While hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail earlier this summer, my tagline, “The Hike is the Destination,” kept coming back to me as I took in the wildflowers, the trees, granite rocks and the mountains around me, the lake and creeks along with the very essence of the forest. In the back of my mind, taking it all in and not getting to the “destination point” has always been what hiking has been about for me.
What really made me think about my tagline were the mountain bikers. I want to be clear – I don’t have anything against them. I get why they’re out there riding a challenging trail or just riding and doing something they love. I get that. But what made me think about them, and trail runners too, is that they seem to be out there to run or ride their course. Do they take it all in too, or are they moving toward their “destination point” or goal?
As a hiker, I take my time. I’m not in a race to get to where ever (unless daylight is running out). If I see something that really has my interest, be it a plant, a view, an animal, a fragrance, a sound or something else, I stop and take it in. I don’t want to miss a thing.
When I take on a trail, there is something on it I do want to see – there is a goal – be it a lake, a mountain top, a waterfall or something else. But sometimes the goal doesn’t turn out to be what it’s cracked up to be – maybe a waterfall isn’t flowing at its best. Maybe the view from the mountaintop is obscured by clouds or smoke blowing in from a wildfire somewhere. Maybe there’s a sudden rain storm high up where it wasn’t predicted. Some people see these things as a disappointment because they drove and then hiked all that way to see the sight, and I get that. I get a little bummed about these things too, but while I was on the trail, I also took in what was along the way to get to the goal, and what I will see getting back to the parking lot.
I remember being up around Carson Pass on a hike one summer day. Dark, angry clouds blew in from the south, and then lightening started. Myself and others were caught in a long-exposed area along the trail, and while the tree line was visible, it would take some time to get there and under cover. Exciting? Yes. Scary? You bet. Cut hikes short as the self-preservationists out there scrambled for cover? You better believe it! But in all its looming danger, those clouds, the thunder and lightening was something fantastic to behold. It was not a disappointing hike by any means, and this is what makes the hike the destination.
I was on a recent outing with a good friend at Lake Tahoe. What I heard her say was, “I should have brought…” That’s not the way to look at it. Take in what is there and where you are. Don’t dwell on the should have’s and could have’s. That can spoil an outing. Just enjoy what is around you and be in the moment. The should and could have’s are things that can be done at a future time.
Have no regrets. Make the most of what is before you with what you have.