As the calendar turns to the annual marker of Daylight Saving Time, many of us reluctantly prepare to set our clocks forward. It’s a small ritual that signifies a large transition, costing us an hour of sleep but gifting us with longer evenings filled with light. For those of us who cherish the outdoors, this shift brings a promise of extended adventures under the open sky.
Imagine Jordan, a backpacker who sees Daylight Saving Time not as a loss, but as an opportunity. Last year, Jordan decided to celebrate this time change by planning an evening hike on the Sunday of the shift. While most were mourning the loss of an hour in bed, Jordan and a group of friends embarked on a trail as the extended daylight wrapped around them, painting the evening in hues of gold and amber.
As they hiked, the group realized the true value of the time change. The later sunset meant that even after a day’s work, there was still time to enjoy the outdoors. It was as if nature itself had stretched the day solely for them, offering more hours to explore, reflect, and connect with the wilderness.
This simple act of hiking into the evening taught Jordan and friends a valuable lesson: every change, even the seemingly inconvenient ones, carries within it an opportunity. The loss of an hour’s sleep pales in comparison to the extra time we gain to witness the beauty of the world around us, to push our adventures further, and to soak in the tranquil moments that occur just before dusk.
As we approach Daylight Saving Time this year, let’s shift our perspective alongside our clocks. Let’s see it as a moment to embrace more fully the activities we love, to plan those after-work hikes, evening picnics, or simply moments in our backyard under the sky’s vast canvas.
Want more inspiring backpacking stories? Subscribe below for new posts weekly.