Coming up against limitations
And trying to be okay with that
Hi all:
As we move into spring hiking season, which is not my favorite (mud, black flies), I’m wondering what your go-to hikes are. I’m constantly brainstorming and researching mountains that are no more than a 90-minute drive from Portland.
My in-my-back-pocket hikes are Burnt Meadow and Pleasant Mountain (Mount Cutler fits the bill too, but I don’t love it). What’s on your list?
I’m looking for ideas because I’m training for a significant hiking adventure in mid-June. Along with a handful of amazing and kick-ass women, I’ll be hiking around Mont Blanc in France and hiking through not only France, but also Italy, and Switzerland. According to the itinerary, we’ll hike between 9-12 miles per day for 10 days and for me, that’s a heck of a lot of mileage. My average hike is typically 5-8 miles and rarely, if ever, do I hike on consecutive days. I’m nervous about this undertaking. It’s not that I don’t think I’m strong, because I am, but I have physical issues making long mileage painful. It’s discouraging to be 52 and struggle with pain that’s not within my control. Because of this anticipated pain, I’m dealing with a big load of anticipatory anxiety. I’m committed to this trip, but I am thinking it may be my last multi-day hiking adventure.
Wrapped up in this decision is how I see myself and how I want to be seen. I like my adventurous life and being seen as a hiker, but I’m rolling around the idea that it’s time to shift into a new, less anxiety-producing and less pain-inducing adventure path. Letting go of constructs (and that’s just what it is: a construct) takes effort and a bit of hope — hope that I’ll find something that excites me, challenges me, and rewards me in the same ways that hiking has. Sitting here, writing this all down, I’m actually feeling the stirrings of excitement. What if I really challenged myself on a cycling adventure or an SUP or kayaking adventure? What if my adventuring world stretched and opened in unexpected ways? That would be awesome.
Alfredo and I on a recent hike up Pleasant Mountain
Look what we saw — a Pileated woodpecker!
Happy adventuring,
Gillian
Dear Gillian,
I love your posts! As a soon to be 75 year old it is inspiring to read your posts and apply them to my more advanced phase of life. I ran my first and only marathon at 55 and it was a fantastic experience BUT it was also the beginning of having to come to terms with physical realities. I’m still challenging myself physically but at very different levels. The truth of physical expansion of power no longer being realistic has opened doors to other ways I can keep growing, many of which have been as or more satisfying than my physical feats. So…keep on being you girl! You’re gonna do fine as you grow into your best self! XO, Ally Keppel