Our Monthly Tip: Host a Memorial Hike

Our Tip of the Month

If your loved one was an avid lover of the outdoors or had a favorite trail, consider planning a memorial hike in their honor. This can be incorporated into, or replace, a celebration of life soon after the death, and could even culminate in an ash-scattering ceremony somewhere at the end. Alternately, a memorial hike could become a yearly tradition that happens on the anniversary of the loved one’s death, birth, or other day significant to them. This simple act can be a beautiful way to remember someone’s adventurous spirit and celebrate their love for nature.

How-To Suggestions

• Consider spots in nature that were favorites of the deceased or trails they commonly walked with others that might be meaningful. Think about the best time of year and weather conditions for a hike in this area, as well as a specific day when you would want to honor your loved one by hiking in their memory.
• Think about the guest list and let that dictate aspects of the hike. Some people might want to invite a large number of friends and family, with differing ability levels, where a shorter hike would be more accessible. Others may want to only invite a few close friends or family but embark on a longer or more strenuous hike that was loved by the deceased. Still others might want to do a solo hike to spend some time processing their grief in nature.
• Plan different points along the hike to offer moments to remember your loved one. If there are photos of the deceased hiking that trail, pause and look at the photo or share a memory together. If the loved one had a favorite bird or flower, invite hikers to be on the lookout for those and point them out. Or during snack breaks or at the end of the hike, ask people to pause and share memories of the person who died.

Incorporating any or all of these suggestions, and perhpas a few more of your own, will make for a memorable and meaningful celebration for all those who choose to participate.