I have hiked thousands of miles, in all manner of
conditions and terrain. I use first quality kit: shoes, backpack, carbon fiber trekking
poles, etc. I stay well hydrated on the trail and am well aware of my limits,
given the conditions. So clearly, it should be obvious to all that I am a “seasoned
hiker.”
Sometime ago, it was hotter than normal, in fact a
record setting day. Now, I have hiked in the heat often and adjust accordingly,
because I am a “seasoned hiker.” I had planned to do a short hike, 6 miles or
so, that day and was determined to follow through. As I set out from my home the
thermometer read 95. Hot, but I had hiked in hotter and being a “seasoned hiker”
I knew what to do. When I arrived at the trailhead the thermometer read 109.
Hmm, the little voice in the back of my mind chimed in with “this isn’t a good
idea.” I considered this for a moment but quickly dismissed it, since being a “seasoned
hiker” I looked at as a good training exercise in adverse conditions and I
could always cut it short if needed.
So, off I went. It was hot, really hot, but I pressed
on. I walked for a bit and then started up a short incline leading to the
ridgeline. Cresting the ridge, it was clear that 6 miles was out, so I opted to
half it. That voice kicked in again and said, “turn around now.” I thought
about it and instead decided to drop down another trail to the forest below for
some shade to walk back to my vehicle. Same distance and being a “seasoned
hiker” I knew I could handle it.
20 minutes later I was in real trouble. See, the trail
I went down was a narrow V and I had forgotten how heat builds up on trails
like this. I found myself walking through sections where it was 130+ and I was
becoming nauseous and light headed, and if I hadn’t had my trekking poles to
stabilize me I would have fallen. For the first time since I started hiking I
considered calling for help. I found some shade and rested for 30 minutes,
drinking a quart of electrolyte infused water and recovered enough strength to
reach the trees and get back to my vehicle. I was wiped, and it took a full day
to recover from a little 3 mile hike.
We all have that small voice and the times in my life
when it got “interesting”, and not in a good way, were the times I thought I
knew better and didn’t listen. So, if the voice says head back to car, turn
left instead of right, stay away from someone or something, etc. listen. For when
we do, frequently nothing happens, and that is often the point and a good thing,
whether we are “seasoned” or not.
© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit
All Rights Reserved
Miracles Of Recovery, The Secret,
Wayne Dyer, Recovery, Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Four Agreements,
Chopra, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path, Law Of Attraction, God, Buddha,
Jesus
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