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In the outdoor industry, companies are looking for the next big craze. In the backpacking world, “ultralight gear” drives an industry to make gear so light it almost floats. Around a campfire on the Appalachian Trail, hikers will compare ounces saved on purchasing a titanium spoon versus cutting off the handle of a toothbrush. 

Recently, a new craze has taken over the trails called “rucking.” Rucking is hiking with heavy weight on purpose—the exact opposite of the conversations around the campfire. So, let me fill you in on the new craze that will hit a state park near you: Adventure napping.

Now, normal napping on the couch is a favorite pastime, especially around the holidays. Napping after turkey dinner is as American as the apple pie you had before you laid down. But adventure napping is the reward for getting off the beaten path and experiencing solitude.

You can’t take an adventure nap next to a trailhead. Getting into a good REM cycle is tough with a baby getting their diaper changed in earshot. No, for an adventure nap, you must be at least half a mile away from the parking lot and out of sight of the main trail. The farther away, the better. 

Next, you need a picturesque spot to lull you to sleep. This could be on a boulder in the middle of a ravine. In the summer, the rock under a shaded canopy can provide quick relief from the heat and humidity. Another ideal spot to nap is under an evergreen canopy directly on the ground. The fallen pine needles act as a natural mattress, and the aromatherapy of the surrounding trees is something people pay big bucks for. However, I would suggest covering your clothes with permethrin to keep the ticks away.

With that last line, most folks said goodbye to adventure napping. This last scenario could bring you back into the fold. 

Picture a cool fall day, leaves slowly falling in a light breeze, hiking up a bold stream, and seeing a large rock in the middle of the current shining in the sun. This is Ritz-Carlton adventure napping. The warm, sun-baked stone warms your back while the stream noises act like a natural sound machine. If you have a long walk back to the parking lot from this point, you may need to set an alarm or have a flashlight.  

If it sounds like I have done my research on napping outside, it’s because I have. My research encompasses thousands of hiked trail miles and hundreds of miles of waded and floated rivers. Anyone can hike through a forest; it takes an adventurer to nap underneath the canopy. And if the fish start biting and you see me nodding off on a sunny rock, don’t wake me up. 

I’m just having an adventure nap.