Excerpts from a HEROs Story |
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This past summer I had the pleasure of hiking in beautiful British Columbia with two wonderful friends. At best, I am a novice hiker, and not in my top physical condition but I didn't give the idea a second thought when Jason approached me and asked if I would like to join he and Ryan on the trek. As he described the adventure to me, specifically the part that involved thirty-five kilometers, I felt the first pang of anxiety shoot through my solar plexus. These guys are half my weight, they have black belts in karate, and they probably hike in their sleep, were some of the thoughts entering my head. With a little concern and moderate trepidation I committed to flying half way across Canada and spending three days in the backcountry with gear and food in our packs and boots on our feet, or so I thought... Jason, Ryan and I pulled into the overnight campers parking lot in Yo Ho National Park around noon on the day of our departure... Leaving the car and the drone of the highway traffic behind, we entered the lower tree line and thus began an extraordinary journey. Day one of the hike was short, a couple of hours until we could set up camp. The pace was slow and the land relatively flat, this was going to be okay I thought to myself. About an hour later we reached our first hill. Today I can tell you that it was short and easy but at the time, it felt huge. Walking on flat ground with a forty pound pack is one thing, trying to muscle the same pack up a forty-five degree incline is quite another. Half way up our first hill, I had to stop and take a break, I was embarrassed and frustrated with myself. Jason and Ryan were gracious, allowed me to rest and catch my breath. As I stood braced against a tree and breathing through what felt like blood burning in my lungs, I looked up to see Jason and Ryan looking down at me. You okay Kodiak (a name he had blessed me with on a trip to Whistler one year)? Don't worry buddy, just give it to the mountain... Day one ended with a wonderful sense of accomplishment, a ferocious appetite, and two of the worst blisters known to human kind on the back of both heels. Come to think of it, I can't really say they were blisters, they were open wounds, about the size of a quarter. The skin that belonged on my heels had come off with my socks. We set camp on a river the first night, ate some dinner, drank some tea and star gazed before falling asleep. The last sound I remember hearing before sinking into dreamland was the roar of the river, an offering from a glacier atop the mountain... After breakfast the next morning I dressed my wounds with Ryan's first aid supplies, most notably duct tape. I used gauze, moleskin, surgical tape, duct tape and so on. I put my boots on and walked a couple steps. My feet hurt but it was tolerable, and my spirit was high, I was ready to tackle the whaleback. The only thing Ryan could say about the whaleback is that it was long and hard, and that most people avoided it... We didn't see a lot of people during that leg of the hike and those we did see were carrying a day pack. I can say that hiking the whaleback was one of the most difficult and physically demanding things I have ever done. There were moments on the whaleback when I wanted to scream, cry, and give up. Hopelessness began to creep in and a little bit of regret. What in the name of all creation was I doing on the side of a mountain, I didn't belong. On one of my many breaks while hiking the whaleback I overheard Jason and Ryan talking about three ways that a person can look at any type of situation. Every situation can be approached with enthusiasm, enjoyment, or acceptance. This pearl of wisdom saved me from myself... Be moved by the this HERO's message in "Give It To The Mountain" |
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