What I Didn’t Expect at Bells Canyon

I thought hiking would clear my head. Bells Canyon—everyone says it’s the perfect escape, just outside the city, just hard enough to feel earned. But halfway up, with my lungs burning and the city shrinking behind me, I realized I wasn’t running toward anything. I was just trying to outrun the mess I left at home. The lower falls are loud and cold, and the spray hits your face whether you want it or not. I sat there longer than I planned, watching strangers take photos they’d never look at again. I didn’t feel lighter. But for a minute, I stopped pretending I was supposed to. #HikingTruths #TravelConfessions #NotAnEscape #Travel