I spent hours planning a 4-day trek in Marin County over the Labor Day weekend, agonizing over all the details for each of the four consecutive days of hiking. The one thing I hadn’t worried about was the weather. I figured Marin County has great weather, and September is usually quite wonderful and ideal for outdoor activities. Unfortunately, this holiday weekend, we were hit by a scorching heat wave delivering triple-digit temperatures to the Bay Area. Marin County hit all-time record highs. While the safe decisions are not necessarily synonymous with smart decisions, in this case the wise decision should have been to cancel our plans. And in fact, many in our group showed good judgment making the more prudent choice to forsake the hills and stay safe and cool.
A few of us, however, stubbornly clung to the dream of hiking the infamous Dipsea trail from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. The trail starts with 688 stairs in the first mile. Due to trail closure, we only did 450 of these stairs but were not spared the long uphill climb stretching for about 2,000 feet elevation gain. We survived Cardiac Hill, our hearts racing, beating harder than ever. We briefly experienced the bliss of arriving at the hilltop and seeing the Pacific Ocean, knowing the end was near, only to have Insult Hill sap the last of our energy. Yet we persevered and completed the hike earning the bragging rights.
I enjoy pushing my body, but apart from the physical aspect, hiking certainly strengthens my mental toughness. It puts me in touch with my own capabilities and vulnerabilities and helps me practice good habits such as paying attention, acting with intention, keeping things in perspective, and having a positive attitude. It is often my mental toughness and not my athletic prowess that gets me to the top of the mountain. And if I allow myself to listen, the trail can be a great teacher instilling valuable life lessons. Hiking Dipsea at temperatures topping 100 degree, when I wasn’t thinking about how hot it was or wondering if I’d actually make it to the end of the trail, I got to reflect upon the experience and the wisdom gained from it, which can be boiled down to the following 3 simple truths:
1. It’s all in our mind
There will always be that voice saying “I can’t.” But when we hear that voice we should pay no heed to it and trust that we can. Far too often we give up on our goals too easily, overcome by the magnitude of the effort required. On the trail, I learned that all I needed to do was to keep going putting one foot in front of the other. It is, however, important to slow down. There’s tremendous power in taking a breather. Sometimes it’s the only way to make it to the top.
2. It’s all about the company we keep
Great people make the journey more beautiful. My grandmother used to say that being with people is like trying on a new perfume. Whether you buy it or not, you receive the fragrance. We need to surround ourselves with good people who will see us through tough challenges. Even strong hikers can get tired. A little encouragement goes a long way. Camaraderie can be a source of great comfort knowing we are all in this together helping and cheering each other on.
3. It’s all the little moments that make a big adventure
Yes, the view at the top was beautiful, but it’s the special moments along the journey that I remember. It’s the moments of beauty and of pain, not the finish line, which have left me with some great memories. We are often too anxious to get to our destination forgetting that real learning is in the struggle and true beauty arises in walking the path and discovering unexpected treasures.
Hiking in the heat might not have been the best decision. Our little group encountered many challenges, but in the end, it was all worth it. The pain was only temporary, and the feeling of achievement will last forever.
