MS Outdoor Adventures Overview

Why Outdoor Adventures

Growing up out West, all I knew was the outdoors. Hiking, fishing, camping, exploring remote dirt roads, and many other activities. Life got busy with college, graduate school, family and work. Although, I still made time to get out as often as I could. You see, outdoor adventures fill three basic needs and after my diagnosis, this became even more apparent.

Physical: Exercise comes in many forms. It does not just mean lifting weights, running or cardio. Hiking miles along a river, setting up a camping spot, hiking a trail with varying degrees of elevation gain, or repeated casting of a fly-rod all work great. Especially when you are limited in activities due to Multiple Sclerosis.

Emotional: Those living with Multiple Sclerosis know all too well the effects a diagnosis has on your emotional well-being. Some days are better than others, but it’s not just MS, but the daily stress of life, work, and being human. MS just exacerbates your emotional state and can become a heavy burden when added to everyday life. Outdoor activities can be better than any medicine you take. Being in nature, whether you are engaged in an outdoor activity or not, is great to reset your mood, your outlook and inject feelings of happiness and calming for your stress.

Spiritual: Being in nature allows you to focus with the distraction of noise and the hustle and bustle of the city. Many people use apps such as Calm, that contain nature scenes and sounds, to provide this escape. Although, it is not being the same as actually sitting next to a peaceful stream, or evening crickets.

I have found being in nature and engaging in outdoor activities has allowed me to address each of these basic needs. My health has improved, I am keeping active and fighting the decline of my MS. My goal is to be a resource for those wishing to experience the outdoors and show how these activities can raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, and at some point, be able to provide outdoor experiences for those with MS, who may not otherwise be able to do so. Please check back often as I work to have this set-up.