Several small groups of hikers were also there signing their names in the registry book. They were examining the monument that was dedicated to the founder of the Boy Scouts, Baden-Powell. Each of us took turns snapping selfies with the summit sign next to the American flag flowing gently in the occasional breeze.

As the trail climbed, I grew more confident in my ability to remember where I had been and where I was going. I began taking photos of the beautiful nature that surrounded me as my nerves subsided. My accidental hike alone made me understand the appeal of solitude in nature.

There’s something incredibly special about touching the top of a mountain with your bare hands. Your world suddenly becomes so small as you rest your hiking gear along the edge of the cliff that you just struggled to climb over.

Although I’m happy to see people getting outside and connecting with nature, I would like to see more education on land stewardship. I want to avoid the shutdown of my favorite hiking spots and scenic landscapes because people don’t know how to treat their surroundings when they go outside.