A windstorm hit the area yesterday, forcing me to cancel my first hike as a newly minted Mountaineers Hike Leader. In the end, safety ruled. All eight hikers remained safe because…I notified hikers before anyone wasted gas driving to the trailhead. The rest of the weekend, I daydreamed about hikes I might lead in 2025 …
Continue reading “How to Add a Joy Checklist to Your Outdoor Adventures”
As I approach some hard new challenges, the accompanying emotional highs and lows feel disorienting. I’m reminded of something my spiritual coach says: “The closer you get to the gates, the louder the lions roar.” By this, she means that our internal resistance (aka the ego) tries to protect us from failure, falling, impostor syndrome, …
Continue reading “Trails Curve: How to Embrace Detours and Setbacks”
I recently escaped to the mountains on two separate occasions seeking solace. The first was November 7 when the nation awaited election results. The second was five days after a bomb cyclone left more than 600,000 people in Western Washington without electricity. Despite the contrast in challenging conditions, both outings brought me opportunities for growth, …
Continue reading “Finding Joy in Unusual Circumstances: Lessons from the Trail”
I’m guilty of thinking, “When I do X, then I’ll feel happy.” This week, I gave a one-hour seminar on nutrition for hikers and trekkers, a process that began in August and spanned three months. I thought I would be thrilled to talk to a large group of people and elated to develop a new …
Continue reading “How to Be Happy Now: Stop Chasing Elusive “There””
On Tuesday I escaped to the mountains to avoid the growing tension around national elections. I planned to hike to Thompson Lake via the Granite Creek Trail and ended up adding a stop at Granite Lake, too. This hike allowed me to gauge my physical and emotional progress in 2024. What’s more, I enjoyed an …
Continue reading “How to Thrive Alone: Facing Challenges on Election Day”
