Since 2017, I’ve dedicated a month each year to hiking with two of my closest friends, Ron and Moran. Every year, we choose a destination and mostly hike, though we've occasionally cycled or skied a bit. This year, we're heading to Patagonia in South America, exploring parts of Chile and Argentina. It’s a special time for us.
Vacations serve various purposes, but this annual trip is unique. Walking side by side for long stretches fosters deep thinking about life. Unlike sitting across a table over coffee where conversations are structured and time-bound, hiking allows for natural pauses and revisiting topics. If someone wants to be silent or walk at a different pace, it’s perfectly fine. The rhythm of the hike creates natural breaks—whether it’s admiring the view or tackling a tough hill.
Each year, we bring along big questions to ponder during our month-long journey. Revisiting these topics feels natural while walking. Research even shows that walking boosts creativity—not just during the walk but for some time afterward. The physical activity, varied stimuli, and increased blood flow all contribute to this creative boost.
The first week is usually the hardest as we adjust to hiking and deal with blisters. But after that, things smooth out considerably. I understand not everyone can take a month off work, but planning ahead makes it possible. We always schedule next year’s adventure before finishing the current one.
This trip combines hiking, exercise, conversation, natural beauty, learning new things, and making decisions. It took us a while to start this tradition, but once we did, we wondered why we hadn’t begun sooner. I highly recommend it and eagerly anticipate each year's journey.
Looking forward to sharing more about our adventures in Patagonia and beyond.
