The Hike

On Saturday, I hiked Runyon Canyon, which has a particular reputation in Los Angeles as a fashionable place to see the good-looking and famous, as well as to be seen. I've been here a little while, but had not yet done any hiking. I had done a whole lot of that back home both in and out of Boy Scouts, and I find the comparison interesting.

The two things that makes Runyon Canyon the least bit challenging are the steep grade and the intimidation brought on by close proximity with some of the most fit people in one of America's most body image-conscious cities. The latter thing isn't such a big deal for me, as I don't see myself in competition with such people. I'm content to have a body that won't drive me into an early grave. Beyond that, I prefer to spend my time in other ways. I went on this hike as a hiker, not an exerciser.