Last summer I experienced two setbacks related to hiking partners. My dog Ajax injured his leg, and a hiking buddy shared her plan to move. In response, I decided to look for new hiking partners. Becoming a hike leader with the Mountaineers required completing 3 hikes, offering a mentored lead hike, and getting additional training. …
Continue reading “My First Hike Lead: Finding Myself on the Trail”
When I picked up Atomic Habits by James Clear this week for the second time, I didn’t expect to have such a profound shift in how I see myself. Clear’s concept that “every action is a vote for the type of person you want to become” hit home, challenging me to review my identity. Who …
Continue reading “Clear’s Atomic Habits: How to Align Intentions and Habits”
Tuesday morning, I headed for the Pratt Lake Trailhead at Exit 47. After aborting two hikes on Squak Mountain due to high winds and trail closures, and postponing a hike due to illness, I was desperate to get a good dose of mountain healing. The car needed servicing on Wednesday. And I knew I’d need …
Continue reading “How to Appreciate An Unexpected Moment: Hiking and Healing”
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”
