If you follow me on Instagram, you know the Huang family is all about hiking. Screw beaches and Cancun. Give me canyons and mountains. I honestly can’t recall one family vacation that wasn’t packed with trails and hiking boots and sweat and sore muscles and mosquito repellent and 5 am alarms.
I know that probably doesn’t sound appealing to most of you, but hear me out. I feel like hiking gets a bad rep. The word doesn’t do it justice; “hiking” just sounds so bland and boring. Tiring and pointless. I’m here to tell you that you’ve got it ALL wrong. It’s all about location. After hiking in more than 20 national parks, and after hiking exponentially more trails, I’ve picked my top two for you to see just how thrilling hiking can be.
- Peek-a-boo Canyon, UT
If there’s one hike that lives up to its name, it has to be this one. I went last summer with my family and went through the canyon two times because it was just so fun and different from any hike I’ve ever gone on. The first time through, I went with my brother. Mama and Papa Huang didn’t think they could make it up the first scramble, so they went around the top of the canyon and met us at the end where we tumbled out, SO ready to go back for round two. The second time through, my brother and I had to practically drag them up because we weren’t about to let them miss out.
So, what’s so great about this hike?
It’s an extreme outdoor playground for adults. You feel like a little kid again, playing.
This isn’t some boring, leisurely walk in the park. No, this insanely narrow and winding slot canyon tests your lower AND upper body strength. It’s even got this rite of passage; the opening of the canyon immediately throws a 20-foot almost-vertical cliff face at you to scramble up. No ropes, no fencing, no help. All you’ve got is your body. The only leverage you’re given is an area of the wall that’s been naturally carved by water.
It’s an all-or-nothing ordeal, too. You go up a few feet and if you want to get down, you’re falling into either into hard sediment (summer/fall/winter) or a muddy bog (spring). Essentially, if you can manage to get up that first obstacle, you’re worthy, and the reward is this beautiful view right in front of you:
From there on, the canyon gets narrower and narrower, and soon enough you find yourself squeezing your way through (yes, even I had to squeeze). Peek-a-boo’s twists and turns are so tight that you really could bop your head around a corner and surprise someone. You could even bop your head under or over a corner and surprise someone. 😉
Here’s the real tea though: I did this hike barefoot. There was something about feeling the rock under my feet that made it 10x more fun and adventurous. Again, extreme outdoor playground. I’ve been to so many slot canyons but none of them compared to Peek-a-boo.
If you’re looking for a crazy fun obstacle course with friends, Peek-a-boo’s got you covered.
- Angel’s Landing, UT
This one. God.
Angel’s Landing is a 1,488-foot tall rock formation in Zion National Park, Utah. If you’ve never heard of this place, I want you to destroy any thoughts of cute little angel babies and pleasant little strolls. We’re talking warrior cherubim here, if anything. This place is no joke.
Angel’s Landing has claimed 5 lives.
You flirt with death there.
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The hike to where the real challenge begins is long and strenuous, a real uphill battle. If that part of the hike doesn’t tire you enough, you’ve got the actual Angel’s Landing portion to slap you in the face. Vertical drop-offs on your immediate left and right. 15 mph wind gusts. Steep slopes. Unstable rocks. Only a shaky chain fence in the middle of the ridge to hold onto. And the entire time, you’re thinking about the fact that you might up the death count to 6.
That’s what I love about this hike, though. The thrill of knowing that one wrong step will send you falling 1,500 feet to your death. Hm. Okay, that sounds a little concerning, but nothing compares to the MASSIVE adrenaline rush that knocks your lungs out when you’re up there. It’s this addicting kind of stress.
Unfortunately, I went during middle school, so I gave into my fear and only made it about ⅔ of the way on the actual Angel’s Landing portion. It’s been this unfinished business looming in the back of my mind ever since. Someday I’m going back and going all the way to the end (anyone wanna join me?).
There’s something about Angel’s Landing that, if you make it to the end and come out of it in one piece, it’s like you conquered death itself.
All in all, if you’re into heights and the thrill of life-or-death situations, Angel’s Landing is gonna be your heaven (haha).
Maybe, after my spiel, these places still don’t appeal to you. I can’t say I understand but I accept that you have your opinion. I just want to remind you that there are countless places in the world to be experienced, and I find that the dangerous ones are where you can feel the most set free from your everyday stress. Hurtling back to our childhood and allowing ourselves to play again might seem immature, yes, but there’s an unbelievable freedom in that. Flirting with death is scary, yes, but it puts things into perspective.
So get out there. We’re able-bodied now, drenched in the freaking bliss and vigor of youth. That’s going to change faster than we can anticipate. Do something with everything you have now.
Save the beaches for retirement.
Hi Abby, I really enjoyed your post. My family, much like yours, is a hiking family. (We have also managed to drag a few of my dads siblings and their families with us) We’ve been blessed enough to have made our way to numerous states as well as numerous national parks in search for hikes that outshine or at least match our previous hikes. With this being said, I can honestly admit I was hocked to see someone else who has attempted Angels Landing… I was so impressed that you made it halfway. My dad is not super athletic and knew his limits so when he turned around my mom and I continued because of a similar feeling to the one you described. In addition, the feeling of power, tranquility, and complete contentment at the top are unmatched. Your word choice as well as the photos, made me feel as if I was right back there again!!
Hey, Abby! Loved reading your post! The Huang family is VERY different than the Chao family haha. I’ve been lucky enough as well to have been able to travel to a handful of national parks, however, my dad never lets us climb/hike ANYTHING. Usually we just drive up to the main portion of the park, take some pics, and leave. He literally won’t even let me stand near the edge of things to take a photo… Anyways, so I think this repression has made me want to do adventurous things when I’m older and living on my own lol. I don’t know if I could start off with such daunting hikes like Peek-a-boo or Angel’s Landing, but I’m definitely interested in exploring. I’ve noticed through your blog, as well as your instagram posts, that you guys visit places with primarily red-rock scenery. I was wondering if you’ve been to or also enjoy places like the Pacific Northwest- which as more greenery and blue/gray rock -and the hikes that they provide there?