West Virginia Governor Wants You to Take a Hike (For Your Health, Not Your Job)

West Virginia's Governor Patrick Morrisey is issuing a statewide challenge, and for once, it doesn't involve politics—it just involves putting one foot in front of the other. The governor is encouraging residents to head outside and walk at least a mile a day, making 'take a hike' the new public health slogan.

To help folks get moving, the state is rolling out official 'Mountaineer Mile trails' across its 32 state parks. The idea: make walking so easy, even your couch might get jealous.

Morrisey, who has been busy promoting healthier lifestyles, joined health officials at an event announcing upcoming food dye bans. He stressed that boosting West Virginians' health means tackling obesity, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease from all angles—cleaner food, better nutrition, and, yes, more movement.

"You're taking the crap out of the food, you're incentivizing people to eat good food … making sure people are working and have purposeful lives, and then we're also encouraging people to go out and exercise," Morrisey commented. Honestly, if someone told me hiking would make my snacks healthier, I’d probably jog to the nearest trailhead.

The National Park Service agrees: hiking helps build stronger muscles and bones, improves balance, and lowers the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Even celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels is on board, saying that 150 minutes of walking a week can add up to seven years to your life. Start with 5,000 steps a day (and maybe don’t count trips to the fridge—just kidding, that counts too).

But the perks don’t end at physical health. Stanford researchers found that a 90-minute walk in nature actually decreased activity in a part of the brain linked to depression. Gretchen Daily, a senior fellow at Stanford, suggested that making nature accessible is key for mental health, especially as cities keep growing.

So, whether you're looking to drop a few pounds, boost your mood, or just escape another Zoom meeting, the governor’s advice is simple: get outside and walk. Your body—and your brain—will thank you for it.