Get Moving in the Great Outdoors

Image of young adults with varying abilities walking on a forest trail in groups. A couple hold hands

Summer is here. There is something about being out in nature surrounded by the trees, flowers, and green grass. Even the air smells clean and fresh. This time of year we need to seize opportunities to be outside and enjoy the longer days and warmer temperatures. Being active outside can even help us shed extra pounds we might have put on!

One of my favorite vacation spots is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). The Smokies, as I call them, offer 900 miles of breathtaking hiking trails. I’ve hiked several of these trails myself. Some are fairly easy and others start off easy, but can get strenuous rather quickly. Some time after my visit I received an email from the GSMNP. It included a short film about a gentleman named Garan, who was 25 when the film was produced. Garan and his family live near the Smokies. He was diagnosed with Autism when he was 12 months old. His mom, Theresa, loved him through food, and as a result of that he became very overweight at a young age.

Photo of a forest trail with tall trees, green bushes, fallen leaves, and the sun setting in the distance between the trees

When he and his family visited Dollywood, Garan wanted to ride a coaster. However, they couldn’t get the seatbelt buckled around him; he had to get off the ride. Feeling defeated, Garan said, “Let’s go home.” As his mother explains in the film, this was her “a-ha” moment.

She called his pediatrician and asked what she could do to help him. The pediatrician said to get him moving every day, so that is what she did. Garan and his mom started walking the trails of the Smokies every day. They started off hiking the easy trails, but quickly moved on to more difficult ones.

Having Theresa as his biggest cheerleader, Garan lost 80 pounds pretty quickly. Garan and his mom continued to hike the Smokies, and as a result they hiked all 900 miles of trails within the GSMNP. Garan is the first person with Autism to accomplish this. He was awarded the “900 Mile Club” medal, which is quite an achievement. By the end of 2018, Garan and Theresa hiked 1800 plus miles within the Smokies.

They both continue to hike regularly. Garan and his mom have since returned to Dollywood, where he was able to ride any rollercoaster he wanted. If you’d like to watch this inspiring film, “Love, Trails & Dinosaurs”, we’ve included it below.

We might not be able to hike the trails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but we can hike the trails that are within our state parks and state forest lands. Pennsylvania has many state parks that are local or within driving distance to us. These trails consist of short loop hikes, long, multi-day options, and family-friendly adventures. These hiking trails will lead you to stunning landscapes and waterfalls, by wetlands bursting with life, through dark, old growth forests, and will offer countless opportunities to see wildlife.

Some trails are scenic or relaxing, while others are self-guiding and educational. Still others are challenging exercise. No matter what your disability may be or that of the person you are supporting, let’s pack a healthy snack and get outside and enjoy the great outdoors!

Pennsylvania State Parks also offer other recreational and conservation activities. If you would like to learn more about Pennsylvania state parks and what they have to offer, find a state park near you, or find a trail listing for a particular park, you can visit the Department of Conversation and Natural Resources website at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/pages/default.aspx.