8 Hiking Essentials and How to Fuel Your Adventures

It’s no secret that I live an adventurous lifestyle. Ever since finding myself living in the mountains of North Carolina almost 13 years ago, I’ve embraced the outdoors and challenged myself to go further and do more. I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful landscape that I call home and I’ve learned that there are endless ways to push longer and go further. While the outdoors energize me and make me want to fill my pack, head out and discover, being a mom of two always-on-to-go boys means that for me, adventures take preparation, motivation and energy. Thankfully, I’ve learned that all three of these things can go hand in hand thanks to SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee. In fact, it, along with a few other essentials are what help me make the most of my outdoor life. That’s why I decided I needed to share with all you mamas who love adventure like I do my list of 8 hiking essentials as well as the best (and tastiest) way to fuel your adventures.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m quite lucky to live where I live. There are endless trails that attract a variety of levels of hikers. I can literally open my back door, walk outside and find an adventure. But you know me…I like to be challenged. I like to find trails that everyone says are difficult. I want to literally climb to the top of a mountain and take in the view as I see the world below me. When I first discovered that I loved these things, I also discovered the need to be prepared, both mentally and physically. Over the years, I’ve fine tuned what I carry in my hiking pack, because, let’s face it, I have to lug everything I take with me up an entire mountain. That means that only the most important hiking essentials make my list. So, when I’m ready to conquer a mountain or take on terrain that is literally straight up the entire way, what do I take with me?

I’ve whittled my essentials down to what I really need and nothing more. I’m not a camper so I don’t need tents and sleeping bags and bug nets (thank goodness). I’m a day hiker so for me the essentials boil down to the following:

• A Framed Backpack
• My Trusty Water Bottle
• Snacks that are High in Protein
• A First Aid Kit
• Extra Sunglasses
• An Extra Pair of Socks and Shoes
• A Raincoat
• SToK™ Not Too Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee and SToK™ Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee

While there are literally a million things that I could take with me on my adventures, these essentials ensure that when I reach the top of my climb (and I will reach it, be assured) I’m comfortable and prepared to enjoy my success to the max. So, perhaps you’re wondering why I’m sharing these hiking essentials with you and what in the world SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee has to do with my journey up the mountain so I decided that on a recent hike I took, I should take you all along, not only so you can see why I do what I do but so that you can also understand how I fuel my adventures.

One my pack is filled with my hiking essentials and ready for my journey, I choose a trail. There are endless trails to tackle in my corner of the world but some have more of a reputation than others. There is one trail that is said to go straight up the side of a mountain; a seemingly endless climb that has the most breathtaking views at the top. It’s not easy. It will test those who try it. But when you reach the top, the struggle supposedly fades away in the panoramic views. So, armed with my hiking essentials, I decided that I would conquer it. When I arrived at the trail, I was full of adrenaline and excited to get started. I bounded up that first half of the hike like nothing could stop me. But as I got higher and higher, I felt my energy start to slip and the incline started to look insurmountable. That was when I reached for my SToK™ Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee.

With it’s not too sweet taste that’s both bold and smooth, I knew it was exactly what I needed to motivate and energize me and push me on towards my goal. As I took the first sip, I knew that my commitment to reach my goal was reinforced in the best tasting way. The low, slow 10 hour brew that, like all the best ideas and hikes, takes longer to achieve provided a taste that was both smooth and bold and had a one-of-a-kind SToKness that you don’t know you crave until you taste it. With it’s Arabica Baked Blend of beans and higher ratio of coffee beans to water, When you taste SToK™, You Taste Coffee. It gives you that energy that you need without all the extras that can bog you down and pushes you towards incredible things. With my SToK™ Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee coursing through my veins, I looked again at the climb in front of me and I thought “Bring It!”. Then I did the only think I could do, began to climb.

As the sweat dripped down my face, I knew this mountain would not conquer me. With SToK™ Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee coursing through my veins, I would conquer it. I would reach the top. I would prevail. So, I pushed on, step after step, climb after climb, over rocks and through streams. And when I reached the top? Now, that was a moment that was extraordinary!

Standing on the very edge of a boulder with the mountains stretching out before me, I simply stopped to breath it all in.

And the I did what any sane person who just climbed an entire mountain would do, sat down with my SToK™ Not Too Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee and took in the moment, committing it to my memory as the most challenge hike I’ve completed….until it’s time to take on the next one.

For me, reaching the top was about more than just checking another goal off of my hiking accomplishments list. It was about proving to myself that I’m capable of really incredible things when I’m fueled by a really incredible drink like SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee.

So now, all that’s left to do is head back down the mountain and start looking for the next adventure. But be assured that no matter where my need for taller mountains, harder trails and unmatched views takes me, SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee will be in my pack and in my hand, ensuring that no matter where I want to go, I’ll get there with the slow brewed, elevated taste of SToK™.

Now it’s your turn. Whether you’re a maker, a tinkerer or an adventurer, Fuel Your Creativity with SToK™. Look at you go.

Want to fuel greatness in your favorite activities? Head to Walmart today to pick up a variety of SToK™ Cold Brew Coffee products. Look for all the options in the refrigerated section of your local Walmart today.

Then tell me, how will you fuel your next adventure with the unmatched taste of SToK™?