7 Powerful Lessons Mountain Climbing Has Taught Me
Backpacking can change your life.
Had you told me three years ago I would be into hiking, I would have laughed it off.
Today I can’t imagine summer without venturing into the mountains.
Why is hitting the trail so alluring?
Humans are curious about life, and hiking satisfies our hunger for adventure. When on a trail, we can stumble upon many precious lessons.
Here are mine:
Keep Going.
I have seen too many people give up on their hopes and dreams.
Sure, in life, challenges happen. The path gets steeper. You face rejection.
It’s the same with climbing. When you approach an obstacle like a fallen rock, or your energy levels drop low, do you give up?
Or do you take another step? Suddenly, you realize you are moving on. No matter how slow you think you are going, you are getting somewhere.
Persistence in life creates powerful results.
Take one step at a time focused on your goal = the end destination. Regardless of how difficult the trail appears, it leads somewhere spectacular.
It is good to get tired once in a while.
Plain terrains get boring and predictable. Challenges build your character and shape your personality to deal with whatever arises. Obstacles make life an adventure.
No matter how rocky the path gets, refuse to decamp.
Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.
— Barry Finlay
Never Lose Your Spirit.
Climbing can be daunting. Life can get dull, even unbearable.
But your attitude about the situation dictates the outcome.
Event + Your reaction = The Outcome
When you go on a hike, an uplifting attitude makes all the difference when circumstances around you don’t work out in your favour.
There are many ways to spark your mood when on a trail.
Instead of focusing on what is going wrong, count your blessings. Give thanks for every step you take. Take photos of “the little things”, like birds playing on the trees, the sun coming through the branches or the mud on your shoes.
Be playful about your journey.
In the same manner, be playful about life. Don’t take it too seriously.
In the face of a challenge, experiment, and try new things. You can ease any tension with your fun-loving energy.
You are the Creator. Creativity is flexible and spontaneous.
It Makes You Resourceful.
When you go on a hike alone, you are your only saviour.
When you get lost or are in two minds about which path to take, you learn to tap into your intuition when you cannot Google your way out of the forest.
Hiking enhances your sense of direction and faith in yourself. Nature has that effect on people.
Tuning in to the wilderness, instead of relying on technology, be it for direction or dopamine boost, helps you tap into your inner guidance.
When you learn to trust your judgement your self-worth and confidence escalate.
How can you make the best of your journey to the top when you question your judgement or don’t believe in yourself?
Getting lost in the wilderness helps you find yourself.
The Sweat Is Always Worth It.
You don’t get to see the sunrise when you sleep late.
You don’t get to enjoy the breathtaking view from the top of the mountain unless you climb there. But going up involves making wrong turns, running out of breath, or getting bitten by a bug.
In the same way, you won’t cherish where you are today without appreciating the path you have travelled so far.
Looking back at your mistakes and where you were one year ago, you get a sense of accomplishment from where you are today. Too many times, we forget to celebrate the effort we put in to enjoy what we have right now.
Yes, you have experienced anger and frustration along the way. But in the end, the journey is always worth the struggle to the top.
Of course, the end view may be spectacular, but the tiny steps that lead you there make for an unforgettable journey.
Life Isn’t A Race.
I used to believe hard work led to self-esteem made of steel, success, and happiness. Hustle culture has become ingrained in my subconscious mind in every goal I have strived for.
Hiking offers an invitation to slow down, observe the world around you and listen to your body.
Ninety-nine per cent of hiking you spend climbing to the top. Only one per cent you spend at one place — the destination.
Once you are there, the views are spectacular. But it is only one per cent of the journey.
Why should you wait for this one per cent to finally feel accomplished when you also have the opportunity to cherish the journey to the top?
This perspective helped me to shift my mindset to become more process-oriented rather than focusing on the goal alone.
A seasoned climber knows when to rest, take care of his body and admire the view. Giving up is not an option. Slowing down helps you reach new heights.
Hiking has shown me that it is not the mountain top I strive for. The journey of becoming is madly thrilling.
Give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the journey.
It Makes You Humble.
When I reached the top of my first hike, my hands were swollen, my legs were hurting, my body was aching, and I had dirt under my fingernails. And it felt amazing.
I was buzzing with wonderment.
Mountains put distance between you and your ego.
When overlooking the lake and the tops of the trees, my human concerns seemed microscopic. It hit me how vast and powerful the world is and how insignificant I am, compared to the life happening around me.
After all, I have climbed what I first deemed impossible. Now, going down the hill seems like a laughing matter.
It is a spectacular feeling when you know you can do anything because of the road you have travelled while at the same time remaining humble.
Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.
— David McCullough Jr.
Unknown Is Where the Magic Happens.
When you take up new trails, uncertainty comes with a package.
You don’t know what you will meet along the way or how long the journey will take, but you persevere.
A less trodden path excites you. Before you know it, you are onto it. Your mind comes up with blood-curdling scenarios. But giving in to the voice of fear won’t make for spectacular adventures. Taking risks does.
What does make life an unforgettable experience? Stepping off the beaten path.
When you take the road less travelled, you come across a shepherd preaching to you about the wisdom of life or a breathtaking view unknown to the tourist.
You will experience life-changing moments when you are flexible and open to risks. The unknown is where the magic happens.
Remote trails taught me that to make a spectacular change, I need to embrace not knowing where I am going.
Every seemingly daunting endeavour — going on a hike used to be one for me — carries life lessons.
You don’t have to seek adventures and difficult roads to travel. They always end up finding you eventually.
But once they do, embrace the lessons they offer.
You are in for a hell of a ride.
Thank you for being here, — Kate
