What’s better than going on a hike in sunny Los Angeles? According to Adam Huss, who plays Nikolas on General Hospital, going on a hike with your best pal is even better — and it can be healthier and more calming, too. The actor recently sat down with Soap Hub to talk about hiking with his best friend in the world — his dog, Sawyer, for our Wellness Wednesday feature.
Adam Huss: The Adventures of Adam & Sawyer
“I’ve had Sawyer his whole life,” Huss, a proud dog daddy, tells Soap Hub. “He’s 11 1/2, and he’s had this great ‘puppy energy’ forever. I don’t want him to slow down. I embrace it, and I love his high energy.”
If Huss is ever on the fence about getting out in the fresh air, he credits Sawyer, a Dachshund and Labrador mix, for helping him walk him out the door. “He gets me motivated for sure,” the actor says with a smile. “I embrace it. He motivates me.” Among Huss’s favorite places to hike are paths in Topanga and Malibu. “I’d sometimes sit after going on a hike, and deer would come out,” he says. “I’ll bring a journal. It’s very soul-filling. It’s great to escape the hectic nature of L.A. Sawyer, and I just had a long, awesome hike up a canyon.”
Preparation Is Key
It’s not just his acting scenes that Huss prepares for — he’ll make sure he goes through a checklist before going on an adventure with Sawyer. “You want to wear running shoes with treads on them,” he shares. “Those are very important. I’ll always bring a big jug of water for myself and one for Sawyer, too. His has a little bowl on it for a cap.”
Huss also packs spare doggy bags, post-hike protein bars, and nuts from Trader Joe’s. “I also always let someone know where I’m going,” the actor says. “You can’t always have phone service on hikes, so if you’re not back by nightfall, it’s good that someone will know where you are.” Some of the paths have ocean views and can take quite a while to get to, but the scenery and serenity are worth it. There are heartfelt stops throughout the hike, too.
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Adam Huss: Setting an Intention
Along one trail, Huss says, there’s an “intention circle,” which has been there for a long, long time. “You can think about your intention while you walk through,” he says. “It can be an intention for your life or the week or the day or about something that’s upsetting you, your job or your health.”
Hikers sometimes leave keepsakes behind as they go through the circle. “People have left little trinkets — things they’ve written or crystals or totems. If you’re inclined to take something, you do. If you want to leave something, you can do that, too.”
Look, Up in the Sky!
“People say, ‘We don’t deserve dogs,’ which is so true,” says Huss, who adds about his four-legged pal, “Sawyer is sensitive. He reminds me to stop and play. He’ll look at me with that face of his, so I’ll take 10 minutes to do just that — stop and play.”
When Huss has dressed up as Superman for Halloween or a costume party, he makes sure there’s a “Krypto cape” for Sawyer. “I have always loved Superman,” the actor says. “I understand what he stands for. Before I ever got Sawyer, I saw this framed picture. It’s of Superboy, and he’s on a farm and has a bat, and Krypto is up in the sky. He’s waiting for the ball to be hit so he can catch it in the sky. I show that picture to Sawyer. I tell him all the time we’ll go on an adventure, and he’ll wag his tail. He’ll be in a trance while we’re on our way. That makes my day.”
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