Best experience I've ever had was when I woke up at a hotel in Muir Woods and just started.. walking. I didn't have a car, a map or a phone intentionally. The

Best experience I've ever had was when I woke up at a hotel in Muir Woods and just started.. walking. I didn't have a car, a map or a phone intentionally. There was a trail, I had enough food, and there were enough every ten minutes or so to ask questions if needed. Thirteen miles later, I ended up at the ocean for the first time, when I didn't even know which way was west. It was mindblowingly refreshing. Sure, it could have gone completely differently, but is that the point? I was content where I was by just hiking with my own thoughts and awareness of my immediate surroundings. Having a phone or GPS would have completely stripped that feeling away. There's something to be said to just living in the moment when the risk is low-medium.