Trail Marker: Connection

Recently, my 17-year-old daughter and I ventured out on a 5-mile hike through Patapsco. It’s been a while since we’ve shared a long stretch of trail together, and I’ve felt the absence of that connection. With less than four months until she heads to college at Pitt, every moment feels more precious. They say when you have a child, your heart lives outside your body. What they don’t tell you is that your heart will someday be miles away, in another city, across state lines.

There’s tender magic in shared movement through nature. Science tells us that group hikes build trust, empathy, and a sense of belonging. Nature lowers our cortisol and boosts oxytocin, the hormone that helps us bond. Walking side by side—without the intensity of a face-to-face conversation—makes it easier to open up. Some of my most meaningful conversations with the people I love most have taken place while hiking. There’s a vulnerability and flow to those moments I haven’t found at the dinner table.

If you’re craving moments like this, I encourage you to hit the trail with your person.

Here’s the All Trails link to a stunning waterfall hike just 30 minutes from Severna Park.