To hike... or not to hike? by Sarah Keller

This summer, I read the book "three cups of tea", it was about a man named Greg Mortenson who loved to hike, but after his failed attempt to climb K2, a mountain in Pakistan. he came upon a village named Karakoram and decided to build them a school, after that he built many schools across Pakistan primarily for girls, and made a great impact on their society, all while going through many struggles. All of this came about because of Mortenson’s love for hiking. Which made me wonder what is it about hiking that attracts so many people? In a few instances such as Mortenson good can come out of a hike, but in many cases things can come out bad, even deadly. So I would like to know is it worth the risks?

ABC wrote a story about a five year old prodigy girl named Yunona Bukasov who loves to hike. She has been to 21 national parks in the last 13 months, and has summated some of the highest peaks such as California's Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental United States. Bukasov’s father said that they keep her very safe and do not put her in harms way while hiking, but I can not help but wonder how one can be truly prepared for any obstacle that might come about on a hike.

Yesterday ABC reported Wednesday August 27, Gibson called 911 and told them that he and his girlfriend were trapped at Dana Glacier and had lost part of their equipment, it was not until yesterday August 29 that they were saved. The paramedics believe that the couple will be ok after they receive medical attention.

In the end everything turned out fine for the couple, but that is not always the case for hikers. I do not know if I would be able to put myself in harms way to hike dangerous mountains, that is just me personally. I am however thankful for people such as Greg Mortenson who had the courage to hike because if it were not for him he would not have accidently come upon a small village, promised to build them a school and make a real impact in Pakistan for the women, if it were not for him none of the girls there would be receiving an education.

-the scaredy cat