The hiking trip I planned for 3 years that fell apart in one phone call

I had this big hike planned up Mount Whitney for last summer. Booked the permits 8 months out, trained for months carrying a 40-pound pack up stairs in my apartment building. Then my buddy bailed 3 days before because his kid got sick, and I just didn't have the heart to go alone. Ended up spending that weekend at my parents' place in Fresno instead, helping my dad fix his old lawnmower. Just sat there drinking coffee on their porch wondering if I'll ever actually make that climb.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elizabeth22d ago

I read an article in National Geographic a few months back about how only about 30 percent of big outdoor trips actually happen as planned. Life has a way of getting in the way, and that's just how it goes sometimes. That said, maybe you could try hiking a shorter trail with a local group next time, just to get your feet wet again.

ninas6722d ago

Started doing exactly that with a 2 mile loop trail near my house and it was a game changer. Joined a local hiking group on Facebook too, and having people to show up with made me actually follow through. Now I'm finally planning that big mountain trip for next spring, feeling way more ready for it lol.

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susan64922d ago

A good friend of mine did something similar a couple years back. She started with a little half mile trail by her house, just walking it every morning before work. Within a few months she had worked up to five mile hikes on the weekends and even joined a local meetup group. She ended up planning a week long trip out to Yellowstone and actually went through with it. Said it was the best decision she ever made for her health and her outlook on things. It really is amazing how starting small can lead to big things like that.