Week 4: Flow Hike, Hike in the Dark, Hiker’s Hunger

My hiking status on the trail

This week I will start to discover my hiking style even more. It fascinates me that there is something to learn about myself in terms of hiking. No matter how subtle or obvious it is, it really defines my personality and identity along the way.

Walk in flow state

There are times in my studies and in my desk job when I feel so absorbed in what I do. It is where productivity is highest. I lose track of time. It may seem like everything is slowing down, but time has passed more than you expected. I also thought I could do this while walking.

It’s where my concentration is high, my movement is very precise and my thinking mind just stops working. My vision focuses on what is alone in front of me. I may be catching my breath after a climb, but I feel loose and relaxed. My backpack becomes light as a feather. The experience feels like it’s along the way. My sense of identity congregated with the trail.

I hope there is a toggle button to enter flow state. It’s not something I can control. It just comes as it comes. However, the recurring pattern I observed before entering the flow state is evident. It usually happens when I pick up my walking pace and don’t get interrupted for a decent period of time. I think picking up the pace helps me overcome the inertia of the thinking mind. I complement that with uninterrupted movements that help me focus. I think this combination is my gateway to fluid hiking.

New shoes to improve my walking and keep my feet happy

Night walk

Ideally, you would prefer to hike during the day and then rest and sleep at night. This is how humans evolved biologically and how our circadian rhythm works. Unfortunately, night walks may be unavoidable in some circumstances.

I really like waking up in the morning to sunlight instead of the alarm clock.

I once went on a night hike because I wanted to soak in Deep Creek Hot Springs before the sun came up. I camped 10 miles before the hot springs. That day I got up very early and started walking. What surprises me is that night hiking is not as scary or bad as it seems. In fact, I was able to start to see its advantages and how it fits my hiking style.

I arrived at the hot springs early in the morning.

What I like about night hikes is that my vision is limited to what my headlamp can reach. That meant I could only see a few meters in front of me. No views, no horizon, no views of the upcoming switchbacks on the other side of the mountain. It forces me to focus on what is immediately in front of me. Putting one foot in front of the other can be achieved literally by taking an evening walk.

Walk at dawn.

hiker’s hunger

After walking for a couple of weeks on the trail, my hiker hunger is starting to kick in. I can’t blame myself because I consume fewer calories than I spend. Plus, I know conceptually that I need to eat more because I’m starting to lose body fat. I can’t afford to lose more because I’m just a skinny 130 pound guy (probably less now).

It keeps me active when I know there is a magical path ahead.

The funny thing is that my appetite stops when I am in a place where food is available. Whenever I’m in town or if there are magical trails, I fill up easily. As soon as I walk away, I’m really hungry. In a sense, I only get hungry when I’m in remote areas of the trail.

Of course, I didn’t miss the only McDonald’s along the way.

I often force myself to eat a lot in each city. Ideally, I want to catch up on my calorie intake. It’s just that in normal life I eat little and that doesn’t change even when hiker hunger hits. I really want to eat more but I have limited intestinal capacity.

Eating a 3 pound burrito hard.

And you can’t change this bird

I always hear the phrase “do your own hike” all the time. As my trail and hiking style comes to light, I suppose I should adopt it. You may have a different hiking style than other hikers, and that’s okay. Maybe it’s time to fly like a free bird!

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