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. Along the way, I navigated several setbacks including severe windstorms, illness, and skin cancer surgery. Finally, on New Year’s Eve Day, nine of us hiked to Whittaker Wilderness and Doughty Falls as my first hike lead. I felt reborn.
First Hike Lead Provides a Flood of Gratitude
Admittedly, I felt nervous about leading my first official hike without a co-leader. Four days earlier, I’d gotten stitches removed from my forehead. A few complications left me wondering whether it was a good idea to lead a hike so soon after surgery. However, I decided if I struggled with the pace, I could always suggest we slow down. But we would go!
When all eight hikers showed up for a beautiful, sunny, windless hike, gratitude coursed through me. For the hikers. The mountains. Mother Nature’s healing power. The culmination of four months of effort. And the new challenge. This hike made it official: I am a Mountaineers hike leader.
Overcoming Challenges to Reach the Trail
The first obstacle I had to overcome to succeed was recovering physically and emotionally from surgery. Whenever I hike with my dog, I go at a comfortable pace, usually 2-3 mph. Sometimes we are spontaneous like I was for my hike to Talapus and Olallie Lakes. However, for hikes with the Mountaineers, I schedule them with a pace set weeks in advance. Could I hike 2.5 mph without rupturing the remaining stitches in my face?
The second obstacle was inclement weather. Twice, I tried to lead a hike to Margaret’s Way on Squak Mountain. The first time, I canceled due to gale winds. The second, I canceled because WTA said routes on Squak were closed. Instead, I visited Talapus and Olallie Lakes in the snow. Would the third time be different? On the drive to the Whittaker Wilderness trailhead, thick, dark fog engulfed me. But Mother Nature gave us a glorious sunny day once I arrived at the trailhead at 7:30. It felt like the multiverse rewarded me with, “You have overcome.”
My First Hike Lead Escorts Me Into Leadership
As an introvert, I prefer solo, one-on-one, or small-group interactions. However, I’m discovering that I want to share everything I know. And the best way to do that is to teach more people.
Hiking with 8-12 strangers can be daunting and challenging. My strategy is to set clear expectations and cultivate a supportive, generous environment. On my first two hikes, this strategy has paid off. Bringing my best self to the trail has evoked the best in others.
Icebreakers for Introverts
To do that, I ask an “icebreaker” question or two. It might be how long it took someone to drive to the trailhead (one person came from Rhode Island!) why they chose this particular hike, or what superpower a person would wish for (I’d choose extraversion!) By getting people to chat about themselves, even briefly, nerves dissipate and people become more than names on a roster.
Halfway through the hike, when a participant asked about my well-being, I felt supported and appreciated for my efforts to ensure everyone else was having fun and doing well. And when we returned to the trailhead, shiny brows and big smiles on everyone’s faces, the competence, confidence, and contentment I felt in the mountains before my surgery came racing back. I’d led nine strangers on a successful hike. In the words of James Clear (Atomic Habits), I am building my identity as a competent hike leader with each trip to the mountains.
First Hike Lead: My Takeaways
My takeaways from this first hike lead include:
- Nurture Resilience: Last year, I kept chasing my goals despite setbacks. Persistence leads to steady, consistent growth, in as little as five minutes daily. If you want to build a habit, do something to work toward that habit every day. In my case, I wanted to be a resilient hike leader, and I kept going until it happened. What habit do you want to build? What steps can you take today to grow it?
- The Role of Timing: Not everything happens on our desired schedule. I was disappointed when I had to cancel the hike to Margaret’s Way because of something I couldn’t control. But if we’d started the hike in high winds, something awful might have happened. Maybe not. I’ll never know. I do know that we had perfect weather on New Year’s Eve. I’d rather cherish the successes than grieve those that don’t occur. Sometimes a delay can lead to an even better outcome.
- Leadership as Growth: Finally, stepping into a leadership role boosts our confidence and helps us grow into the best versions of ourselves. My spiritual advisor teaches all of her class participants to go big. While leading hikes for the Mountaineers may not be “big” for some, for an introvert used to hiking solo, it’s a stretch. One I’m ready, willing, and able to take.
Finding Myself
At one point I lamented that I didn’t want the hike to end. The mountains are my happy place. At the bridge signaling a return to the parking lot, one hiker joked that the increased car traffic was “a loud waterfall.” I was not alone in wanting more nature. I took a moment to thank everyone for sharing this milestone with me. Once all the cars had started, I headed home happily listening to a Brene Brown audiobook.
The clouds rolled in with rain close behind. I couldn’t have timed it any better. I ended the year feeling grateful and fulfilled. And on New Year’s Day, my family continued our annual Polar Bear Plunge in Lake Washington. A satisfying, invigorating way to kick off 2025. Anything is possible. And I’m ready for it.