I grab my day-hiking bag and begin to unzip it. A few weeks ago, I had to stuff micro spikes and an extra layer for the cold. Piles of snow had fallen over the once green landscape, turning the forest into a winter wonderland. Today, I’m adding a light sweater to the mix, along with an extra water bottle, and wearing leggings and a t-shirt. The sun is shining with bright blue skies, light-brown dirt under patches of deep green grasses, and no trace of any snow in sight. I come to the same trailhead each month, and I’m always interchanging what I’ll need for that particular day in my bag. It’s the same trail every time, but the challenges and obstacles that I must face in that moment change.
This particular trail I hike is at a high elevation. I have to make sure I bring the extra things that I may need as I make my way to the top. Anything can change in a matter of minutes, from one extreme to the next. Planning becomes even more important when you’re nearing alpine territory. The trails usually narrow more towards the top of the mountain, and everything becomes harder to distinguish, but the general direction of heading up to the summit guides you.
You may think you know a trail after years of frequenting its paths. However, nature has a surprise in store to keep things interesting. The weather is an obvious one to plan and prepare for, but rockfalls, landslides, downed trees, meandering creeks and rivers that change course, and even the wind can change the trail you were so sure about, making it look unrecognizable in various sections. You have the general direction in mind and know the major spots on the map where to turn and continue on the right path, but the details are never clear until you encounter them.
I find myself following a path lately that is heading in a somewhat general direction, although the details along the way are not clear until I come across them. Life is a lot like this in a way. You can plan your entire life, but other people, different factors, and more variables can change the tiny details, so you never quite know how everything will turn out. You have the general direction guiding you in mind, but not everything is within your control. It’s best to have as many tools and knowledge that you can use as situations arise, but life is always about change. It’s what you do when you face those changes that makes a difference.
Check out one of the many trails I hike that constantly change throughout the year in my latest video.