A friend and I took a day trip up to Big Sur and chose to hike the Vincente flats trail. It is 10 miles out and back. The turn around point is a lush redwood forest. The hike was full of beautiful conversation and appreciation for the escape into the Big Sur mountains. The redwood forest energized us for the hike back to the car. As we hiked along, I had time to see the trail differently. Just moments before, I had hiked on this path, but finding myself in the same spot brought new viewpoints, literally and psychologically. There was a time when I primarily sought after hiking loop trails. I was enticed by the idea of covering new ground through out the whole hike. I continue to love loop trails but my attitude changed after a little reflection. I was reminded how retracing your steps on the trail can offer many special perks. Those perks coincided with the personal growth that can be gained when you spend a time reflecting on your past actions and thoughts. The PerksReturn with a feeling of accomplishment
Experience the same place with a new perspective
You have the opportunity to ingrain the special moments into your long term memory
Identifying these little perks elevate my experience on and off the trail. Memories are powerful tools. Memories can help shape how we identify yourself and others. Revisiting a memory when you are in a positive state can offer great reward.
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That feeling you get when you see the sun peaking through the distant peaks. The shivers that tickle your hairs as you feel the alpine summit breeze. The joy that bubbles in your stomach as you hug your hiking partners. The smile that spreads wide across your face with a unique twinkle in your eye that can only be experienced on a mountain peak. And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places... Those who don't believe in magic will never find it Six hours prior, I was standing atop Mt. Whitney, the highest elevation in North America. Now I stand in my private hostel room, showered, new dress, sprawled on my bed, catching up with friends on social media. My eyes scan the nonsense until it spots a post of interest. My friend Johan was spending his summer as program director for Camp Jack Hazard. There is a very special place in my heart for Camp Jack Hazard. My love for backpacking began at camp, my love for teaching began at camp, my appreciation for community began at camp. When I came across Johan's post, a smile spread wide across my face. In less then a week, he would be needing a camp counselor. It had only been six hours off the mountain, but the Sierras were calling me back already. I reached out to him and expressed interest in the work. He was thrilled to have me. I was ecstatic to return as a camp counselor. The last job I had held at CJH was the Head Food Specialist. I missed working with the campers on a more intimate level. I was assigned 10 ten-year-old girls. I wrote in my journal one night, "children have the unique gift of fulfilling an empty space in one's heart while simultaneously driving you crazy." I still remember my camp counselors growing up. It is very special to now have the ability to return the gift of nurturance, fun, and safety. One special aspect of the structure of Camp Jack Hazard is their inclusion of a 3-day backpacking trip for all campers. After spending a month hiking in the Sierras, I was most excited for sharing this adventure with my cabin and planting a little seed in their spirit. My idealization of the trip came crashing down after about 5 minutes on the trail. Complaints about the weight on their back, the heat, the distance were spreading like wild fire. I had to stop the girls in their tracks and give a motivational speech with the hope of inspiring them to find enjoyment in the experience. They were pumped up for about 5 minutes until another uphill came into sight. It was a challenge for the girls, but they did it! I was so proud of them and even better, they felt great for their accomplishing such a feat! We spent the next three days exploring the valley and the river. I recommend CJH to every family. Camps are a great way to explore independence, social connections, and self-expression. I am grateful to have returned this summer. It was a beautiful reminder of how much of an impact one week can make on a child's life. Ok...had to share! My daughter just now finished telling us about her experience at CJH. She was so excited and couldn't contain herself. This was her first experience, but definitely not her last. She feels so good about herself and all she learned! But most importantly, nearly every sentence ended with "everyone was so nice and, Mom, it was soooo beautiful!" -Mother of one of my 2015 campers Joy! Awe! Thrill it was!
Oh the places you will go and the people you will meet!I did not realize that one of the most remarkable memories of the JMT would be the trail family I would gain during my trip. Before my hiking partner and I began the JMT we hiked 80 miles southbound on the PCT. We had a lot of time to adjust to life on the trail in solitude because the number of hikers in Emigrant wilderness and Northern Yosemite is significantly less then the JMT.
I was so grateful to share this experience with my friend Natalie. We joked on the trail about being the best fed. When a food scientist and a nutritionist walk onto a trail.. you bet we eat well! Many people asked us about meal planning, preparation, and nutrition. Natalie and I fantasized about starting a business related to backcountry meal planning and nutrition consulting. We also played with the thoughts of an anthropological and nutrition dissertation with PCT and JMT hikers as the subjects. Yes, we are hiking nerds. We always made sure to find time in the days to nap by a river or under a tree. We sang together and struggled together! We worried about wildlife and worked together to fend of pesky mosquitos. I am forever appreciative of my hiking partner and happy she was the first person to be included in my trail family:) Along the trail we met many others that bonded together over lost trails, "Bobby J," afternoon thunderstorms, singing, VVR pies and milkshakes, acro yoga, poop stories, food sharing, gear chatting, book discussions, celebrity look alikes, trail names, alpine lake swims, pass parties, and emotional Mt Whitney moments. Thank you trail family for all the special moments and for making the month the most enjoyable. I look forward to seeing you all on a future adventure. My boss made a comment during a meeting before my coworker and I took a group out to Death Valley for fhe weekend. She thought we were crazy for driving such a long way for a weekend in the National Park. In response to my boss Nancy, After driving 7 hours, in a car that is not my own, down windy roads, late in the night, that offer no glimpses of the landscape, we finally reached our campsite, tucked in the back of Panamint springs. We take a step outside and a little light switches on in all of our heads, ahh this is what we are meant to see. Way above our heads the stars glimmer brighter then any of us have seen. At that moment I know the weekend was going to flood us with beauty and wonder. I lay awake in my sleeping bag with dreamy eyes watching shooting stars and the crescent moon rising. I awoke at dawn, it was Valentine's Day. The love of new friendships filled the campsite. The day was spent under the warm Death Valley heat and amongst towering rocky trails. With every step, a new landscape unfolded and a new appreciation for the vast land around us. After spending hours on the trail we found rejuvenation playing at Badwater salt flats, elevation -282. We started to chase the sunset as we made or way to our last destination of the day- a beautiful spring and waterfall. As the last light hit the springs, we all jumped in the chilly pool, awakened by the shock and the thrill of the closing day. Dinner, the campfire, and another unbelievable night sky brought closure to the night. I slept more sound then all the nights at home, the gentle reminder of the benefits of a enjoyable day in the outdoors. Although we knew the drive home was just hours away, we made the most of the morning by hiking to Panamint Dunes. After three miles of blistering heat, we were rewarded with the unique landscape of the dunes. Mountainous yet so fragile in appearance. We ranjumpedrolled with joy. The moment is infinite. I walked along a sand valley with my coworker, my close friend and laughed- who would have guessed this was our normal? This is what we get to share with others and enjoy for ourselves! We ran and met the groups, and they beamed as they said this was their new favorite trip.
We packed in like little sardines into our enterprise van and truck in order to experience the unique opportunity to SUP in Yosemite. The excitement of traveling with a new group and looking forward to the epic Yosemite landscape made the drive a noteworthy experience. Our trip was beautifully diverse with Brazil, Switzerland, Colorado, and California folk being represented. In total there was twelve of us and seven had never been to Yosemite. I was extremely excited to share this trip with the group. Me and my co-worker planned this trip to be jam-packed with Yosemite highlights. The main attraction of our trip took place on Saturday when we drove Hwy120 E to reach Tenaya Lake. This is the perfect SUP location! I led a trip in Spring 2013 to Yosemite where we floated down Merced river on our Rafts and SUP, but the float was very short and the shuttle you have to run is tedious. This year we decided to do Tenaya lake because Merced River in the valley is dried out. I was happy with the shift in itinerary. Tenaya provided the perfect location to practice Stand Up Paddle boarding and we were in the center of beautiful panoramic views. Going to Yosemite is always humbling. It is the most toured National Parks, yet the vistas never cease to stop you in your tracks and stand in awe. The atmosphere is great for reflection as well as community building. The calm waters of Tenaya lake offered a peaceful setting for experiential learning and admiration of the surroundings. Every moment in Yosemite is rewarding.
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January 2017
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