I don’t particularly enjoy hiking: the terrain is often uneven, slippery and steep, and finding a trail often requires a fair amount of effort. Granted, there is the fitness aspect of it, but if I wanted to exercise and spend time with friends, I would much rather play sport, go for a run, or gym.

But hiking does teach one lesson: that there is often a direct correlation between effort and reward. If you take the time to drive out of the city, you might find better trails; if you find the best trail to hike, you might have a better time; if you hike up all the way to the end, you might be rewarded with an amazing vantage, and most importantly, a small sense of accomplishment.

Today some friends and I hiked up a small mountain. The walk wasn’t far, but it had some of the steepest terrain I had ever experienced. It felt more like walking up a staircase than it did a trail. To make things worse, it was hot outside and getting warmer, there was minimal shade, and we had to stop every few minutes to drink water and take a break. I was concerned that we might run out of water and have to turn back.

But after many breaks, the path began to flatten out, and we could make out the summit. When we eventually stood at the summit, and the horizon was laid out, a wave of euphoria came over me. At that moment, looking out at the mountains and trees and roads below, the effort all felt worth it. The two hour drive, the excruciating walk, the lack of water; there was a recognition that without the sweat and struggle that went into the hike, we would never be experiencing nature in this glory. We could have walked up a shorter mountain, or simply drove to a lookout, but neither would have been as meaningful. We wouldn’t have this view in front of us.

The reward was inextricably tied to the effort.