Last time saw swimming discussed, but this week we take to the hills, writes Jason Osborne
In the last feature, I discussed the mental and physical (and spiritual, too) benefits of open-sea swimming, but this week we’ll cast our eyes to the hills. One of the best things to come of the pandemic is a renewed appreciation of nature. For those of us of a religious bent, seeing God’s hand behind the beauty and the grandeur of creation has done wonders in keeping us balanced throughout the past year.
In Ireland, we’re lucky to have natural wonders in abundance – not just the touristic hotspots of Killarney, the Wicklow mountains, the Cliffs of Moher or the Skellig Islands – but also the manifold and plentiful parks, groves, forests and beaches. We have a small island awash in God’s natural gifts.
So while sea-swimming offers much, so too does getting out there and enjoying some land-based nature immersion, and there’s no better way to do that than hiking. It seems as though many people will be having another ‘staycation’ summer, so it’s time to get out there and explore what Ireland has to offer.
As with swimming, hiking comes loaded with benefits, but must also be undertaken safely. I mentioned last week that any encounter with the natural world must be seasoned with caution, and the same is true of Ireland’s wilds – you must be careful. But before that, why do it in the first place?
The good hiking does
Besides the views that uplift your soul, hiking comes packed with benefits. As I’ve mentioned on a couple of occasions, it is a low-impact activity, which means it’s one of the less stressful activities for your body – alongside swimming and cycling.
It’s a powerful cardiovascular workout, which means that it raises your heart rate into an elevated zone. This sees your heart strengthened, as well as more fat and calories burned. As a result, hiking lowers your risk of heart disease and improves your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Of course, if you have any sort of genetic conditions or the like, such as diabetes, no form of exercise should be viewed as a sort of ‘cure-all’.
Hiking also boosts your bone density, as it’s a weight-bearing exercise. In keeping with that, it naturally builds muscle (and therefore strength) in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and various muscles in your hips and lower legs, such as your calves. Not limited to the lower half of your body, it also strengthens your core, which keeps you stable as you walk all over often unstable terrain. As would be expected, and very important as you get older, hiking improves your balance and helps to control your weight.
Also, of perennial importance, it boosts your mood. Research has shown that hiking has a positive impact on symptoms of stress and anxiety. While the vistas you pass would be explanation enough, the effects of exercise are in large part responsible for this, releasing hormones that result in ‘happier’ moods.
On a spiritual level, though, hiking does an enormous amount towards slowing you down after a busy week of work. In recent weeks, I have been doing a good bit of walking in the nearby Wicklow mountains and it’s done wonders for setting a more contemplative pace for my racing mind. Observing the slower ways nature takes can’t but have an effect upon your own inclination to hustle and bustle.
As you sit watching the sun move through the sky, or passively take in the wind stirring the trees, it’s not so hard to believe that it’s ok to slow down for a while, too. God stirs the world according to the rhythm he thinks best, and it’s no harm to try and match it sometimes.
Some tips
Before darting into the hills, it’s best to make sure you’re adequately prepared, both physically and in terms of equipment.
Proper clothes, boots and provisions are essential for any sort of foray into the mountains. It’s possible to go into outdoor shops and receive all the professional help you need in sourcing the right equipment, from fleeces, to base layers, to boots and socks.
However, it’s still possible to receive most of the help you need online, too. A simple google of something along the lines of ‘best hiking gear’ or ‘which hiking gear do I need?’ will turn up perfectly suitable results.
A shorthand look at equipment will tell you that runners are fine for very easy terrain, but that it’s a different story in the wilds. Boots or trail shoes are a must, with older hikers or people with ankle difficulties advised to seek out something with ankle support. While it’s no perfect safeguard against injury, they’ll certainly help.
Breaking the boots in beforehand is a must, as otherwise your first experiences of the boots will be one of painful blisters. Good hiking socks can mitigate this, but it is important to get the boots right to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Once you do make your way into the mountains, stick to the forest roads and well-signposted trails”
With regards to the rest of your clothing, a couple of pieces of advice to keep in mind are: light and breathable is best, and a ‘layering’ system is a must; don’t be fooled at sea-level, as a perfectly warm day can quickly become chilly once the heights are ascended; always be prepared by bringing a couple of extra items in your bag (an extra layer, a hat and gloves at least).
Once the clothing and equipment are secured, next it’s time to ensure we’re up to the task on the level of fitness, health and safety. Starting off slowly is essential – whether that’s walking around the neighbourhood or local park, or taking brief trips some of the way up the local hill. You want to build up your fitness before tackling any major hikes.
Once you do make your way into the mountains, stick to the forest roads and well-signposted trails. This is the best way to progress from civil to ‘wilder’ walks. Consult maps or guides beforehand, as well as the weather forecast, and always tell someone where you’re going – just in case.
Bringing some food and water is important too, as well as a small first aid kit. Again, this depends on the length of your walk. If it’s a well known trail not too far from the house, you don’t need much. However, if you’re planning on trekking off into the Wicklow, Mourne or Kerry mountains for a couple of days, it’s imperative you consider just how much you need.
Religious outings
This being The Irish Catholic, it’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of routes of religious significance.
St Patrick’s Way in Co. Mayo takes in many of the region’s holy wells and early Christian remnants, ending at Croagh Patrick, which speaks for itself. Either hike can be done on its own but combining the two makes for a real epic.
St Kevin’s Way in Co. Wicklow is another route steeped in early Irish Christianity. Centred around Glendalough, it takes in the site of St Kevin’s monastic settlement. Most of the settlement is gone unfortunately, but many of the remaining structures date back to the 11th and 12th Century.
A final one to consider is the Pilgrim’s Path in Donegal, which makes its way up the back of the Slieve League cliffs. While not associated with one saint in particular like the other two, it leads to a Mass rock and derelict chapel where once illegal Masses were held during the Penal times of the 17th and 18th Centuries. The trail ends at the top of the Slieve League cliffs, which are three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher.