Terra Ludis: Play Ground | Meet Mac Utter

Mac Utter is an artist and avid backpacker. We sat down with this Boone native and asked her to describe what she loves about hiking.

"I have a really bad habit of getting in my head too much, and when you strip all the distractions away, you’re only left with yourself. So all of those struggles or little things that you’ve pushed down or you’ve thought, “Okay I’ll deal with that tomorrow,” or “I’ll think about that another day,” that’s what you’re left with. What I love about hiking – and not that it’s the same journey every time, but it’s like I’ll start and like “Okay this is fun,” and then all of the sudden I’ll realize “Alright, everything else is gone, it’s just me,” and like “Oh okay, this is something I’m struggling with right now,” and I’m like “Okay, I don’t know what to do with this.” But you’re literally taking it step by step, and walking through that with yourself. It’s very meditative, and depending on how long the hike is or whatever, you can really get into this state of flow and focus on it, and then I’ll come of it like “Okay, this is how I’m going to approach it.” And that’s why I use the word ‘grounding’ myself, is because it’s this whole process. Each hike is a little journey physically but also mentally.

"One of my favorite activities is being with someone outside hiking in silence, because you have that connection, you know you’re there, but you’re also simultaneously connecting through something that’s been there for who knows how long."

Photo by Collin Jewell.

Read their full interview at blowingrockmuseum.org/play

#optoutside #backpacking #highcountry #hiking