I #hikeOctober
by Karen Viola. I hike for mental health. I enjoy doing it with others, but it is medicinal for me when I bring just my self along. With paper and a pen. This ‘treatment’ began years ago in a small wooded park near my workplace at the time, as a self-prescribed way to revive my ‘here and now’, which was being squeezed lifeless by the grip of where I’d been and where I was going. These little doses of solo time helped me notice for the sake of noticing. My sketchbooks filled with twisted roots, vines, and weathered stumps still alive with decay. Sentinel trees interacted and posed in a magical theater of the round. How had I missed all this before? I became enamoured with the very concept of a blazed trail, a scrolling menu of sensory delights and in-season specials… it made me hungry for more.
Read more...Fun at Fernwood State Forest
Fun was had by all at the second annual HIKE for Mental Health at Fernwood State Forest in Ohio! Thanks for volunteer hike organizer Medic Mike and the rest of the hikers, supporters and volunteers. The hike has raised more than $700, with donations still coming in! Thank you all for helping to stamp out the stigma of mental illness, fund research, and conserve wilderness trails.
Read more...I #hikeOctober
by Brayden Donnelly. Today, on October 1st, 2017, my 23rd birthday, I choose success. Success in finding happiness through friends and family. Success in advocating for the continued conversation surrounding mental health stigmas. Success in capturing the beauty of, and protecting the importance of, our shared trails and outdoor spaces. In a relatively short period of time I was both unfortunate and fortunate enough to have experienced the highs, lows, and confusion of anxiety disorder and depression. I #hikeOctober because I finally understand that the only way to change the world is to put one foot in front of the other.
Read more...Anywhere, any distance, #hikeOctober
Announcing #hikeOctober – a month-long social media campaign to raise awareness of the stigma of mental illness and to raise funds for mental health research and trail conservancy. From wherever you are, you can #hikeOctober. Click to see how.
Read more...Mt. Washington hike moves mountains
In congratulating our team of 2017 Mt. Washington hikers the night before the hike, volunteer hike organizer Staci Formaggia said, “Not only will you climb a mountain, you move mountains!” You will have to click through to find out why! Hint, it was not the amazing weather or glorious views.
Read more...Nature’s White Noise: Mental Health and Nature Sounds
Prime hiking season is upon us, and with that comes overgrown trails, new growth, wild flowers, and all the sounds that we find in nature. Whether it’s the wind through the trees, the chatter of animals, the movement of water, or the noise of nothingness that just seems to exist naturally; these sounds make up what I like to call nature’s white noise. In April, I wrote about Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing; this month I’d like to explore the sounds that we hear in nature and how those noises both play a role in why nature makes us feel good and how we play an active part in that.
Read more...Shinrin-yoku: The Relevancy of Forest Bathing
If you’ve been on social media recently, you might have seen a video that circulated in early April; posted by the World Economic Forum, the … Read more…
Texas turns out to honor veterans
Hundreds of families, friends and colleagues from Pearland, Texas, and surrounding communities turned out in November for the third annual Pearland Veterans Day Walk to … Read more…
Photos from El Yunque hike in Puerto Rico
Our first HIKE for Mental Health in Puerto Rico was organized and led this month by volunteer Maria Diehl Faryna. Here is her update and photo album from this stunning rain forest hike.
Read more...Painting Mt. Washington Orange
At some point over last weekend, one hiker said to another, “I have severe depression, I’m so glad I can verbalize it here. It is not something I walk around the office saying.” Wow! One conversation at a time, one step at a time, we are doing our part to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. Click here to read more about our Fifth Annual Summit Mt. Washington hike for mental health and the dozens of hikers from eight states who turned out for our popular 10-mile round-trip hike in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
Read more...Photo Gallery from 2016 Summit Mt. Washington
Check out the amazing photos from our Fifth Annual Summit Mt. Washington hike for mental health! The weather and the views could not have been any more perfect.
Read more...ZPacks Returns as HIKE for Mental Health Gear Sponsor
For the second year in row, ZPacks will contribute a custom-made ultralight Arc Blast Backpack to our top hiker prize package. All ZPacks packs are custom made-to-order, so the lucky winner will be able to specify the volume, color, torso height and belt length for his or her new ultralight backpack, valued at $325. Thank you to Joe Valesko and ZPacks for providing the perfect home for our top hiker prize package, a $1,200 collection of top-quality hiking and backpacking gear from leading brands that will be awarded to our top fundraising hiker in 2016.
Read more...Glorious Views on Mt. Eisenhower Hike
Thanks to volunteer hike organizer Adam Leiser, the hikers and their supporters for a successful hike to the summit of Mt. Eisenhower in New Hampshire in June. The hikers’ hard work on the climb was rewarded with beautiful scenery and panoramic views of the Presidential Range. Click to see more pictures from the hike and learn how much they raised for mental health research and trail conservation.
Read more...HIKE for Mental Health presents $7,000 to PCTA
On Friday, Leo presented the Pacific Crest Trail Association with a check for $7,000 at their headquarters in Sacramento, CA. Receiving the check for the PCTA were Director of Philanthropy Angie Williamson and Trail Information Specialist Jack Haskel. The distribution brings the 2 year total received by the PCTA to $12,500. Angie expressed her gratitude for the contribution and thanked “all the hikers, sponsors and volunteers at HIKE for Mental Health.”
Read more...Pearland Walk Honors Veterans
Braving the threat of heavy rain. nearly 100 men, women and children came out on November 7 for the 2nd Annual Pearland Veterans Day Walk in Pearland, TX. Officials from the State of Texas, Brazoria County, and the City of Pearland were among those on hand to honor our veterans and raise money for veterans programs. Read more to see who turned out and how much was raised from the event.
Read more...Another Glorious Sunfish Pond Hike!
“I am still basking in the positive energy that came from this hike!” So said one of the hikers days after the 2015 Sunfish Pond HIKE for Mental Heath. More than a dozen hikers joined volunteer hike organizers Pat Horsch and Wendy Summa for last Sunday’s final hike of our 2015 season, and Sunfish Pond in New Jersey was again the setting for a special HIKE for Mental Health experience. On the beautiful sun-filled day, Pat and Wendy welcomed the group and then began the hike from the Kittatinny Visitors Center…
Read more...Sam’s Point Shows The Reason We Hike
“Right before the weekend a work colleague of mine lost a relative to depression/suicide,” write hike organizer Karen Viola. “And the day after the hike, an email came through with the news that one of my own relatives, a young student, was in the hospital. To keep her safe. Because of severe, treatment-resistant mental illness. Needless to say my feelings were all over the place as I browsed through all the glorious, colorful, joy-filled hike photos. But there we all were waving our orange bandanas… and the reason why is as crystal-clear as that day we had at Sam’s point.”
Read more...Great Pictures from 2015 Bear Mountain Hike to Oktoberfest
Thanks to everyone who made the 2015 Bear Mountain Hike to Oktoberfest a fantastic success. Hike organizers Donna Chapman and Martin Hunley did a terrific job as usual. And as usual, they captured a bushel of great photographs on the hike over Bear Mountain, NY, and down to the Bear Mountain Oktoberfest celebration. Check them out!
Read more...Stunning Views on 4th Annual Mt. Washington Hike
Gorgeous weather and stunning views greeted our 4th Annual Summit Mt. Washington hikers on August 22 in New Hampshire. More than 50 hikers of all ages made the 5.2 mile ascent on the Jewell Trail to the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern US. How amazing was this year’s Summit Mt. Washington hike?
Read more...Team California Comes Through Again!
For the second year in a row, Team California has knocked it out of the park, putting on another great hike in Placerita Canyon and raising more than $3,700 over two years! 80% of the funds raised will support programs to alleviate suffering from mental illness, and the remaining 20% will be split between the Placerita Canyon Nature Center and the Community Hiking Club for their work on Dagger Flats. Check out the photo gallery!
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