One step in front of the other
By Lauren Becker
A summit push is full of challenges, both mental and physical. Sometimes it’s the brutal cold, other times the biting wind, altitude sickness, or alpine-start darkness that calls into question the challenge and the journey ahead.
Before beginning, the summit seems unfathomable. Setting out on the trail by moonlight adds a sense of the surreal, and wonder takes root: Are you sleepwalking through some alternate reality, merely marching through a dark chapter of life, or beginning a grand adventure? From this new vantage there are millions of stars, normally outshone by city lights, serving as distant reminders of your relative stature among life’s great mysteries.
Easing into a steady rhythm brings you back to reality. Placing one foot in front of the other helps ground you in the present moment. Although progress is slow, it’s steady. False summits don’t tease without meaning, they hint at your impending achievement and serve as short-term goals on the up-and-down climb.
The mountain doesn’t tolerate impatience. On it, and in life, not everything needs to happen right now, or quickly. Huge summits are conquered in small increments, and slow, purposeful steps reveal a natural path and order. Peace and tranquility are unearthed on the trek and those moments are sometimes more rewarding than the summit itself. Go slowly, look left and right, appreciate the views, breathe the thin air, and fully experience the path and the horizon.
