Lessons from 14 years of Hiking

Wiser people have told me: never stop learning. They would be happy to know that I’m still at it.

Today, I have 14 things I’ve learned over the past 14 years of hiking and backpacking.

I've been hiking and spending time outdoors since my earliest memories. But my career and raising a family didn’t leave me much time for all this until about 14 years ago. So, let’s just look at that most recent time span.

In no particular order:

1. There’s no rush – usually. Life is too short to rush through everything. It’s always been tempting to me to get in as much as I can as fast as I can. But in recent years, I’ve been learning to enjoy the moments more often and more deeply. Yes, there are times when schedules have us rushing more than we should, but whenever I can, I’ve been intentionally pressing the pause button to be in the moment lately.
2. Hydration more. We have specialized receptor cells in our brain that detect when we should hydrate – they create the sensation of thirst. As we get older, those cells become less sensitive. Aging kidneys are less effective too, which means older adults can lose fluid faster through normal urination. These two factors can significantly increase dehydration risk. Drink more water than you think you need, especially when you're exerting yourself. I learned this on the Colorado Trail, unaware at most times that I was dehydrated. 
3. Nutrition becomes more critical as we age because our bodies can have a harder time maintaining heart health, kidney function, and bone regeneration. We may also have age-related issues with brain and memory function, muscle tone, immunity, and gastrointestinal function. It’s super important that as we age, we should not cut corners with nutrition – which is so easy to do while on the trail. I feel it every time I slack on eating healthy while on the trail – my recovery is more difficult, my focus can be off, and stamina can suffer. All these things are safety issues. Eat healthy on trail!  https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-age-better-by-eating-more-healthfully
4. Feet. I stay relatively fit year-round. But not the kind of fitness regimen that prepares my feet for a couple of weeks of 10 or more hours of hiking each day. Typical workout sessions are less than an hour. That’s not enough to toughen up our feet. I’ve learned to do exercises that help condition the muscles and fascia in my feet. I also don’t skimp on my shoes. They are expensive, but it’s worth it. Without healthy feet, hiking is miserable. Blister prevention is important too. I wear two sock layers, which I talk about in other videos. And I spend a good amount on my socks too – for the same reasons.
5. Pack weight. Especially over the past 10-12 years, everyone is talking about ultralight backpacking. That is, hiking with extremely light weight gear. Normally, the lighter the gear is, the more expensive it is. That’s one issue. The other issue is comfort. Lighter gear often means less comfort. So, what I’ve learned is that I’m OK with spending a little less and being more comfortable is far better than a ballooned ego from being “ultralight”. You may be lessening the impact on your joints by carrying less, and you may be able to go more miles. But if you can’t sleep because your sleeping system is uncomfortable, your less-stressed joints will be too exhausted to go farther and faster. I’ve learned to be OK with my carry being slightly heavier if my enjoyment and satisfaction level is higher.
6. Sharing the experience with others helps complete the circle. The solitude in nature is therapeutic. That vista view that steals your breath only lasts a moment. That release of tension and feeling the stress fall off your shoulders isn’t usually permanent. But if you can share these things with others, they live on. It forms a bond between those who shared it. It is best done in person – having a hiking partner. And if not, you can share it in photos, in stories, and through the change you show and share with others in many ways. Don’t hoard what you’ve been given while in nature. Find a way to share it. I know that when I share my experiences with others, the experience becomes stronger in me.
7. We can do more than we think. I learned early in my hiking years that my mind defeats me faster than my body does. I’ve often surprised myself by what I can do when I find it within me to take one more step. On one of my early tough climbs, a guy passed me and said, just don’t stop, and you won’t. Slow down if you have to, but find the speed that allows you to keep moving. Eventually you’ll get faster and go farther. But no matter where you start or where you are – you can usually do more than you think you can.
8. Give yourself 25% cushion room in your schedule. Something will always come up that challenges your schedule. It’s better to leave room for those things to keep you from becoming frustrated, disappointed, rushed, or even putting yourself in unsafe situations. And if nothing disrupts your plans for the day, you’ll have more time to enjoy the journey.
9. Keep in Touch. At the end of every day when I’m out backpacking, or sometimes at different times during the day, I’ll send a quick message to my wife to let her know where I am and that all is good. I use my Garmin satellite Messenger. It’s important to her to hear from me. And it’s important to me that she knows I’m OK. Sure, these things aren’t cheap. But what is peace of mind worth?
10. Have an emergency plan. My trip planning always includes contingencies. Who to contact, how, and when in case of an emergency, and I leave that behind with my wife. It’s this simple thing that makes all the difference if/when you need to get help. My wife and I have a standing agreement. If she doesn’t hear from me in 3 days, she is to call the local sheriff. The reason it’s three days is that sometimes I’m in canyons where satellite signals are weak, and it might take a couple of days for a message to get through. We had one freak situation where Garmin had lost connection with our cell carrier for – you guessed it – three days – and it happened to be the three days I was out on a backpacking trip. She was minutes away from calling the authorities when my message finally got through. But we had a plan, and we stuck to it.
11. Be a student. I learned early to stay curious, because curiosity keeps me learning. The route I plan on taking, the surrounding area (towns, landmarks), and available water sources are all things I’m curious about before leaving on a backpacking trip. I’ve learned much about wildlife behavior – what is the typical behavior of a bear or a moose at different times and situations, and what should my behavior be when I’m around that wildlife? This helps ease my mind and prepares me for unexpected encounters. I’ve encountered bears, moose, elk, deer, coyotes, foxes, skunks, marmots, and all kinds of curious rodents. The only one I was concerned about was a bull moose during rutting season. I knew what to do for the rest, and it kept me and the animals safe.
12. Test/inspect gear before every trip. The first few times a piece of gear failed on the trail taught me to inspect and test it before leaving on any trip where it might be critical. Imagine being in a bad rainstorm with a leaky tent or ripped rain gear. Or having a trekking pole break when you need it to set up your tent. Or trying to filter your water with a clogged water filter. It only takes a few minutes to test critical items or, if feasible, make sure you have backups.
13. Keep a journal. I journaled every day I was on the Colorado Trail. My journal became the basis for my book about the trail. I kept that going on most trips I do. And now I can relive every trip I’ve ever taken. It’s rich, and it’s something I can leave behind.
14. Never take any of this for granted. I live in CO, and it’s so easy to get used to the beauty. When I first moved here, I told myself I never want to take this for granted. I’ve tried to use that same approach in every place I’ve ever been. Who knows, it may be the last time you are ever where you are right now. Do the same with the people you are sharing these places with.

There are many more things I could mention. But I just started making a list and stopped at 14 – these are the first things that came to mind.

I hope this helped. What’s on your list? Drop a comment below. And remember to keep living like you want it!