In all my craziness lately I started to notice my mind naturally drifting  to a specific experience from my travels to Thailand this summer.  I began contemplating why, and I wanted to share it with you.

The funny thing about adventure, once you open your mind, it has a way of finding you. 

While in Thailand this September I met some truly amazing people so when I receive a notification on my phone telling me I had a new message, a few months ago, from a person I met in Thailand I was thrilled.  

There is a contagious disease spreading through a handful of people. Nobody knows where it started and nobody knows patient zero. 

Little is actually known about this disease because it affects everyone so differently. Symptoms are not the same from person to person.  The only thing that can be confirmed is how it is contracted.

Fear is one of the strongest emotions that the mind produces. Our basic fear instinct is actually helpful and necessary.  It is designed to tell us that we are in danger. You know, the kind of danger one would be in if a lion was chasing you. Unfortunately, our minds misuse our fear emotion to create fears within us that do not exist. This type of fear has no purpose and only exists in our mind.  These fear stories hold us back from our greatest adventures, our best selves and our best lives. 

I am sharing my Thailand adventure with you for two reasons:   I would like to show why travel is important in enriching our lives and how it can help us conquer our fears.

Winter hiking can seem daunting but with the right preparation it can offer some of the best views and nature walks without the BUGS! Winter can be a great time to get some fresh air and get in some nature time.   Here is a list of some of our favorite products to help you prepare for winter outdoors.  We hope you love them as much as we do!  Every product picture has a link provided within to help you explore and shop more conveniently! We hope you love the products listed below! Just so you know Hike Hoppers has not personally used all the brands listed below, but have used products similar. Some have been included because of the affordable price and some because we could not find the exact brand that we personally use. Hopefully this list can help you find some good products and do your own research and find the perfect product that works for you!  See you out on the winter trails!  - Matt

Hiking/camping alone was a bit intimidating the first time I attempted it.  But, I quickly found out that it can be very rewarding. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and find/listen to their inner voice. I have learned a lot about myself, when I have taken time to be with myself.  ​