Being an REI member is like being a part of a big muddy family of outdoor enthusiasts. Last weekend we asked our Instagram community to share what they love about the outdoors. From Appalachian Trail hikers, to weekend warriors, we read powerful and heartfelt stories.
We’re featuring a few of our favorite stories below:
“Connecting with the outdoors is as much about spending time in wild places as it is spending time with old friends. Yes, climbing a mountain is awesome in its own right–but climbing a mountain with your best friends and being able to relive that experience years down the road is what makes it worthwhile.
The time we all but sprinted to the highest point in the contiguous US, and caught both killer views and minor altitude sickness. Still laugh about it to this day.” – Photo by Luke Kelly (Instagram’s @lukekellytravels)
“Being able to share new experiences with friends at Yosemite has been the best. The outdoors isn’t about being comfortable & clean and it makes me so happy that I have friends that embrace that and want to go out to explore.” – Photo by Daniel Lee (Instagram’s @shldrss)
“There was a time when I didn’t explore the outdoors and I can’t imagine going back to that. The surge of confidence and happiness each new adventure brings me is a feeling I don’t want to give up. The outdoors changed my outlook on this world, making me realize how beautiful it really is.” – Photo by Instagram’s @mirandashea24
“Time outside is by far the most powerful medicine in the management of my mental health. Whether it is a walk up the hill behind my house with Waffle, a 10 day family camping trip or an afternoon adventure exploring some new trail, it is within the playground I lovingly call the great outdoors, that my darkness finds calm and my world feels truly hopeful.” – Photo by Kate (Instagram’s @positively.kate)
Photo by Robert Aaron E. Hebron (Instagram’s @rupiehebron)
Photo by Carlo (Instagram’s @carrloww)
Photo by Julie (Instagram’s @juliesteveson)
Photo by Jeff Slivinski (Instagram’s @freshcolleague)
Stay tuned for the next weekend project on Instagram.