Scrambling Over Rocks on The Commons Trail is Good For You
The Commons Trail near our house is my daily prescription for body and mind. Here is why the rocky uneven terrain might actually be the best part.
The Commons Trail is just a kilometre or so from our home in Blue Rocks, and I hike it almost every day. Not because I have to. Because it does something for me that nothing else quite does.
As we get, ahem, a little older, maintaining both mental and physical health becomes increasingly important. The Commons delivers on both fronts, and it does it in a way that might surprise you. Because this isn’t a manicured walking path. It’s rocky, rooted, uneven, and wonderful, and that is exactly the point.
The Fitness Case for Rocky Trails
Walking on uneven surfaces is genuinely one of the best things we can do for our bodies as we age. It forces us to engage muscles we rarely use in day to day life, and it constantly challenges our balance, which naturally declines as we get older whether we like it or not.
Here is something worth knowing. One of the leading causes of falls and hip fractures in older adults is loss of leg strength. Our bodies need strong legs to quickly catch ourselves when we stumble. Regular hiking on varied terrain is one of the most enjoyable ways I know to maintain that strength and keep those reflexes sharp.
Clambering over rocks might sound a little intimidating at first, but I promise it is fun. It keeps the walk from ever feeling routine, and before long you stop thinking about the effort and start thinking about what is around the next corner.
Outdoor fitness is not about perfection. It is about moving, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the world around you.
The Mental Health Side of Things
I will be honest with you. I was diagnosed a few years ago with ADD, and as my daughter said when I came home with the news, “Well, that explains a lot.” I laugh every time I think of that, but in reality she was spot on.
What I have learned is that if a few days go by without some kind of exercise, my wife is quick to tell me to get outside and do something. I know I am getting squirrelly and driving her nuts. She is not wrong. 😄
The trail fixes that almost immediately. There is something about the stillness of being out in nature, stopping to watch a pair of eagles soaring overhead, or simply listening to the wind move through the spruce trees, that melts stress away in a way that nothing else does. I come back a different person than when I left.
Photography as a Mindfulness Practice
Photography has been a huge motivator in getting me outdoors and it adds a whole other dimension to a hike. It encourages me to slow down, look carefully, and actually see what is around me. What the great photographer Freeman Patterson called “The Art of Seeing.”
On every single hike the light hits the leaves or the moss differently and creates something new. I have hiked The Commons hundreds of times and I have never come home with the same photo twice.
Adding a camera, or even just your smartphone, turns every walk into a mindful practice. You stop scanning ahead and start noticing what is right in front of your feet.
A Few Simple Photography Tips for the Trail
You do not need expensive gear to start. A newer smartphone takes remarkable photos. Here are a few basics that even professional photographers rely on every day.
Lighting is everything. Soft morning or evening light makes almost any subject look beautiful. Harsh midday sun is hard to work with.
Look for natural lead in lines. A pathway, a stream, or a tree branch can draw the viewer’s eye naturally right into the heart of your image.
Steady your shot. Gently squeeze the shutter rather than stabbing at it. Use a rock or a tree to brace yourself if you need extra stability.
Rule of Thirds. Almost never put your subject dead centre. Picture a tic tac toe grid over your frame and place your subject where the lines intersect. Google it and you will immediately see what I mean. It makes a photo feel balanced and alive.
Look for the details. Get close to the moss, the lichen, the small things. Close up shots can be just as captivating as sweeping landscapes, and they are everywhere on The Commons Trail.
A Trail for All Seasons
Fall is my favourite time on The Commons. The vibrant red of the Bayberry leaves against the soft white lichen is one of nature’s most beautiful palettes and it stops me in my tracks every single year.
But every season has something to offer. Winter transforms the trail into something quiet and magical. Spring brings lush greens. Summer means more kayaking and cycling for me personally, mainly because the scrub brush is prime tick territory and I would rather not.
When I do hike in tick season I tuck my pants into my socks and treat my pant legs with DEET. I am comfortable using DEET on clothing but more cautious about applying it directly to skin. These days bug spray is typically only 5 to 10% DEET, which is a far cry from the Deep Woods Off of my childhood. My parents would practically bathe us in it. I can still remember my father saying “don’t get that on the car interior, it eats the plastic.” Apparently bathing the kids in it was fine though. 😄
For direct skin application I have been using AtlanTick, made from essential oils, and Piactive, which is derived from black pepper. Both feel like much better options when applying directly to skin.
The Unexpected Encounter
One of the things I love most about The Commons is that nature surprises you constantly. You never know what is waiting around the next boulder. Eagles, herons, foxes. And sometimes, if you are moving quietly and paying attention, something like this.
Every hike, no matter the season, reminds me how remarkable nature is and how all we really have to do is make the time to go visit her.
Get Outside Today
The South Shore has so many wonderful trails to explore and every one of them is worth your time. But The Commons holds a special place in my heart. I can hike it every single day and never get bored, never come home without seeing something new.
If this inspires you to lace up your boots and head outside, you do not need thousands of dollars in camera gear. Slow down, look a little deeper into the forest, and I promise you will find something wonderful.
Older, yes. But not old. Not even close.
Keep moving. Stay healthy.
Follow my outdoor adventures on Instagram and Facebook at East Coast Photo Guy.
