Mountain-climbing mama

Having hiked all around the world, BYUH instructor, Rebekah Strain, said hiking brings her to a sacred place that feels close to heaven

BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE

Rebekah Kay Strain said her love for hiking helps her to discover herself and connect with nature. Strain said she hikes every week for her mental health and tries to instill her love for nature in her children. She also shared some of her favorite hikes and gives some tips for beginners.

Strain, an instructor in the Faculty of Religious Education, said hiking brings her to a sacred place that feels close to heaven. Being in the wilderness helps her feel “peace, order, beauty and the love of my heavenly parents,” she said.

Strain said she grew up in a rural area of Southern Utah where she developed a passion for exploring nature through hiking. Hiking is still her passion, she said. “If I have a full day with nothing to do, I will definitely be spending some, if not all of it, in the mountains,” Strain added.

Small but mighty

Emily Bradshaw, an instructor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters, said, “Becky is the definition of wanderlust. She is at peace wandering through the woods, seeing which trails connect where. She is a small person, but mighty.”

Bradshaw added, “The best thing about hiking with her is that I know we will hike fast, talk about deep matters and laugh along the way.”

Ann Springer, an assistant professor of the Faculty of Business & Government, said Strain is one of her favorite people, and they share a love of hiking. “She is kind and patient with me. She is always showing me fun trails and taking me on unexpected adventures.”

Springer added, “Everyone needs a Becky. [Someone] who knows when to scoop you up out of your sorrows and take you to a mountain top. … She’s one of a kind.”

Favorite hikes

One of her favorite hikes, Strain shared, is a 22-mile-long hike along the Na Pali Coast of Kauai called Kalalau Trail. The hike, she said, pushed her out of her comfort zone both mentally and physically.

Hiking with a group of close friends, disconnected from phones, work and family was special, said Strain. “We laughed and cried together. I value the time I shared with these sisters of mine.”

Some of Strain’s favorite hikes in Hawaii include Kaena Point, Hauula-Waipilopilo Loop Trail, Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail, Laie Summit, Kalalau Ridge Trail, and any of the bunker or pillbox hikes, she shared.

Strain said she has done a lot of hikes outside of Hawaii as well. “Whenever I travel, I always try to find places to explore,” she shared.

Strain said her other favorite hikes include the John Muir Trail and Mist Falls in Yosemite National Park in California, Mount Timpanogos in Utah, Dewey Lake Trail in Alaska, Porth Wen and Snowdonia Slate Trail in Wales, Erawan Falls in Thailand, and Phnom Kulen in Cambodia.

Hiking, she added, doesn’t always have to be in the wilderness. “I have enjoyed hiking the streets of Ghent in Belgium, the shoreline of Dunkirk in France and miles of old cemeteries in London, England. I love hiking through historical sites too.”

Strain’s next challenge is to hike the Inca Trail in Peru, she said. “It is a three-tofour-day hike through the mountains of Peru, following the old Inca highway. The hike ends at Machu Picchu.”

Lessons from hiking

Strain said she has learned about plants, animals, geological formations and weather patterns from hiking. She likes to take time to notice the different plants, insects and animals, she added.

“I am fascinated by the canyons, hills, rocks and cliffs. I love to watch clouds move

across the sky,” Strain shared. “My kids taught me to be curious by always asking questions. When I see something new and fascinating on a hike, I look it up and learn about it.”

Strain said sometimes it is hard to find time to take a long, therapeutic hike. “Sometimes the weather can make things difficult or even dangerous. The physical challenge can be hard, but I enjoy working my body and seeing what amazing things it can do.”

Passing on her passion

Strain said she learned to love nature and hiking from her father. “He took us camping, hiking and fishing whenever he could. I always enjoyed our outdoor adventures. I try to share my love of nature with my children. It is a gift I am keen on sharing.”

She and her husband, Jeff Strain, an assistant professor of the Faculty of Math & Computing, have six children. Nancy, 21, Nathan,19, Anna, 17, Thomas,15, Mindy, 12 and Timothy, 10.

She said she takes her three youngest on hikes about once a month. “When they hit their teen years, spending time with mom isn’t as cool, so I don’t force them because I worry that they would lose the love of the outdoors I worked hard to instill in them. But, they haven’t.” She shared her oldest two children are pursuing college degrees in conservation and natural science. “My daughter worked for three summers at a Scout camp teaching Boy Scouts about wilderness survival, conservation and recreation.

“My oldest son spends his weekends exploring nature. Like me, he has found his time in nature is important for his mental health. I’m a proud mama,” Rebekah Strain said.

Advice for beginners

Strain urged individuals to respect the land and culture because hikers are guests of nature. “Do not harm the plants or animals. Stay on the trail. Shortcuts can cause erosion and harm the mountains. Try to leave as little of a mark as possible. Nature is a precious gift. Treat it with care and love and it will return the favor.”

Strain said, if you are a beginner, make sure you do not hike alone. “Download an app, like AllTrails. Learn about the trail before you go. Read what other hikers say about the trail. Check the distance, elevation and the weather.”

She advised to start small and simple. “Find a short, easy, well-traveled hike. Learn how to use the GPS on your phone in case you get lost. Watch the weather. If it looks like it will be rainy, don’t hike in gulches or on narrow ridges. If it is windy, avoid high peaks and ridgelines.” •

Left: Rebekah Strain said she hikes every week for her mental health and to share her love of nature with her children. Below: Rebekah Strain and her son. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

The perfect beach depends on the activity, but either way, ‘The island is the place to be,’ says BYUH student

BY ALEXANDRA CLENDENNING

Students said their favorite beach depends on the type of activity they are doing. Among the beloved beaches were Hukilau, Lanikai, Sunset, Waimea, Hanauma Bay, Turtle Bay and Shark’s Cove.

Favorite beaches

Natasha Mathurent, a junior from Venezuela studying biomedical science, swooned as she talked about one her favorite beaches, Lanikai. She described the beach and said the “water is crystal clear, the sand is white, and while you’re swimming, you can see down to the bottom.”

Mathurent lived in Canada before coming to Hawaii to start her education at BYUH. She said the winters in Canada last for half of the year and expressed, “When I got the chance to come here, I was on the first plane over.

Hanauma Bay

Winters in Canada are nice for a week, and then I am over it. The island is the place to be.”

Sydney Stewart, a sophomore from California studying psychology, expressed her love for Oahu beaches. She said, “I love the sand and just lying under the sun. I’m just obsessed with the sun. I love swimming in the ocean. I find myself getting giddy about it. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but when I’m swimming in the ocean, I’m just stoked.”

Mathurent said some of her favorite beaches are not too far from the BYUH campus. She said her favorite, Hukilau Beach, is just a walk away. “If I just want a beach day to scratch my itch of just wanting to lay out in the sun, I could literally walk there.”

Stewart shared her favorite beach depends on the type of activity she’s craving that day. She said, “I like going to Sunset Beach to watch surfers. I think it is tons of fun. I like going to Temple Beach just because it is so close, and I can see sea turtles quite frequently there. I like Shark’s Cove for snorkeling. That’s a blast.”

Mathurent said another favorite beach is Waimea. She described Waimea as having some of the best sunsets. “I loved watching the sunsets there. The sunsets there are immaculate and spectacular, and it’s just a nice golden tone which I love.”

Beach safety

Mathurent shared COVID-19 greatly affected her beach days. “I just got back to campus in January 2021, so I literally have not been to beaches from March 2020 until December 2020.”

She said people keep a decent social distance while at the beach, but added most people don’t wear masks. “I’ve seen people wear masks when they come to beaches but then take them off once everyone is in their little location because it’s really hot.”

Stewart, on the other hand, said she hadn’t seen many people following the safety guidelines at the beach.

Beaches near and far

Mathurent said her other favorite, more adventurous beach, farther away from campus, is Hanauma Bay. “They are very big on coral conservation, so when you get there you have to watch a video and sign some wavers to make sure that you won’t damage the coral reefs,” she explained.

She described Hanauma Bay as “a nice place with immaculate vibes.” She added it is a perfect place to see beautiful corals and spend meaningful time with her friends.

For those who want to stay close to campus, Stewart said a great place to venture is the stretch between Temple Beach and Castles Beach. “One day I walked from Temple Beach to Castles and there were some cool spots. I wouldn’t say it’s good for swimming or even relaxing, but it’s just a cool place to see.”

While visiting Turtle Bay, Mathurent said she swam with a sea turtle. “I didn’t even know it was beside me until I turned around,” she said.

Vacation in your own city

According to the article “Beaches of Oahu” by Go Hawaii, the best beach for playing tourist in your own city is Waikiki beach, located in the heart of Honolulu. The article describes Waikiki as one of the best places in Hawaii to learn how to surf or paddle a canoe because of its small but long-lasting wave break.

Another beach mentioned in the article was Sunset Beach, located on the North shore. The article said the beach spans from Ehukai Beach to Sunset Point, encompassing a dozen different reef breaks.

The article said this two-mile long stretch of sand is one of the longest ridable surf spots in the world. It is also a place that hosts the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, a specialty series of professional surfing events that takes place every year. The article said, “It is a perfect place to watch surfers and the giant waves.” •