Why do I hike?

Because I like it.
I like feeling the sun, the wind, the rain.
I like smelling the sweet scent
of new growth on the balsams in June,
of blackberries in August
and the distinct odor of autumn
as leaves fall around me.
I like hearing the songs of the birds,
leaves rustling in the breeze as I walk
and water bubbling over rocks as I rest.
I like seeing the million shades
of green from mountaintops,
the bright color accents of wildflowers
sprinkled on the forest floor
and the glittering highlights of sun
through drops of dew.
I like being there,
in a universe that belongs to me
and I to it.