Social media and hiking: it might seem like an unlikely combo, but recent data shows that one is fueling the growth of the other. The so-called “Instagram effect” might be inspiring a new generation of Seattle hikers who are hitting the trail for that mountain high – and the perfect shareable shot.

This follows a nationwide trend of increased interest in hiking among young people — interest has doubled  in the 18-34 year old demographic. With that in mind, it’s no wonder local outdoor gear and clothing company Eddie Bauer launched it’s #WhyIHike campaign this spring and it appears to have found traction. The campaign is focused on sharing individual stories of what inspires people to get outside and hike, using the campaign’s hashtag on Instagram or Twitter. There’s also a contest and swag opportunities and a worthy charity element, but the stories and photos it has highlighted are the real deal and get right to the heart of why hikers hit the trail. It’s definitely struck a chord with many Northwest hikers.

Here are a few of our favorite stories from the campaign. 

Philip Moser : “I love to hike to enjoy the great outdoors and to honor my late daughter who showed me how to fully enjoy the experience. Before her passing, she asked me to go on a bucket list of adventures with her to 20 places in Colorado that would literally take your breath away by the sheer natural beauty of nature. We finished 13 of them before her passing in 2017. I am now finishing the list in her honor. It is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.” 

I love to hike to enjoy the great outdoors and to honor my late daughter who showed me how to fully enjoy the experience. Before her passing, she asked me to go on a bucket list of adventures with her to 20 places in Colorado that would literally take your breath away by the sheer natural beauty of nature. We finished 13 of them before her passing in 2017. I am now finishing the list in her honor. It is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.@eddiebauer#WHYIHIKE#contest

A post shared by Philip Moser (@pjmsltns) on Apr 14, 2018 at 9:15am PDT

Nichole Gaertner: “Being a mother of four children in a World full of noise and static, I have found it has become vital for us to find ways to unplug. Being adventurous we have found a way to bond as a family by exploring our beautiful Pacific Northwest. Running and playing with my children are memories we will all carry with us our entire lives. I hike because I want my children to grow up knowing how to unplug and take in our beautiful World. I hike because it slows down time. I hike because it makes me cherish being a mommy and reminds me how important my role as a mother is. I don’t just hike for me- but for them too.” 

Being a mother of four children in a World full of noise and static, I have found it has become vital for us to find ways to unplug. Being adventurous we have found a way to bond as a family by exploring our beautiful Pacific Northwest. Running and playing with my children are memories we will all carry with us our entire lives. I hike because I want my children to grow up knowing how to unplug and take in our beautiful World. I hike because it slows down time. I hike because it makes me cherish being a mommy and reminds me how important my role as a mother is. I don’t just hike for me- but for them too. @eddiebauer #whyihike #contest

A post shared by Nichole Gaertner (@nicholegaertnerphotography) on May 25, 2018 at 11:26pm PDT

Eric Huy Pham: “I hike for education. We hiked for the future of environmental education. As students of the Natural Resource Management program in college, we signed up to hike with the Naturalist Pete Devine, who has lived in Yosemite for 20 years. We want to learn about Yosemite and especially the skills of interpretation. Taking the hike to another level is when you are able understand the biology, geology and the environmental aspect of the trail. What we have learned is to deliver to people about our environment in the most relevant way, not just facts. We took home the deepest thought about nature after the hike.”

#WhyIHike #contest #eddiebauer @eddiebauer I hike for education. We hiked for the future of environmental education. As students of the Natural Resource Management program in college, we signed up to hike with the Naturalist Pete Devine, who has lived in Yosemite for 20 years. We want to learn about Yosemite and especially the skills of interpretation. Taking the hike to another level is when you are able understand the biology, geology and the environmental aspect of the trail. What we have learned is to deliver to people about our environment in the most relevant way, not just facts. We took home the deepest thought about nature after the hike.

A post shared by Huy Pham (@erichuypham) on May 1, 2018 at 8:07am PDT

We love a program that can get more hikers into the woods, and the resulting photos and stories give us more ideas of where to go. Whether it’s a hashtag or the view that inspires hiking, a day in the woods is always worthwhile. Recent studies show it has big health benefits besides the cardiovascular exercise. With Seattle’s position as the biggest U.S. city with closest proximity to wilderness, we’ve got a wealth of hiking options a short drive or bus away.

There’s no doubt we’re taking advantage: More than 40 percent of Seattle-area adults say they’ve been hiking in the past 12 months — double the number from 2008. That ranks third among the country’s 75 largest metro areas.

So it also makes sense that a company that began as a sporting goods store in downtown Seattle has created this campaign, which combines the outdoors and technology. We’re happy to see the Northwest is well-represented in the current submissions.

Damien Huang, president of Eddie Bauer, sums it up:

“Hiking is one of the most accessible ways to enjoy the outdoors. Regardless of where you live, how old or how athletic you are, there’s a hike out there for anyone, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where we have access to so many open spaces. The Why I Hike campaign is a chance for Eddie Bauer to enable people to get outside, hike and share their stories. We have loved seeing the thousands of #WhyIHike image submissions and look forward to seeing more throughout the summer.”

The company is picking 25 winners a month to win some swag, and is selling T-shirts with a portion of proceeds going to four worthy hiking nonprofits. The campaign will continue through the end of September, and there will be a Grand Prize winner who’ll get a swoon-worthy hiking trip in Yosemite, Hawaii or Whistler. In the meantime, scroll through the stories and find out more about the campaign here. Then get out there and find your own answer to #WhyIHike.

Hilary Meyerson recently wrote an essay about spending one day a week hiking solo as part of the cover story for the June issue of Seattle magazine. Read it here.