Thousands of miles walked and I have never wanted to go backpacking

LIKE Most hikers, I dreamed with the trail of the Apalaches for years before he really did. Completing the path was a great challenge, I often tell the possible hikers that the biggest key to success is simply want The path more than anything. I want enough for the desire to walk even take you to the most difficult days.

But here is the truth: I almost renounce the road before starting.

In the last month more or less before the beginning of my account, I In fact I didn’t want to go. The AT was a bold dream, and suddenly I found myself yearning away from him and keeping myself safe and warm in my comfort zone. It was only the pressure of the companions of having practically told everyone that I knew about my ambitions through that it pushed me to appear on day 1.

Thank God what I did, the AT changed for life, but now seven years have passed and I am planning another bold walk. And once again, I In fact I don’t want to go.

Through a game it is as psychological as a physical game, and it seems that one of my greatest challenges are the nerves and the doubt that they torment me in the period prior to a great adventure. Fortunately, I have learned one or two things over the years on how to navigate the mining field of anxiety prior to the trip.

Maybe I’m not ready. Maybe now it is not the right time.

At the beginning of 2018, I was 23 years old and finally I got in my wake. I liked my city. He had friends, hobbies, a low stress work that paid the invoices. After a few difficult years, I was starting to feel happy, just when I was about to pack a store and move to a tent in the forest for an indeterminate time, for reasons that I could never explain to anyone who asked.

I had constantly trained for AT and thought about the path without stopping. But the closer came to reality, the more I doubted. Was he really about to throw a perfectly good life to sleep on earth for six months?

The time I had budgeted for the at surely could spend better on other projects, right? Maybe now it was not the right time. Maybe I should rescue, or at least wait another year.

I’m not sure if I even like to walk. Don’t do me!

Of course I did not rescue. I started my walk in time, and it was magical and alterator of life and without a doubt the best I have done.

Since then, I have completed more hiking adventures, including the Colorado path, the Pyrenees High route and the Wind River High route.

And I have to admit it: I didn’t want to go to any of those walks either. It is a pattern with me, apparently. I love Hokeing, but in the previous period immediately to a relatively short path, I don’t want to.

It would be much more comfortable to stay at home. I have many other projects in which I could be working. I’m not even sure if I like to walk! Don’t do me!

Pre-compromise magic

The previous commitment means taking measures before an established objective to maintain the future on the road and hinder them withdrawal (you).

Do you want to be in a better way? Register for a non -refundable career and tell all your followers that you will publish weekly updates about your training. Fighting to follow a budget? Configure an automatic monthly transfer in a separate savings account. Future will not have to fight to avoid spending those additional $ 150 each month, because currently already took that option from the table.

In each of my walks, I have been forced, through the previous commitment, to ignore my doubts and move on with my plans. Because I had already requested an extended permission from my work. Because he had told everyone who knew he would be doing this or that incredible walk and did not want to look like an idiot to go back. Because I had hiking members who had my participation.

The previous commitment is very important to me. Things like plane tickets, permits, requests for free time at work and the high expectations of my friends and family (who think I am a much more intense hiker than I really am) serve as railings to maintain my goals on the way when I inevitably begin to enter my own head.

It is time for another suffer from great altitude

This summer, I am planning a long section of the gloriously hard division path of Canada with a couple of friends. I have back in the Canadian rock mountains before, so I know that this trip will be absolutely epic.

I will have the privilege of spending a whole month of the increasingly scary reality of civilized life, in the company of two rude women who inspire me. I will challenge myself and make memories to last a lifetime.

But … I have to do it? Once again I am vibrating with my comfortable civilized life. Once again I discovered hobbies in which I would love to put more time and attention. Once again, I find myself wanting to establish myself and not rock the boat when everything suddenly goes so well.

And at least in the short term, none of these desires is compatible with flying Calgary for a high altitude suffer of 30 days. Maybe I should leave the walk until next year. Maybe now it is not the right time.

I don’t think I don’t see what you are doing.

But I know myself well enough. I am nervous. That’s all. I wear cold feet when I face a great challenge, but if I simply feel with that discomfort and keep the course, an adventure that alters life will be my reward on the other side.

I don’t think I don’t know what you are doing.

In each of my walks so far, I have felt that all the reluctance melted as soon as I stepped on the road. For every ounce of doubt that I felt before the walk, I was rewarded with ten times more serenity and euphoria during the walk itself.

I will probably feel this reluctance to start until the moment when the GDT steps, at which time the nerves will dissolve and will be replaced by the emotion of the adventure that is coming.

As much as I love my current life, I know that once I am outside, I will not want to go home by doing nails or dancing bachata or working in my fabric. My world will shrink only for me, my tramily and the challenges of the day in question. As I like.

Trusting the process

In any case, the fact that long -distance hiking takes me out of my comfort zone is a kind of point. Each of my walks so far has been a great turning point in my life, in good sense. So, if I feel a little nervous ahead of the GDT, it’s probably a good sign.

I don’t think there is any special cure for my cold metaphorical feet. Fortunately, I have invested too much to retire from my summer plans. We like it or not, the permits are insured and the flights are reserved. All I have to do now is simply living with anxiety prior to the trip for a few more weeks and appears anyway on day 1.

Works prior to commitment. Presenting too much does it. I learned that I can’t wait for nerves to disappear before acting, because they never do. If I waited until I felt 100% ready, I would never go anywhere. At some point, you just have to commit, trust that you will assume the challenge and take the first step.

See you on the way, sweet friends of hikers. SMOOCH.

Image highlighted by Chris rudder.