Just as the sunsets on every great day of adventuring, the sun is setting on my time writing this blog. While I have loved keeping up with different aspects of the outdoors, my time writing this blog and studying at Purdue University is coming to a close.
I have loved getting to share with you tips, tricks, places, memories, and aspects of the outdoors that are so close to my heart, but now it’s time for you to get out there. Get outside, seek the adventure, nature is waiting on you!
I hope you have had a great time reading my blog, and don’t forget to get outside and keep adventuring!
In recent years, hammocks have become all the rage. You see them in parks, on college campuses, in yards, on trails … pretty much anywhere with two trees capable of supporting someone. Many love hammocking due to its convenience, spontaneity, and relaxation capabilities. You’ll find them in the bags or backpacks of both adventurers and outdoor loungers alike, looking to spend a minute or two handing around. They have been trending in not only with outdoor world with many moving from tent to hammock due to size, weight, and versatility, but with casual loungers as well.
The craze has caught on not only at Purdue University, but at universities alike. It has become so large that NBC even did a blog post on it, where they shared an image of several students all hanging from one tree.
Have you ever thought about why it is such a trend? Think about it. A hammock makes the mundane feel like an adventure and helps people get outside. Why nap, chill, or read indoors on a nice day when you could be getting some fresh air and sunshine in a cozy outdoor oasis.
What do you like most about hanging (literally) out? See what others have to say about their favorite aspects of hammocking in the slideshow below.
Everyday
life can get anyone down. Feeling cooped up inside during work or studying is a
common feeling. Not everyone can easily solve these feelings by taking a weekend
to spend time in nature, let alone an evening outside. If you’re feeling like
you need a break, try escaping to the outdoors. Mother Nature can offer relief
for almost any ailment – from depression to negativity.
Often, you’ll
hear people talk about the sounds of nature and the positive connotations they
share with these noises. Guess what? They’re not wrong. According to a
study conducted by the University of Michigan, group nature walks are
positively related to enhanced mental health, positivity, and prove to lower
levels of stress. Additionally, another
study conducted by Glasgow University shared that people who sought activity
in the outdoors had a lower risk of poor mental health than those who sought
activity indoors. The results are evident. Interacting with nature gives your
brain the break it needs from the everyday overstimulation and stress of daily
life.
Have you
ever seen a stressed-out tree? How about an overtired bush or a depressed flower?
Of course not. Nature holds no stress – and you don’t have to either. The Frontiers
in Psychology findings show that
it can take as little as 20 minutes to lower stress and improve self-esteem
when seeking the outdoors. If you’ve been feeling unfocused, burned out, or
unmotivated – it may be time to spend some time outside and see what nature has
to offer. Also as bonus, studies show
that looking
at nature makes you a nicer human!
There are numerous places like Discovery Park, Horticulture Park, Happy Hollow, and more where it is easy to take a nice stroll. The combination of sounds found below were taken from three different settings in nature: a morning filled with birds, time spent sitting in Horticulture Park right off Purdue’s Campus on a windy day, and a rainy evening from my patio. No matter what type of day it is, there is beauty in the voices of the outdoors.
While today it may be difficult to get outside for a long-lunch break or a relaxing walk, try taking a moment to yourself to listen to some sounds of the outdoors, and plan to get outside tomorrow!
While we all would love to be able to escape to the outdoors after school, class, work, or even a long day … sometimes going into the backcountry and finding a nice piece of rock is just not attainable. You don’t have to worry, because when you can’t get to the rock, bring the outdoor activity in.
Sometimes it doesn’t always take leaving your town or city to embrace an outdoor activity. With indoor climbing and bouldering walls on the rise in the US, all you have to do is pick your climbing spot based on its proximity to you. To some this is a foreign concept, as climbing gyms didn’t become a “thing” until the 1990s. The US currently has 137 commercial climbing gyms and 478 indoor climbing walls (including the one shown in the video below). So, If you haven’t tried indoor climbing, now’s the time!
Although ascending a vertical wall, standing on quarter-inch wedges, gripping to small plastic holds overheard may not be ideal for those who crave the feel of real rock, it still can be a physical challenge. While testing your physical strength, climbing indoors is a chance to improve confidence, stamina, and decision making too! All it takes is strapping in and climbing on. With different routes for varying skill sets and new routes being added to walls regularly, you can always get to the next level of climbing.
So, even though it may be a bummer to not always jet out to your next climbing destination, visiting your local gym will always leave you with self-empowerment, enjoyment, and gratification with a bit of humility when you hit the mat.
Climber: Ethan Jackson Location: Purdue University Bouldering Wall
Today I interviewed Maria, a student studying communication at Purdue University. As a graduating senior, we sat down to talk about the things she will miss most and her favorite memory she has had during her college career.
Many know the name Alex Honnold due to the Oscar awarding-winning movie, Free Solo, based on his journey and accomplishment of being the first free solo climber to ascend El Capitan (Yosemite National Park), in June of 2017. The climb itself is a 3,000-foot granite face presenting many challenges for a roped climber, let alone a free soloist. On screen, viewers are exposed to Honnold’s unique personality, relationship dynamics, level of athleticism, and his utmost passion for sustainability.
At the start of Honnold’s professional climbing career in 2010, he began to
join brand-sponsored climbing trips to remote destinations across the world. On
an expedition to Chad in 2010, Honnold had his first experience traveling to a
fully undeveloped part of the world. With no roads, mail or infrastructure, the
trip changed what he saw and thought of a country. While rethinking the
question, “what is a country” after this desolate experience, Honnold started
reading about environmental issues and climate change. Throughout his climbing travel
experiences, Honnold started to feel like he needed to do something whether it
was starting a foundation or donating money to charity. Two years later, The Honnold Foundation was born.
The vision is simple, to improve lives and reduce environmental impact
through solar projects. Honnold explains in an interview with Graham
Bensinger, “people will never care about the environment if they’re stuck
in poverty, so I mean you basically have to lift people out of poverty before
they will care about protecting the world around them.” In the first few years
after forming the foundation, Honnold donated a third of his annual income to
the foundation while developing the focus and mission. In 2015, the foundation worked
in Angola, where in rural areas, less than 10% of the villages have access to electricity.
During this trip they were able to install 100 home solar systems and form an
agreement with the Energy Minister that would bring in 3,000 more. As of 2017, the
foundation is working in Ethiopian villages to bring more solar power to the people.
Since their formation, the foundation has partnered with Grid Alternatives,
the Solar Energy Foundation, Solaraid, and the Northern Navajo Solar Entrepreneurs
to bring power to more people around the world.
What’s next for the foundation?
Continuing to make the world a more developed and greener place to live. While the Honnold Foundation does not look to become a big nonprofit anytime soon, they continue to work and give to those in need. With the release of Free Solo, The North Face and other screening providers were donating 100% of the ticket profits to the Honnold Foundation. As the movie attracts more attention, the foundation hopes to continue to fund their mission by continuing to use their social/popularity platform.
To this day the Honnold Foundation continues to work as a global force for
good. Along with providing solar energy
to those in need, they are saving underdeveloped countries millions in energy
costs and reducing their overall carbon footprint. Through generosity and
selflessness, Alex Honnold has transformed his title from American rock
climber, to philanthropist.
Who would have thought, America’s
61st National Park would be in Indiana? Formerly known as Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore, the now National Park, hugs 15 miles of the southern
shore of Lake Michigan. With 16.5 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to
difficult, there’s a trail to hit for any age group. Located only an hour drive
from Chicago and 18 miles from the Michigan border, many Midwesterners have
treasured this “beach scene” for many years.
Indiana Dunes was signed into its new name on Friday, February 15th,
2019 over 100 years after Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Parks
service had begun the process. After attracting 3.6 million visitors last year
to the Indiana Dunes National and State Parks, the parks department expects to
see a growth in tourism rates with this park being added to many people’s
National Park bucket lists. With the tourism rates of last year alone, Indiana
Dunes National Park would come in seventh place for most visited National Park.
Throughout those 100+ years, visitors have been flocking to the “Indiana beaches”
for primarily summertime fun.
A “must see and do” at the dunes is the 3 Dune
Challenge. This is an activity in which you hike all three of the tallest sand
covered dunes, Mt. Jackson (176 ft.), Mt. Holden (184 ft.), and ending with the
tallest Mt. Tom (192 ft.). You can do the trail in any order, but personally it
seemed like more of a challenge to end with the highest dune. Be sure to wear
shoes because there are many tree roots but be aware that the hiking conditions
are purely loose sand. Once you’ve ended the challenge, you will have hiked a distanced
of 1.5 miles and climbed over 552 vertical feet. Once you’ve reached the top of
Mt. Tom, you’re in for a treat because it’s all down-hill from there. While
this trail may not be the longest day hike in the park, it’s definitely worth
the amazing views.
But you’ll want to save your energy for another
dune at the park, Mt. Baldy. This site is interesting and unique due to the fact
that the dune is moving about 4 feet every year, thanks to consistent Northwest
winds. Mt. Baldy is under restricted access and the only way to explore the dune
is through free, ranger-led day hikes during the summer.
After you’ve spent the day soaking up the summer sun, completing the 3 Dune
Challenge, or checking out the ever-moving Mt. Baldy, be sure to stop by Valpo
Velvet on your way out of town. Voted #2 for the best ice cream shop in Indiana,
you’re in for a treat. Only about a 20-25-minute drive away from the park, this
beloved Valparaiso Ice Cream shop has been in business for over 70 years and is
always thinking up fun and funky new flavors. My personal favorite is Moose
Tracks, but there’s something delicious for everyone.
Whether you are looking for a nice nature hike, a little Midwest beach in
the summer, or simply checking another National Park of your bucket list;
Indiana is happy to have you!
The Girl in the Blue Hat 