Lets go back to the beginning…

Five miles in and I was definitely ready to quit – either that or cry. The task seemed entirely impossible. “Why do people do this? And for fun?” I thought while trying to ignore the hot blisters on my feet and the 45 pound bag strapped to my back. I was never an outdoor girl, much less a backpacking one. That is until I met my now-husband Alex and found myself 5 miles into a 20 mile, 3 day backpacking trip. Over Valentine’s Day weekend no less!

 

My introduction to outdoors came when I was a precocious teenager and my father brought home a large tent. At that time all I wanted to do daydream about boys and go shopping with my friends but, somehow, he convinced me to try camping in the backyard so that night we pitched the tent and rolled out the sleeping bags.

 

The night was cold, the ground was hard and I definitely had too much hot chocolate before bed. I left him in the tent for the comfort and warmth of my bed and that was the last of it.

 

So, how exactly did I get myself in over my head? I blame Alex.

 

“Have you ever been backpacking? Want to go next weekend with friends?” he asked me one night. I knew he loved backpacking and we’d been on a few short hikes, so how hard could backpacking be? “Sure! I’d love to go.”  And thus started multiple trips to REI, hundreds of dollars spent on gear and plenty of hours spent online searching for the best beginner tips so I wouldn’t be a complete fool.

 

Finally, the weekend had arrived. We’d driven the 2 hours south from San Francisco to the trailhead in Big Sur. We were going to take the Pine Ridge trail in 10 miles to the campsite, walk about another 2 miles to some hot springs the next day, and back the day after. All in all, the trip was about 22 miles round trip. Seemed doable! Man, oh man, did I learn a lot of lessons on that trip.

 

Mistake number 1: I had purchased my hiking boots the night before and about 3 miles in my heels were hot. By 5 miles, I knew I had blisters. 10 miles in and you get the ugly picture.

 

Unfortunately I hadn’t the foresight to buy my boots early and wear them on a couple hike to break them in. I probably could have worn a second pair of socks or sock liners. Even wrapping my heels with moleskin and ductape would have helped! Yes, ductape is my go-to for a lot of things, including hot heels.

 

Mistake number 2: We had brought way too much food and clothing so that our packs weight about 45 pounds each! All together Alex and I had about 20 pounds of food and approximately 10 pounds of clothing. Not to mention we had borrowed a 10 pound tent.

 

While it’s certainly better to be over-prepared, there is such a thing as “over-packing”.

 

Mistake number 3: I wasn’t totally certain how to go number 1 and number 2 in the woods. Yep. Learned that one the hard, messy way.

 

After mistake number three I was about ready to give up. I was in pain, horribly embarrassed and more tired than I had ever felt before.

 

Perhaps backpacking, as much as I was hoping, wasn’t my ‘thing’. Perhaps it was a hobby that Alex would have to do on his own or with like-minded individuals. Individuals who knew how to go number one and number two in the woods.

 

Since I was already invest in the trip (remember those hundreds of dollars spent at REI?) I figured I would finish the weekend out and break the sad news to Alex when we got home.

 

I was extremely thankful to have Alex with me. He was patient, letting me curse like a sailor and get angry, both at him and myself. He allowed me make minor mistakes and taught me how to prevent making more in the future. Alex was definitely the stronger of us both but, as he constantly reminded me that day, I would learn and get better. I was doubtful of that but appreciated the sentiment all the same.

 

After a torturous 10 miles we final made camp and that was when I got a good full look at my surroundings. It was magical. I had spent so much of the first 10 miles with my head down, trudging along, trying to keep from tripping that I never thought to look up. To take in all that surrounded me.

 

The tall redwoods towered over us sending off an earthy musk and making me feel tiny in comparison. The stream next to our site was clear and fresh – I couldn’t believe how water could taste so good. And the quite! The only prevalent sounds were birds, falling leaves and the bubbling stream. Nature, pure nature. Simple sounds you forget when you’ve lived in the city for so long.

 

It made me appreciate nature more, even if all I was experiencing was this little plot next other tired and sweaty backpackers. In my mind, I had reached paradise.

 

Once camp was set up, we took inventory of our sore muscles and figured, without packs, the 2 mile round trip trek to the spring would be well worth it. If you could get past the sulfuric stench and just let the hot water ease your body back into something resembling a person, it was definitely worth it.

 

Afterwards, back at camp, Alex, being the brilliant man he is, suggested trekking the 10 miles back over two days. I was grateful.

 

Heading back out, over two days, was certainly easier. I spent less time screaming in my brain and more time enjoying the passing scenery. Alex would stop every so often to show me this edible plant, or that blooming flower, or teach me a more efficient way of shouldering my pack so I didn’t struggle under the weight.

 

All too soon, we were back at the car and unloading our still silly heavy packs into the trunk. I sunk into the hot seat dead tired but proud of myself. I had made it through my first backpacking trip…smiling! Sure, it started off rough but I was still smiling at the end of it all.

 

A few months later and we were back out on another backpacking trip.

 

No longer was I embarrassment over making mistakes as I started to learn more about the trails and what backpacking entailed. The pain I once complained about, though still felt, was replaced with childish excitement. The physical and mental exhaustion was replaced with a fierce determination to prove to myself that I could conquer anything.

 

Each trail would have its own set of challenges and I had no doubt there would be some crying and struggling but I knew I would meet it head on…with ductape and a lighter pack of course. 🙂