Hiking is an exciting outdoor activity that is suited for any season, even during the coronavirus outbreak. It is a powerful workout and one of the best ways to build up our strength and improve our health. To some of us, this is a great way to search for mental peace as we can get spend some time alone. As hiking is usually done in hilly regions or forests where the air is fresh and clean, it is probably the best way to recap the benefits of what nature has to offer. The more time we spend on the hiking trails, the more we learn to appreciate nature.
Knowing that hiking is getting popular as it offers unique and profound moments with nature, the Campus Sustainability Office brought to the University community an opportunity to meet a local expert who runs a YouTube hiking channel with over 25,000 subscribers. Joyee Walker, the invited speaker, met PolyU staff and students online and shared how he likes hiking and documents his hiking experience on his YouTube channel. He also offered observations, tips, and tricks for those interested in following his footsteps along some lesser-known hiking trails in Hong Kong.
An experienced outdoor person who enjoys spending time in the countryside, the speaker reminded the audience of the need to protect the environment and practice the principles of ‘Leave No Trace’. As more and more people chose to hike in wilderness areas, some trails are getting loved to death by large crowds, rubbish and environmental damage. He mentioned that he found LPG cylinders, personal hygiene products, vehicle rear bumpers, and rubbish on the trails!
Nature offers so much to us, and we all have the responsibility to build up habits and attitudes that show respect for nature. We should pack out our trash and never burn it. We should leave the trails the way we see them and let others enjoy their beauty. We can all practice ‘Leave No Trace’ by being aware of how we’re interacting with the environment and making conscious decisions that serve to lessen our impact on nature.
