Hiking has renewed my energy in 2025. Each hike I have led for the Mountaineers in the last two weeks has taught me about connection, solitude, and mindset shifts. Following the energy is helping me create new meaning in my outings.
On New Year’s Eve, our Whittaker Wilderness and Doughty Falls hike provided a sense of fulfillment. I finally got my first official lead completed with nice weather. On January 7, Big Creek and Otter Falls brought a sense of mystery and adventure. We wondered whether the streams would be passable. Our hike to Margaret’s Way and Debbie’s View (January 11) infused me with new self-confidence. I enjoyed finding new opportunities to practice coaching several folks around strategies of change.
Nature has always been my go-to space for reflection and re-creation. But this year, I’m consciously choosing new experiences to help me cultivate a growth mindset.
Create New Meaning: Learning from Others
Group hikes over the past two weeks have provided more than exercise. They’ve given me moments of connection and shared growth. Whether visiting Big Creek Falls with new companions or offering advice to those joining me on Squak Mountain, I’ve enjoyed hearing others’ questions and perspectives. Everyone has a story to share.
Whenever I register for outdoor leadership seminars, I’m looking for gems and tidbits I can use to be a better leader on and off the trail. Connection can be a mirror, reflecting parts of ourselves we don’t always notice. Even in classes where I know quite a bit, I’m watching the teacher through the lens of “What works? How might I do this differently?” Everyone is a teacher.
One standout moment in the past two weeks was pitching a new idea for an outdoor leadership seminar. Stepping out of my comfort zone was nerve-wracking. However, the positive response validated my efforts and reminded me to take risks. Both leading group hikes and pitching a new idea taught me that I can create new meaning through connections—with collaborators, new hiking partners, or potential clients.
Hiking with the Mountaineers reminds me that even if we are surrounded by others, we can constantly learn about ourselves. While opening myself up to vulnerability may feel awkward and uncomfortable, it’s the only way I will get what I want. The key is to keep trying, even if I fail the first, tenth, or fiftieth time.
Create New Meaning: Solitude in Wilderness
As much as I value new experiences leading groups on hikes, I also recognize the importance of solitude on the trail. I love to bird, for example, but it’s impossible to hear birdsong when your companions chat. Photography requires looking up, slowing down, paying attention, and pausing to catch rare moments. This year, I’ve prioritized finding precious moments of peace and connection with the natural world. Even if that means adding a few extra outings.
On the hike to Margaret’s Way, my group left Debbie’s View ahead of me. I paused to enjoy a red-breasted sapsucker‘s arrhythmic drumming and snapped several photos. This moment reminded me that solitude provides the space to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with the wilderness in a way that defines recreation for me.
To balance the need for both connection and solitude, I’ve decided to lead smaller groups of 4-6 people. In future outings, I will offer short pauses for quiet reflection, in case I have like-minded people on my trips. This way, I can still enjoy group conversations while making space for moments of solitude. In doing so, I may inspire other future leaders to create new meaning for themselves.
Mindset Shifts: Gratitude, Affirmations, and Beliefs
This year has also reinforced the power of words in shaping my mindset. I’ve stopped using “should” while encouraging others to do the same. On the trails and in everyday life, I’ve noticed how intentionally focusing on positive language helps me navigate challenges with joyful purpose.
For example, during my first official hike lead, I reminded myself, “I am a hike leader” instead of “This is my first hike.” That simple shift in identity helped me transform the experience into one of joy and gratitude. Similarly, affirming “I got this” instead of “I’m doing the best I can” helped me reframe delivering a pitch. A third phrase I used this week was “Believe, and you can achieve”.
What are your words telling you? I’m discovering that my beliefs support growth, such as seeing challenges as opportunities instead of obstacles. This mindset shift has been evident in my willingness to pitch a new seminar and sign up to teach in-person classes, leading to rewarding opportunities I might have missed.
Finally, recognizing that there will always be someone out there who knows more than I do permits me to seek out those who can teach me, even when I’m teaching them. Taking away the pressure to be “the expert” allows me to be me. Authentic, curious, and engaged. It’s a win-win.
Create New Meaning: My 2025 Takeaways
The trails have become a space for practicing this language of growth mindset. Each step reminds me that how I frame my experiences affects how I feel about them. This in turn reinforces the idea that change starts from within, not from outside.
Looking back at January 2024, I can see how far I’ve come. It fuels me for the next twelve months. James Clear talks about “improving 1% every day.” If that is true, I look forward to being blown away by changes come January 2026.
The lessons from the past two weeks have deepened my appreciation for how nature supports growth. Whether through others, quiet reflection, or intentional words, the trails remind me that growth is a journey. One we can embrace fully with open minds and hearts.