraderie through our community.”

I also enjoy taking large goals and breaking them into achievable parts and also am into having things to work toward like setting reading goals for the year or with enjoying nature through hiking, kayaking and overlanding.

I signed up for the free version of the challenge and since I had been doing at least one hike per week before this challenge anyway, I thought it would be great to have a set goal.

One of the options was the adventure series challenge that ups the standard version a bit by having some of the hikes also have a mission like clean up a trail while you hike it, introduce someone to hiking, or see X number of waterfalls, and do a sunrise or sunset hike. I think that mission to clean up is quite fitting as more and more people have taken to the outdoors last year and the corresponding trash is something that should be addressed.

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

I will leave you with some of the social media accounts or hashtags I follow for inspiration with the outdoors near and far:

1. @Jenners49 on Instagram often shows stunning scenes from Montana’s mountainous countryside and the rivers where she is fly fishing. She reminds me how fun it is to get out where the crowds are not, and take in the splendor around me.

2. The #rei440project has a lot of followers and it can be a tad oversaturated at times but it is a great hashtag to follow if you are into a variety of outdoor activities and looking to follow other hikers, rock climbers, backpackers, anglers and so on.

3. Gideon Koster’s @wildervore account on Instagram is so much fun. I enjoy seeing the many places he gets to, how much he’s into self improvement of his crafts — and his shared photos and video from hunting and fishing excursions, especially in Michigan. Just don’t follow when you are hungry because the wild game cooking photos are pretty drool-worthy.

4. The Artemis podcast is a great one to listen to and follow as they branch out and develop more chapters, like the recently established Great Lakes chapter. Here is part of their mission statement: “We cannot expect the next generation to enjoy the privilege of our irreplaceable lands, waters and wildlife without our explicit engagement in all facets of the sporting conservation life. Artemis embodies the definition of the complete sportswoman and sees it as our duty to use our platform to promote and teach this philosophy. “

5. @Sheonthefly is a self described “collective of lady fly fishers” and they have some epic inspiration for women that I don’t think we see enough of, with everything from cold water trout to saltwater fishing in Mexico.

5. The Michigan DNR channels on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram share some great places that are right in our backyards. Whoever does their photos is really in touch with giving great, representative photos that aren’t blown out in saturation like some of the more tourist-luring social media accounts out there. It is also nice to see some of the lesser known places in the state.

6. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy deserves props for their social media presence and how great those local trails and properties are. I am a definite fan of some of the ones that straddle Manistee and Benzie counties especially.

7. I am a sucker for outdoor activities that also help others learn more about their surroundings and had a chance to tag along once with the Inland Seas Education Association’s Schoolship program. They are doing some fun things with youth especially and last I knew they also were accepting volunteers.

Arielle Breen is the assistant editor for the Manistee News Advocate. She can be reached at arielle.breen@pioneergroup.com or by leaving a message at (231) 398-3109.