Gianluca Vardaro, the “Hiking Guru,” talks about death, happiness, and leadership.

Gianluca Vardaro is 23 years of age. He considers himself an outdoor enthusiast with a great love and passion for and I quote “ damn near all things outdoors related.” While only 23 years old, Gianluca has wisdom that is ageless. His determination and passion for life is a story to be heard. He’s a man that has experienced numerous setback but still stands here humble and strong.

Q: How has hiking helped you in your life? What value has hiking brought to your life?

G: Connection and disconnection. Hiking has connected me with the outdoors (mother nature) and with the people who join me, whether they be a long time friend or are just curious and want to hike. The conversations you have while hiking and exploring the great places this world has to offer is a special thing to me. As far as disconnection goes, for me, going on hikes is a great mental break from daily life. Whether it be petty drama, work related issues, etc., it’s just great to get away from it all for a day or two. Hiking has helped me stay in shape. It has also brought me plenty of great views (whether that be at the top of a mountain or in a preserve or anywhere in nature). Not many things in life beat relaxing at a viewpoint.

Q: What are one of your crazier hiking experiences?

G: Hanging. Spear. Falls. ..... good gosh almighty I will never forget the events that took place that one summer day back in either 2010 or 2011. I was still a camper at the time. We set out to hike a mountain right around the flowed lands/Lake Colden area and had extra time during one of the days. 6 campers, 2 counselors. The two Counselors (who happened to be twins who really enjoy the outdoors) decided to take us to Hanging Spear Falls. It is a large water fall around 60 feet in height and was located about 1 mile or so down the stream from where our campsite was. You can't really casually walk down to this waterfall. The bottom is only reachable by carefully maneuvering down a rock slope (basically sliding on your butt down). We all got down to the water fall safely and had a great time bathing in the freezing cold water. Puffed a couple weed joints and started to get ready to leave. As we look up at the slope, we had a collective moment where we all kind of looked at each other and had that "what the fuck how are we getting out of here?" expression. The rock slope "wall" we had to climb was quite steep, maybe around a 60 degree incline. Every eight or so feet there was a ledge or a tree branch you could grab onto for support. One of the counselors decided to climb half way up the slope and act as a guider for us campers climbing up (helping us pick places to grab, keep us calm). As the counselor got to the mid way point, he cut his hand quite badly and had to take his own shirt off to wrap his hand up. This definitely shook us up. So one at a time we went up, first the "non hiker" kids went up. Myself and two other hiker campers weren’t as shaken up because we enjoy this kind of stuff, it’s a fun challenge. As we wait at the bottom, loose rocks are falling down the slope. Aside from the hand cut the counselor received, we all got out safe. We all vouched to never speak on the event to anyone in power.

Q: Why do some people call you the hiking guru?

G: Some of my friends may consider me a hiking guru. The area I grew up in (south shore of Long Island) is far from any real deal mountains. So when friends see and hear about the amount of hikes I go on, they gain interest and reach out to me either for advice or to join a hike. Even I have a great deal of learning to do. But I am for sure not a rookie. I have led young and teenage campers on hikes before and am well versed in what it takes to hike in North East United States (where I do just about all of my hiking so far, I hope to branch out across this beautiful country). It makes me happy when i can help spark interest in outdoor recreation. How serious one gets into it is totally their choice and I respect it.

Q: How has this quarantine experience brought you back to being your best self as well as encouraging others to do the same?

G: At the start of this Corona madness, we were all left with so many unanswered questions. Everyone was shook up to some degree. Most of my friends went back home to live with their parents, getting away from highly populated cities. This left many of us with extra free time at home. Some choose to do nothing and put on weight. Some like me, took a look in the mirror and saw this as a great chance to improve health and get some good habits back up and running. It takes discipline and patience, but the payoff is well worth it. Your body is your everything and one should take great care. The extra free time has made me do a lot of thinking and has given me a chance to do new activities like biking. I have always biked around but this summer i started to take it up a notch. WHY NOT?

Like I mentioned before, I often times post about my bike rides and hikes and have seen a good deal of positive responses. I have done my best in asking close and far friends to join me in hiking or biking. I post about my rides or hikes in a number of different group-chats or directly with individuals. I have for sure seen an increased interest in the group-chats. Even had a select few message me saying how them seeing me outside has gave them the courage to go out on their own or with their friends. Several people in the chat are from Europe too. I believe I helped start a trend in the chats where we post cool outdoor pictures and tag each other.

Q: What have you've learned so far on your personal Journey? What are you are still trying to learn?

G: I had a stable childhood growing up in the Long Island suburbs. All my basic needs were met (good schooling, food, shelter, clothing, etc) and I am incredibly thankful for it. This position didn’t come easy for my parents. They worked tirelessly to make sure my brothers and I had what we needed and more.

Things changed a lot when my mother was diagnosed with Cancer sometime around 2006-2007. She no longer had the full time to take care of her children like a fully healthy mother could. She tried her damn best though and I will never forget her strength thru the entirety of it all. Sandra passed away in January of 2009. 

My brothers and I were around ages 9-16. Spread out by 2.5-3 years each. Those young years are crucial in ones development. Not having a mother took a toll on many aspects of our lives. With a father working all day, we didn’t have that motherly advice to lean back on. Children need at least some guidance. But on the flip side of things it has made us all more independent and starting it at a young age. 

I missed a whole lot of guidance and advice without my mother around but I was lucky to have several caring adult female figures in my life to help make things as easy as possible. Shoutout to my loving Aunts, cousins, grandmothers and so on. 

Life is very brittle and can be snatched away in an instant. That is why it is important that one finds some form of happiness. Whatever it is. Find something that makes you happy.  I’d like to think that I am decently independent. But I am still trying to learn what it takes to be truly independent and am excited for what my 20’s will have in store for me. 

Q: What does success mean to you?

G: Success and the meaning of it varies from human to human, no doubt about it. To me, being successful is being happy with ones own situation in life. Personally, I'd like to work a job I enjoy all while receiving a decent pay (enough to make ends meet and maybe start a family one day). Success and happiness work hand in hand in my opinion.

Q: How have you tried to live your most authentic life despite society pressures?

G: Just doing me. Always. It’s nearly impossible to tune out all the bad energy. But I feel like I do a decent job at it. Not focusing on what others are doing, staying in my own lane. Mostly staying off social media. Like popcorn, we all "pop" at different times and thats okay. I am not immune to doubt. Doubt creeps in every now and then. It’s normal. But you cannot let it limit you.

Q: What is your dream job if given the opportunity? and why?

G: My dream job would either be becoming an NBA referee or a Park Ranger. Starting with the NBA, I have been a massive basketball fan for many years now. It is my passion and I love all things basketball. Referee's have a tough job but they are tasked with keeping the games integrity in check. Just being in and around basketball would be a great thing. As for being a Park Ranger, it aligns with a lot of the things I have did as a child and young adult. I studied Geography in college and have a great love for all things outdoors. Being a Park Ranger and immersing myself in some of the most beautiful places this country has to offer would be a dream come true. It would be more so enjoyment than it would be work (which is what we all would want). I have done decent research on it and am looking to get out there and give it a run. It’s good and honest work.

Q: What does happiness mean to you?

G: Happiness to me means waking up everyday without dread or black clouds hanging on your neck. Being content with your life doings and yourself. Loving yourself for who you are. We all have our sad and gloomy moments, life is not picture perfect. It’s about making good with what you have (or don't have) and keeping positive as best as you can.

IG: gl_outdoorsman