Sophia Mattice-Aldous
By Sophia Mattice-Aldous
Being outside provides plenty of opportunity for comic relief. A sense of humor can go a long way toward alleviating a hard situation (although, if you’re at a funeral or marriage counseling session, I would advise caution).
However, when you’re hiking a trail that feels longer at the end than it did at the beginning, and all you want is a hot bath and a cheeseburger, some mirth can keep you and your cohort(s) from snapping at one another. If you’re by yourself, then at least you’re free to laugh at your own jokes.
“And this is where they’ll find my body,” I sometimes mutter after an especially arduous trek that leaves me huffing and puffing.
Hey, I never said your sense of humor couldn’t be a touch dark. Plus, I’m still here to trek another day.
I recall a particular nature excursion as a kid when my family was hiking the hills behind our house. A huge, craggy square of rock we dubbed “The Eagle’s Nest” sat at the top, giving way to vast layers of loose shale at the bottom. While we didn’t go all the way to the top (that would’ve involved some actual rock climbing), we had gone a good distance up the hill to a small stand of birches. We were on our way back down when my foot caught on the shale and I exemplified the term, “Arse over tea kettle.” I came to a stop only a few feet from my parents who came running to see if I was hurt. Surprisingly, there was nary a scratch or sprain. When mom and dad saw that I was unhurt, their concern was replaced with relieved laughter. Mom said that, for a split second, she thought I was a loose boulder from the Eagle’s Nest, tumbling toward them.
“Hell, Soph, I know you want to get home, but the house isn’t that far away,” dad teased.
Years later, on my first solo hike up Jungle Hill in Ferry County, I passed a couple headed back down.
“How many miles to the top?” I asked chipperly.
“Forget the top, how many miles to the parking lot?” the man responded.
Another fun one to yell from a summit is, “They’re taking the hobbits to Isengard!”
That one is not as effective if no one in your party is a Tolkien fan, but still worth the effort.
What has made you laugh whilst hiking? Let me know in an email. Meanwhile, happy, hilarious trails to you.
Sophia Mattice-Aldous is not a doctor, personal trainer or dietician, so if you’re looking for that kind of exercise and health column, it’s not this one. However, she is a lifelong Washington resident and reporter with an affinity for The Great Outdoors who thinks fitness should be fun, and that looks different for everyone. For her, it’s going outside. If you have questions and/or comments, including hiking suggestions, email [email protected]