The scent of pine carried on the breeze. The summit that’s better than any Instagram pic. The myriad of science-backed wellness benefits that fresh air brings. These are some of the good things that come with getting outside and going on a hike… but they aren’t the only ones.
To celebrate the things that make experiencing the outdoors not just an enjoyable pastime, but one that brings out the very goodness of life, we teamed up with Merrell and a crew of inspiring outdoor enthusiasts.
Together, we’re exploring all the things that make hiking the ultimate nature-fueled, joy-filled adventure, from the bonds forged between friends to the wonder of a parent seeing the vastness of the world through new eyes. The outdoors aren’t just great—they’re good, too.
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The Good
Outdoors
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Before she heads out for that healing movement, McGrady throws on a pair of sustainably made Merrells. “Once they’re on my feet, I don’t really think about them, which means I can pay more attention to my surroundings and the people I’m with.” On the trail, her favorite self-care practice involves using her senses to tune into the good things around her, like “the wind on my face, the smell of the wet earth, birds above me,” she says. “It almost always…reduces any stress or anxiety I’m feeling.”
If you’re in need of a de-stressing perspective shift yourself, take McGrady’s advice and get some fresh air. “You don’t need to hike all day, climb a mountain, or win a race to reap the benefits of the outdoors,” she says. “There’s just so much inspiration to draw from nature.”
Erin McGrady didn’t always love the outdoors. In fact, she was that kid who couldn’t make it through a campout without calling her parents to come pick her up. But her mindset changed as a young adult—and since then, “spending time outside has been life-changing,” she says.
As a video and photo creator and the cofounder of Authentic Asheville, a content platform for camper travel and the LGBTQ+ community, McGrady finds herself constantly plugged in. That always-on mode can be seriously stress-inducing, especially since she’s struggled with anxiety and depression for most of her life, McGrady says. To help keep herself grounded, she relies on the outdoors—whether that’s an hours-long excursion or a five-minute sit in the grass.
“These days, with so much technology around us all the time, I find I need to remove myself from the constant dings, bells, and notifications and allow myself room to just think and be,” she says. “Though going outside for a run or a hike isn’t a ‘cure’ or a ‘solution,’ it definitely helps. I just feel better when I’m outside, particularly when I’m able to move my body.”
new perspectives
Sometimes I just close my eyes and tune into my senses: the wind on my face, the smell of the wet earth, birds above me—it almost always brings me into the present moment and reduces any stress or anxiety I’m feeling…Just remember to put your phone on airplane mode so you’re not interrupted!
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new perspectives
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