If you know me then you know I am out there on the edge most of the time. The number one question I always ask myself when I get a crazy idea is “why not?” and if I can’t figure out good enough reasons to not do something then it is FULL STEAM AHEAD!
It is hard for me to do things half way. For example, when I started cycling in grad school I went and bought a bike I could afford and enjoyed short rides around the neighborhood. But soon that was just plain boring. Then one day, a man stopped me in the campus book store and asked me if that was my car outside with the bike on it. I told him it was and he went on to invite me to ride with their team. We were off to the races!
Within a year I was cycling competitively on a great bike with a team of amazing people! Yes, jersey, cleats, spandex…the whole nine yards! Suddenly my goal was not to the post office and back—it was a sub 5 hour century ride! (which I got within 25 minutes of accomplishing, by the way). Those were great days and I was probably the fittest I have been in my entire life.
About two years ago I was in a conversation about backpacking. I realized I didn’t know much about actual packing and camping with only what you could carry but it sounded interesting. Being from the plains of Oklahoma, I had never hiked much as a kid. We simply did not have mountains where I grew up. I always wanted to and thought it was cool to see people on television, but thought it was too far out of my reach. But, there was that voice in my head again saying “why not?” And, you guessed it, it was off to the races!
Since that conversation I have become admittedly addicted to REI stores and I get completely giddy when we are preparing for our next 2 or 3 day hike in the Smoky Mountains or wherever our guidebook and map may take us. We started with local trails, then state parks, then the Great Smoky Mountains; first a small back pack and running shoes, now complete gear and hiking poles!
So, it only seems natural that my goals have shifted from wanting to complete the 5 mile loop at the local state part to summiting an actual mountain that extends above the tree line.
The question then became, “which one should I climb?”
It is hard for me to do things half way. For example, when I started cycling in grad school I went and bought a bike I could afford and enjoyed short rides around the neighborhood. But soon that was just plain boring. Then one day, a man stopped me in the campus book store and asked me if that was my car outside with the bike on it. I told him it was and he went on to invite me to ride with their team. We were off to the races!
Within a year I was cycling competitively on a great bike with a team of amazing people! Yes, jersey, cleats, spandex…the whole nine yards! Suddenly my goal was not to the post office and back—it was a sub 5 hour century ride! (which I got within 25 minutes of accomplishing, by the way). Those were great days and I was probably the fittest I have been in my entire life.
About two years ago I was in a conversation about backpacking. I realized I didn’t know much about actual packing and camping with only what you could carry but it sounded interesting. Being from the plains of Oklahoma, I had never hiked much as a kid. We simply did not have mountains where I grew up. I always wanted to and thought it was cool to see people on television, but thought it was too far out of my reach. But, there was that voice in my head again saying “why not?” And, you guessed it, it was off to the races!
Since that conversation I have become admittedly addicted to REI stores and I get completely giddy when we are preparing for our next 2 or 3 day hike in the Smoky Mountains or wherever our guidebook and map may take us. We started with local trails, then state parks, then the Great Smoky Mountains; first a small back pack and running shoes, now complete gear and hiking poles!
So, it only seems natural that my goals have shifted from wanting to complete the 5 mile loop at the local state part to summiting an actual mountain that extends above the tree line.
The question then became, “which one should I climb?”
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