What's In And What's Out In Outdoors Culture in 2025
The Things I'm Embracing And The Ones I'm Leaving Behind This Year
Can we all agree that having January 1st as the beginning of the new year is highly strange?
If you ask me, the first day of spring makes much more sense. New beginnings. The melting of the snow. Things in bloom. Gardens starting. Everything is new and fresh.
Maybe it’s just me, but when you work in the outdoor industry like I do, it’s pretty easy to get into a rut regarding what qualifies as “adventure”. I certainly know I’m guilty of it.
If it’s not a type 2 fun, suffer-fest of a hike, does it really even count? If I’m not going to log a certain number of miles or elevation gain, should I even bother?
But I’m honestly getting tired of that mindset.
Because here’s what everyone (including myself all these years) misses, even though it’s insanely obvious: being outdoors isn’t something complex, and it doesn’t have to be a dang sport. It just requires you to step out the door.
What’s In For Me In 2025
Perhaps it’s becoming a mom, but I’m starting to realize that outdoors adventure doesn’t always require a trek into the mountains before sunrise, hiking pack in tow.
It can in fact be found in small moments outside, too. So a lot of what’s in for me in 2025 revolves around this: incorporating smaller moments with nature, alongside the bigger ones.
So let’s dive into it…here’s what’s in this year:
Not taking outdoors culture so seriously. Not everything is a sport or achievement, and THAT. IS. OKAY. Which brings me to my next item…
Making the small moments matter. A picnic in the park down the road. Setting up a tent in the backyard with the kiddos. Creating chalk art on the driveway (my toddler’s personal favorite thing to do).
Getting my hands dirty in the garden. I don’t know what magic happens in the backyard, but the food always tastes better than what we get at the store. Last year, our backyard radishes were absolutely the most flavorful radishes I’d had in my entire existence.
Driving into the mountains just to stargaze after everyone has left the trails and gone home. I used to do this all the time and have totally let it fall by the wayside. But not this year!
Sitting outside to drink my morning coffee. I’m thinking of dedicating an entire month this year to doing just that and see what it inspires. Who knows, maybe it’ll become a daily habit?
Going on a walk outside every single day the weather allows. No, seriously. Even if it’s five minutes. We all need the fresh air.
Hiking for the sake of just being in the mountains. No pressure to see an epic view. Sometimes just breathing the alpine air is enough.
Replaying my greatest hits (aka, my favorite hikes…the ones I’ve done a million times before, but I just can’t quit them).
Spending more time exploring my local trails. I have a tendency to visit places that are always a few hours drive away, and that’s just not always sustainable with two little ones.
Spending more evenings watching the clouds transition from cotton candy pink to deep blues and purples at sunset. Let’s be real, Colorado sunsets truly are superior.
More dinners by the fire pit on the back patio and less of them inside at the dining table.
Driving with the windows down. We are going to optimize our life for time spent outside, even when we’re cooped up in the car.
Being okay with hiking slowly. My toddler is getting more and more into exploring on his own two feet instead of being in a carrier, so this is something I’m embracing whether I like it or not!
Making regular stops along a hike just to soak in the views, smell the air, look up from the trail, and heck, maybe even plop down and enjoy a snack. Why the rush?
What’s Out For Me This Year
When I look back on the hiking seasons of years past, I’m pretty lucky to say that every new one is somehow better than the last.
That said, there are still some things I’d like to leave behind. These are the things that are no longer serving me in this stage of life.
Let’s dig into the things I’m putting in the rearview mirror:
Feeling like I need to be on the trails every single weekend. I’m hoping this can be a year where I prioritize quality over quantity and learn to appreciate taking things slow.
Skipping hikes that don’t have a scenic view. Oof, this one is hard for me. I love chasing gorgeous alpine vistas, but sometimes the hike itself, and not the view specifically, is where it’s at.
Feeling inferior to more advanced hikers. I’ve been hiking for a long time, and it is quite literally a part of my job. But hey, I’m human, and just as susceptible as anyone else to feeling like I don’t know enough.
Time entry systems. Ok, this is just a personal rant, but I haaaaaate the timed entry systems being implemented across many national parks and recreation areas. They honestly take the spontaneity out of adventuring, and is it just me or do they make the parks feel even more chaotic and crowded?
Letting less-than-ideal weather ruin a hike for me. Is the summit completely fogged in? I want to be okay with that, too. It’s beautiful in its own right.
I’m sure I’ll come up with more as the year progresses and hiking season gets into full swing, but these are the ones I have top of mind right now.
What’s on your ins and outs for 2025?
Outdoors always lifts my mood.