I hope New Hampshirites will forgive the modification of their state's motto, but this morning it occured to me that complete freedom is not all it's cracked up to be. This thought struck me at about mile 8 of a 10 mile hike I took this morning.
Now I've said this before, often using the analogy of trying to select an outfit for the day while standing in a closet full of hundreds of clothing options. The multiplicity of choice is, in such a case, more often crippling than freeing. This morning, however, I saw such a truth in a new light. If you'll recall my autumnal journey to New Hampshire it becomes apparent that living your life based on whims and romantic notions can have real pain associated with it. Having walked 15 miles a day for an entire weekend, bearing a (only) 25 lbs. pack took an extreme, and unexpected, physical toll on my body.
So armed with this painful memory I set about preparing for my upcoming trip with a bit more discipline. On Tuesday I leave for the Durango, CO vicinity. Wednesday will begin a 6-day, 5-night hiking loop through the Weminuche Wilderness, in which we will cross the Continental Divide and the Columbine Pass, in addition to setting up a base camp near three 14,000 ft. peaks, which we will attempt to summit. I am very excited for the trip, but having learned from my previous experience I know that exhuberence does not equal enjoyment. In an effort to fully enjoy the sights and experiences of Colorado, I prepared a series of preliminary hikes.
The first order of business was to understand and control the weight I would be dealing with--not my own, but that of the pack I would be carrying. My companions recommended I aim for about 60 lbs. Ultralight backpacking websites claimed it is possible to have a pack of a mere 20 lbs. While I knew I couldn't get that low (the gear required is very specific and very costly), I liked their thinking WAY better (since it wouldn't mean torturously lugging immense weight around for a week). I budgeted out my food, striving for the optimum calories/oz ratio (130 cal/oz is pretty good). I weighed everything and tried to cut out what I won't need (I was shocked to learn that the sleeping back I borrowed is 6 lbs! I'll gladly take another, 2-lbs. bag someone offered me). Even still, I found my pack will be around 40 lbs (with my food equalling as much as a Bible dictionary, Erickson's "Systematic Theology" and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance--nearly 13 lbs.). So I thought I had better prepare.
To condition my body I planned on a series of hikes. My first was barely three miles, and it was managed fairly easy. Several days later I tried a six mile hike, and there were signs of wear (feet hurting) and tear (back rubbed raw from the pack) and the trip, all told, took me 2.5 hrs. So I rested up for a bit, then tried 9 miles today. After a wrong turn in the dark the distance became 9.5 miles, but I was very pleased to find it was not all that difficult, and it took only 3 hours to finish.
So discipline is a good thing (as we all already knew). And as a result I am certain to live in a greater freedom, enjoy the real thing next week.
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3 comments:
It's so nice to see a spurt of blogs, although I don't expect any during your hike, right? Anyway, I wish you well on your hike. It's a good thing you're so young and fit! Enjoy (if that is an appropriate expression)!
DA
With whom are you hiking? It sounds like it's going to be an awesome trip -- but I can't imagine that the "we" would be you, Heather, Aydan, and Brennan, considering the rigorous hiking plans...
I, too, am enjoying the renewed blogging that comes with your summer break.
BTW - Please give Heather our congratulations for her teaching position!
Well done, Jaybird! Since I'm reading this after the fact, was your preparation sufficient? I know you made it, but are you still able to move?
mom
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