Hike or Climb
Interesting thing when you start listening to your body. Lately the body has been saying that it wants to be moving. While I love climbing it has a different feel to it. You climb a pitch, exert yourself and then you're at the belay for quite awhile before you're moving again. Last weekend I did a hill run in Nose Hill park and there was this sense of pleasure of simply moving, not having to stop and start.
This Friday I had the day off and was looking for someone to go hiking. I really wanted to be in the mountains but I didn't feel like climbing - go figure. It seems that now I have an easier time finding climbing partners than hikers. And when you tell a climber that you rather hike you may get a quizzical look that says..... why?
Nevertheless I try to listen to my body's requests so hiking it is. I couldn't find anyone to hike with me so I decided to go out by myself. I've never hiked alone for a variety of reasons, my fear of bears being the biggest one. Then there's fear of getting hurt alone and lower down the list is the fear of getting lost. Anyhow, suffice to say there were a couple fears rattling around in the brain. So I gave it some thought, as to which fears were serious, which were groundless and what were the odds of any of those fears being realized? I decided to do a hike I've done a couple times. This would mitigate the lost part which, honestly, isn't that serious of a fear as most trails are obvious. The hike I chose is a popular area so that dealt with the fear of getting hurt and bears. Meaning if I got hurt eventually someone would come across me.
Once I got started on the trail and I have to admit I think my fears were bigger in my head than the reality. And sure enough the body started humming inside with happiness that I was in the mountains and I was moving. Since I was alone I was able to hike at the pace I wanted to which was quite fast. I was breaking in my new moutaineering boots getting them ready for my trip to the Bubaboos.
Once I got to the end of my hike I headed on another trail up a valley, steadily ascending upward. Halfway up the valley I took a break to eat some snacks. I had been going pretty hard and it was good to stop. Once I had started up the valley I didn't encounter anymore people since the hikers usually stop at Lake Galatea. As I sat down, I had a chance to really look around. It felt so amazing to be in the mountains by myself. No distractions with making conversation allowed me to fully be present and feel apart of the landscape. I reflected on my time in the mountains and how my relationship has changed. I realized that I now feel a comfort in the mountains. I feel awake, alert and aware. The bear issue is something I will always be watchful for and a healthy fear is a good thing (in my opinion). My one guide Dave Marra talked about aquiring mountains legs and eyes. I realized that I finally experience what he was talking about.
I'm back to climbing tomorrow, a big day with my friend Brian Spear. We will try and tackle Super Brewers, weather permitting.
This Friday I had the day off and was looking for someone to go hiking. I really wanted to be in the mountains but I didn't feel like climbing - go figure. It seems that now I have an easier time finding climbing partners than hikers. And when you tell a climber that you rather hike you may get a quizzical look that says..... why?
Nevertheless I try to listen to my body's requests so hiking it is. I couldn't find anyone to hike with me so I decided to go out by myself. I've never hiked alone for a variety of reasons, my fear of bears being the biggest one. Then there's fear of getting hurt alone and lower down the list is the fear of getting lost. Anyhow, suffice to say there were a couple fears rattling around in the brain. So I gave it some thought, as to which fears were serious, which were groundless and what were the odds of any of those fears being realized? I decided to do a hike I've done a couple times. This would mitigate the lost part which, honestly, isn't that serious of a fear as most trails are obvious. The hike I chose is a popular area so that dealt with the fear of getting hurt and bears. Meaning if I got hurt eventually someone would come across me.
Once I got started on the trail and I have to admit I think my fears were bigger in my head than the reality. And sure enough the body started humming inside with happiness that I was in the mountains and I was moving. Since I was alone I was able to hike at the pace I wanted to which was quite fast. I was breaking in my new moutaineering boots getting them ready for my trip to the Bubaboos.
Once I got to the end of my hike I headed on another trail up a valley, steadily ascending upward. Halfway up the valley I took a break to eat some snacks. I had been going pretty hard and it was good to stop. Once I had started up the valley I didn't encounter anymore people since the hikers usually stop at Lake Galatea. As I sat down, I had a chance to really look around. It felt so amazing to be in the mountains by myself. No distractions with making conversation allowed me to fully be present and feel apart of the landscape. I reflected on my time in the mountains and how my relationship has changed. I realized that I now feel a comfort in the mountains. I feel awake, alert and aware. The bear issue is something I will always be watchful for and a healthy fear is a good thing (in my opinion). My one guide Dave Marra talked about aquiring mountains legs and eyes. I realized that I finally experience what he was talking about.
I'm back to climbing tomorrow, a big day with my friend Brian Spear. We will try and tackle Super Brewers, weather permitting.
posted by Lise B at Saturday, July 07, 2007
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