The 52 Hikes Challenge for 2021 really grew out of a friend completing the challenge in 2020, a reintroduction to hiking for me that same year, and an attainable long-term goal I thought I could truly reach. In that way, this challenge was extremely successful, especially in a year where I made 11 trips back home to West Virginia (almost 5 full weeks of unplanned travel), often without a chance to hike, and I took a position with more responsibility that made getting away on a whim a bit more difficult.
This year was full of a lot of lows, losing 3 of my 4 grandparents, grappling with my own mental and physical health, and losing a feline companion I had had for 8 years. It was also full of highs as I gained an extremely supportive roommate (in my little brother), made some strides in my career, and did some self-work that led to being a more authentic version of myself. All of that was done while also weaving in 52 unique hikes into my year, only redoing 2 hikes I had previously completed in my entire adventure.
First and foremost, I learned that I could complete a long-term goal, which I haven’t done in awhile, especially when I have the support of friends and family. I also learned just how beautiful and diverse a place the natural aspects of Michigan are, as 49 of my hikes took place in the state. I learned the importance of proper gear and being prepared while also learning to use new things to me, like AllTrails and my new-ish vehicle.
All of these things have informed my hiking plans for 2022. I will not be completing the 52 hike challenge again, because I need a bit more freedom than that allowed and a bit less stress than can be put on you from trying to complete enough hikes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to challenge myself. In fact, I believe my goal this year will put me closer to being prepared for a long-distance trail in the next few years.
I started last year with the hopes of completing all 60 hikes in 50 Hikes in Michigan. Due to some previously stated issues, I have 27 left (well, 28 but there is a hike I legitimately can’t find that it suggests). My goal is to complete these remaining hikes with 10 trips throughout the year. Many of these will just be long weekends, though I do plan to do an entire week of solo hiking in mid-May to truly test what I’ve learned in the my time back in the woods.
While doing this, of course, I’ll be continuing to learn so many other things and I’ll be looking to long-distance hikers for guidance through guides, both in books and online. I also hope this helps relieve some of the stress I put on myself to produce blog posts and edited pictures in a timely fashion, as I won’t be going on as many adventures this year.
I already have my February trip planned (so stay tuned) and an idea of at least where I’m going the rest of the year, so here is to good gear, cheap hotels, and many learned lessons this year! Happy 2022!
Raven K 