The Hiking Trip

The Hiking Trip is a story about a father and his two sons, Jeff and Mark, who decide to go on hiking trip near a small town known as Flint. While on the trip, Mark falls prey to a snake that bites him on the leg. Mark is able to limp back to the family’s campsite the night of the incident, but hours later the pain is too intense and he is not able to move any longer. In order to save his brother, Jeff is forced to overcome his fears in two distinct ways. To begin with, Jeff starts out by showing how afraid he is at the moment he realizes how hurt his brother truly is. When his father first asks him to hike into town for help, Jeff replies, “But I’m scared! I don’t even want to have courage!” Although Jeff seems like a nice person, fear still consumes him. However, when his father replies sternly, “If not courage, fine, then have enough love for your brother to think this through.” Jeff finally relents and agrees to help. After all, Jeff’s own brother is in trouble and needs his assistance. After getting through this initial hurdle and agreeing to find help, Jeff must deal with important encounters along the way. He manages these obstacles with the heart of a champion.

At one point while he is hiking up a canyon, he looks back and sees his father getting smaller in the distance. He wants to stay closer to his dad, but knows that he must keep going ahead. “Can’t stop,” Jeff thinks. “Mark’s in big trouble. Gotta keep going.” Eventually he finds a tow truck driver who takes him into town for help. Although he truly loves his father, Jeff realizes that the only way to his father’s heart is by showing tenacity and never giving up in the face of adversity. Finally, the story concludes and Jeff is praised by his father. “You made it into town and sent the helicopter into the canyon after Mark,” his father stated. “I can’t tell you how happy I was when I heard it overhead. I’m so proud of you!’ Jeff succeeds in not only saving his brother, Mark, but also forms a bond with his father that will last forever. Although one cannot underestimate the power of love and determination, what The Hiking Trip does show is that a father and son’s relationship along with sibling rivalries mean nothing when potential heartbreak arises. Although Jeff does not like to hike and detests his father for taking him on the trip in the first place, his brother’s possible death is enough to make him do things that he might otherwise never think of doing. For that reason alone, Jeff is truly a hero.