Last weekend, the Osos and I set out on our annual Fall Hiking Adventure, this year about a month later than usual. As always, we had a plan: head to Lonesome Lake, take a quick break at the hut to use the facilities and assess our gear, and then summit North Kinsman via Fishin’ Jimmy.
We found ourselves immersed in a full-on winter wonderland! It was cold and mostly cloudy, but we were all mostly excited to be out there again! By the time we arrived at the lake, the hut was within view, and we were all warm temperature-wise and muscle-wise. Given that’s one of the toughest parts of hiking in the cold, we decided it was best not to lose our heat and momentum and kept trekking. The only issue was, we were supposed to get on the trail that led to the hut; instead, we wandered halfway around the lake, balancing across several narrow and snow-packed bridges over icy water. By the time I realized we were off course, we had seen (and heard) several close calls with the wetlands.
Normally, this is where stubbornness kicks in. You backtrack because you’re supposed to “stick to the plan.” And, if you’re the leader of the group, your ego whispers: “Really? Another missed turn?”
However, standing there, looking back at the section we’d just struggled through, with its treacherous footing, soaked brush, and a whole lot of “that could’ve been bad” moments, I felt something different: nope. Not today, Osos.
Instead of forcing it, we pivoted. Cannon Mountain suddenly became a very popular option among the group. It was “right there,” a perfectly good summit within our mileage and elevation range. So, we changed course, navigated our way to the top, soaked in the scene (notice I didn’t say “view”), and lived to hike Kinsman another day, preferably with dry feet.
Although it was tough at first, it felt good and a little easier than expected to make that call. I think this whole aging thing is having a positive impact on my maturity!
I’m growing to accept that sometimes the right thing isn’t sticking to the plan; it’s tweaking it so you can keep doing the things you love. Outdoor adventures aren’t about checking boxes (no offense to my 48 4,000’er friends); they’re about the experiences, the mindset, and appreciating nature with people who are crazy enough to layer up and strap on their microspikes with you.
So remember, folks: it’s OK to pivot. In hiking and in life, the mountains aren’t going anywhere.
