Hike your own way

Most professors spend their sabbatical in libraries and labs. But Scott Hall, professor of clinical mental health counseling in UD’s School of Education and Health Sciences, spent his in the woods — 2,200 miles of them — hiking the Appalachian Trail to test how nature itself can be a classroom for healing.

Hall’s personal and professional interest in ecotherapy connects nature with clinical mental health — in 2017 he helped establish an ecotherapy certificate program within UD’s graduate clinical mental health counseling program.

And, after 30 years teaching at UD, he decided to practice what he had been preaching, embarking on a five-month hike of the Appalachian Trail during his sabbatical, exploring the intersection of nature, physical challenge and mental health.

“I wanted to live the experience of ecotherapy, not just talk about it or teach it,” Hall said.

Fourteen states, 2,200 miles and an estimated 5 million steps later, Hall said he was able to hike alongside people actively practicing ecotherapy — without knowing the science behind it — through the process of adapting to the long-trail experience.

“The trail became a living classroom and laboratory, a place to observe resilience, connection and the rhythms of recovery in real time.”

The trail is both an individual and collective experience: everyone hikes their own hike while participating in community. The kindness throughout the journey stood out to Hall in what hikers called “trail magic.”

“From a helping hand or encouraging sentiment from those you’re hiking with to coolers of water and refueling snacks, the trail magic is an incredible reminder of human generosity,” Hall said.

Hall donned the trail name “Flyer” in honor of his students and coworkers supporting him and following along back at UD. His department set up a bulletin board with a map and fun photos tracking his journey.

“Scott is deeply respected and admired — not just for his professional contributions, but for his kindness, humor and unmistakable energy,” said Susan Davies, chair of the department of counselor education and director of UD’s Brain Health Collective. “We're proud of him, and he was definitely missed!”

Hall completed the Appalachian Trail thru-hike at the end of July with a final ascent of Mount Katahdin in Maine. He returned to UD this fall with lessons and memories to share with colleagues and students of his time on the trail including slowing down, living in the moment and resilience.

“These aren’t just abstract concepts but things you practice day-by-day, step-by-step, on and off the trail,” Hall said.

This fall, he will lead a session within UD’s Brain Health Collective entitled “Your Brain on Nature: The Healing Power of the Outdoors,” where he will share both the science and his own lived experience on how time outdoors supports brain health, resilience and overall wellbeing.

“The Brain Health Collective feels like the perfect bridge between my trail experience and my ongoing work to continue building programs at UD to give students tools they can use in their future practice, integrating nature into conversations about mental health and recovery.”

Though his physical Appalachian Trail journey is complete, the trail’s greatest gift — the reminder that nature heals — will continue to guide Hall’s steps with his students. And that’s a gift worth hiking for.