hiking bug

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: hiking bug 🚶 

hiking kilimanjaro in january unlocked a part of my brain that is now obsessed with hiking. as a kid, i always enjoyed the short 1-hour hikes my family and i went on every other weekend at different provincial parks, but i never imagined it would be something i sign up for of my volition.

enjoying 7 days of hiking in tanzania despite the physical challenge was eye-opening. the feeling of reaching the top of a hike and racing down afterwards is indescribably thrilling. ⚡️ i’ve since weaved hikes into my trips in korea, thailand, vietnam and japan.

through them all, i’ve also realized there’s a specific kind of hike i like: one where there’s a peak to reach. if the hike is just walking through terrain without increasing elevation, it’s a little boring. summiting something feels like i’m accomplishing something both symbolically and literally. the starting point seeming microscopic as i gaze down at it, and then speeding back down once it’s over are two aspects that only hikes that gain elevation offer. 🧗‍♀️ 

yesterday, i did a quick hike up the fushimi inarii taisha during the sunset. it was only around 4.5km with an elevation gain of 685ft, but the view of kyoto and night was stunning. i’m glad i did it during the sunset/night time rather than daylight. not only were the views probably better, but it was significantly less crowded as well. most families aren’t going to take their kids hiking in the dark LOL. we know i’ve already been through that haha … so i didn’t have any problems.

30 minutes later, i was back at the base with my tote bag clutched on one shoulder and fitted up in baggy jeans. it felt empowering to beat my own goal of finishing the loop in under an hour while still serving. 😋 

next hike is to be determined. i have a longer 4-day one planned for the end of this month though, so stay tuned for that!

daily opportunity + resource drops 🔍️