Courtenay Schurman
Joyful moments on the trail make any adventure more memorable. Here are some tips for creating a personalized Joy Checklist that encourages you to savor the journey, embrace the unexpected, and appreciate your time in nature. What’s on your checklist?
Celebrate little wins
On your next adventure, pay attention to any small accomplishment, such as reaching a trail junction, or simply completing your first mile of the day. Every step is progress.
Several years ago, a friend and I hiked the Pratt Lake Trail in snow. We made our own game out of counting stream crossings. Remember Count von Count, the Dracula-like Muppet from Sesame Street? With every number, we did our best Mwahahaha and, to this day, continue to give our best Count laugh when crossing a stream during our hikes. How might you "game-ify" your next adventure to commemorate and celebrate little wins?
Add a tasty treat
Another item to add to your Joy Checklist is a favorite snack or drink to enjoy during your journey or from a scenic viewpoint. Hot cocoa, a few home-baked cookies, or a delectable piece of dark chocolate can bring a surprising amount of joy.
Occasionally, I bring summit treats to share with fellow hikers that range from individually wrapped Ghirardelli mint chocolates to grapes, cherries, or berries, depending on the season. (I learned this tip from participating in Washington Trails Association work parties where leaders hold candy breaks at 10:30am.)
Go slow and notice the details
This tip may seem counter-intuitive at first, but the more you allow yourself to slow down, the more details you will notice. Consider doing what I call the Joy Checklist Challenge: walk at half your usual pace for three to five minutes and look anywhere but at your feet.
Take in the intricate details: the texture of bark, the sound of leaves crunching, the slant of the sun's rays hitting the fog, the formation of icicles on the tip of a branch. By noticing what attracts your attention, you may discover something new about yourself – such as a budding desire to learn more about birds or mushrooms or clouds – which can lead to a deeper appreciation of the world around you.
Climbing Forbidden Peak. Photo courtesy of the Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC).
Take notes
An important item on my Joy Checklist is my phone, but not for the reasons you would think. I always hike with my phone in airplane mode, as I hate being disturbed when I recreate by myself. I use the phone to record, identify, and recognize birds I hear using the Merlin App; document anything unusual or important I notice for future journal entries or blog posts; photograph my adventures; and research side trails I may want to explore later.
If you don't like using your phone, bring a small notepad or digital camera to document a moment through words or photos. A short note about the sun’s rays peeking through the trees or a snapshot of an unusual fungus can contribute to peaceful reflections later.
Make a trail tradition
Create a ritual to look forward to that makes you smile. When my husband and I led climbs for The Mountaineers, we challenged participants to do 25 pushups at the summit. In the summer of 2023, my daughter and I visited alpine lakes and challenged each other to submerge up to our necks.
You could do a celebratory dance move (John Travolta, anyone?), test out the echo effect when you reach a lake surrounded by high rock walls, remove your boots and feel the soil beneath your feet, bring a trinket or donation to add to a geocache, draw faces in the snow, or build a quick snowman.
When creating and participating in traditions, be mindful never to leave anything behind, like fruit peels, trash, or dog bags. Follow Leave No Trace principles, and heed the advice of the famous adage: "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs." Make sure your Joy Checklist remains respectful of other humans and animals.
Making snow angels. Photo courtesy of Mountaineers Adventure Club.
Appreciate all weather
Equip yourself to find joy in all conditions. Rain may mean fewer people. Snow transforms the trail into a wonderful winter wonderland. Fog lends a mystical feel to the mountains. Your mindset is everything.
The only thing that keeps me from the mountains is strong wind. Once when hiking Tiger Mountain with a friend on a windy day, a huge tree fell nearby. I’ve avoided hiking around trees in “near gale” (28-32 miles per hour) ever since. On a recent Conditioning Hiking Series 2 graduation hike to Thompson Point, we decided to turn around when the winds picked up. We backtracked to Granite Lakes (where the wind was significantly calmer), celebrated one another with a swim, and – despite having turned around from our original objective – still had a joyful time!
A Conditioning Hiking Series 2 graduation hike to Thompson Point. Photo by Courtenay Schurman.
Practice something new
Growth experienced through learning something new adds to your joy and enriches your experience in nature. Bring a plant identification guide with you. Practice navigating the old-fashioned way, with a map and compass. Experiment with new breathing or mindfulness techniques on the trail. Spend a minute focusing on each of your senses.
What can you smell that you’ve never noticed before? If you close one eye, how does that change what you see? If you stop moving, how long does it take to see or hear your first bird?
Share gratitude
Whether you offer a smile to a fellow hiker or a word of thanks to someone for a kind deed, sharing gratitude amplifies joy. When your group takes a break, see if you can find something you're thankful for. If a fellow hiking participant is struggling, a word of encouragement might be just what they need to keep going. If you come equipped with funny stories or tasteful jokes, offer the gift of laughter. Above all else, be open to the quirky, unexpected, and whimsical experiences nature throws at you. They make for the best memories.
This article originally appeared in our 2026: Issue 1 of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
