Laine Hickle, Campus Recreation outdoor trip assistant, laughs during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Hickle said this semester was her first time being able to lead trips on her own.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy of tree branches and leaves Saturday at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park during the day hike and swim hosted by Campus Recreation for its Outdoor Adventures program.
During the trek, students navigated more than three miles through muddy trails, ducking under trees and tripping over rocks as the sun beat down overhead. Students navigated three trails, some narrow and rugged.
Laine Hickle, Campus Recreation outdoor trip assistant, said the heat created challenges.
“Texas is hot, and I think we definitely felt that today,” Hickle said. “People underestimate the heat or underestimate how much water they need or the importance of salts, and I think that was the main challenge today.”
She said that with school stresses and everything happening in society, going out to hike is an opportunity to reconnect with something simpler.
Students raise their hands in a vote for which trail to take during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The students explored three trails during the hike.
“Being able to just come outside and just think about the one thing that you’re doing, hiking or boating, I think it relaxes the mind,” Hickle said.
The hike started around 10 a.m. and continued until after noon, when the students broke off for lunch. After lunch, the students cooled off in Lake Mineral Wells, enjoying the water, sights and socializing.
Nursing sophomore Rejoice Agim said hiking was one of her New Year’s resolutions and that she wanted to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities UTA offers.
“This is the second hike I’ve been on so far, and it was great,” Agim said. “This one was definitely more challenging, but, you know, I like pushing myself to see what I’m capable of.”
Nursing junior Chauncett Miles takes a picture of nursing sophomore Rejoice Agim during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Miles said she is trying to get outside more and take a break from studying and screens.
Brooke Mills, assistant student trip leader, takes a photo of a skeleton sitting by a tree during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Mills said the hike was relaxing.
Laine Hickle, Campus Recreation outdoor trip assistant, leads a group stretch before a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The hike lasted for about three hours.
Students walk past a muddy trail during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Students avoided the orange trail due to flooding.
Laine Hickle, Campus Recreation outdoor trip assistant, calls for a water break during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Hickle said the hike was enough of a challenge to make people break a sweat and feel their muscles burn.
Alumna Swathi Suryadevara fixes her hat during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Suryadevara said she went to the hike without eating, which made it hard, but she enjoyed it.
Students walk over rocks and rubble during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The students took multiple water breaks throughout the hike.
Graduate student Vishnu Darimireddy, left, alumna Swathi Suryadevara, middle, and Brooke Mills, assistant student trip leader, tiptoe over rocks during a day hike and swim event April 25 at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Students navigated the purple trail, a backpacking trail known for its ruggedness and narrowness.
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