Meet Rod: Your Guide to Arkansas’s Natural Wonder
Hi, my name is Rod and for as long as I can remember I have had an adventurous spirit. Sometimes you just have to break out of the day to day and go somewhere you have never been and see something you have never seen.
Hiking is a great way for me and others to be able to do just that. It doesn’t matter if it is a day hike, an overnight hike thru or several day hike thru.
My wife Leanne is my favorite person to go adventuring with. We are after all on the greatest adventure there is, the adventure of life.
Discovering Arkansas with her has not only strengthened our relationship it has also given us a deep-rooted connection to the Natural State.
The Healing Trail: Why We Trek Through Arkansas
We had been married about 23 years and by this time we were empty nesters. We needed to shake things up.
You see, for most of our married life we had been concerning ourselves with the task of raising four children to become well-adjusted responsible adults.
Our relationship had fell off into a rut and we needed to find who were as a couple again. That is when we started hiking and discovering how much we really enjoyed the activity.
It allowed us to rediscover who we were as a couple and individuals, and we have grown closer because of it.
Hiking can be a great pathway to aiding in your physical well-being, but it can also play a vital role in your mental well-being.
There is definitely something to be said for being out in nature. It just kind of lets you reset.
It is like hiking up to a peak and you’re starting to question whether this was a good idea or not. But you have gone too far to turn around and go back.
Your legs are heavy, and your back is starting to ache. Finally, you made it. You look out and just take in this amazing view.
The longer you look you realize that you are not breathing because of the majesty of it all. You take a deep breath and as you blow it out you think of what it took to get there.
You know immediately it was worth it. What you get in return is the image of that view and a sense of accomplishment. That is what you take home with you.
Join Us in Discovering Arkansas: Unveiling Hidden Trails and Sharing Our Stories
Discovering Arkansas is our initiative to share our love of hiking, exploring, and our deep connection to Arkansas and the state’s best-kept secrets.
I am extending an invitation to all who come across us to explore the six diverse regions through our hiking experiences as we discover Arkansas.
Our mission: To connect with fellow trail enthusiasts on and off the beaten path.
All are welcome, from the “I have never been hiking, but I want to” beginner to the “I have been hiking thirty years” experienced hiker. We all can share our stories.
Here’s to hitting the trail,
Rod