I work in an office 5 days a week and when the weekend hits, I want to be anywhere but. When I get out onto the trail I enjoy the peace and quiet, the fresh air and the scenery.
However, I have been in a bit of a rut recently. I have put together an impressive (by my low, low standards) start to the 2012 hiking year, hiking on all but one weekend so far. However I find myself on similar type of trails for similar distances. Similar, similar, similar. So what do humans do when we get in a rut? If we can't fly to the Himalayas, you make do and start getting creative.
This is not an uncommon practice. For example, instead of "just" mountain climbing, climb the tallest peaks on all 7 summits (some are even moving on to the tougher, second tallest peaks). Closer to home, my hiking buddies also have lists. For example, @100Peaks wants to climb the 100 Peaks in San Diego County.
A list of places is not a necessity. Another hiking buddy Kolby initially wanted to hike x number of times year and then moved to y number of miles a year and then ultimately wanted to hike the entire PCT!
Another tactic is to tackle bigger challenges. Here in SoCal we are blessed being close to Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48. There is a whole game plan put together by another hiking buddy @TheSoCalHiker whereby you hike 6 peaks to get yourself in shape for Whitney.
So what do I have in mind to break me out of this rut, or at least enjoy the rut more? I have decided, since this is a leap year and all, to try and hike 366 trail miles this year. I am even keeping a log of hikes much like my dad kept a log of his jogging miles. I also decided that I want to start climbing the big boys. Next year I want to try for Whitney. Not because its the tallest but because its there and I need something to train towards instead of the next Bagel Friday at work. Finally, I have to make a conscious effort to see more of the beauty in the outdoors. I certainly see it but at the same time I think I need to enjoy it as it is, irrespective of the miles I am looking to hike.
What are your goals? What are your lists? Tell me in the comments!
Here is a little video inspiration by Gnarly Bay Productions
a story for tomorrow. from gnarly bay productions, Inc. on Vimeo.
My goals don't include any one list, it is more the idea of whittling away at the many lists that I am (purposely or not) working on. For example, on peakbagger.com I get to see my list of lists that I am working on. But this does not include non peak lists like the AT (23%), the LT (67%) and even the book "50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley" (45 done) so yeah, I too keep a log. I would love to get 52 hikes done this year and I want to get out for a few weeks on the AT and / or LT. Variety is key, not only in the types of hikes, but in the types of goals. Good luck from the East Coast! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon! I agree Variety is the key, something I am dealing with as I hike more and more. Great to hear you keep a log, in addition to the the blog its a nice reminder of past hikes. Thanks for reading!
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