My first hike alone

One would think I would have completed more blog entries since developing my website and posting the first blog about life after retirement. I have so much time to commit to this enterprise now that I am not working any longer, right? But the fact is, the days somehow fill up with other things and the idea of sitting down at the computer again to write my stories just keeps getting pushed aside. I am really perplexed as to how I managed my life when I was working fulltime since I seem to be so busy now with daily activities. I think that is the good news and confirms what other retirees have told me, “Somehow, the days are always full”.

To continue with my “first” adventures experienced during retirement, I braved my first hike alone when I was on my first vacation alone. Still in Mammoth Lakes in July, I participated in a variety of activities with my sister and her family, but with small grand-children, long hikes were not an option. I love to hike and that is a key component to experiencing Mammoth in the summertime. So I was determined to add some of this in to my vacation.

I decided to take a solo hike to Crystal Lake. As a person who always hikes with others both for the social as well as the safety aspect, the thought of hiking alone was completely foreign. However, I have hiked with others to Crystal Lake dozens of times and felt confident I could complete it safely on my own. It is a series of switch backs, so while the hike gives you a nice work out due to the increase in elevation, it is a more moderate increase in elevation than some other hikes in the area with a well-maintained trail. It is also a well-traveled trail so there were sure to be others in the area should a true emergency occur.

I decided to head out earlier in the morning than usual because, well why not, there was no one else I needed to help get ready or wait for. I filled my CamelBak with chilled water, checked my first aid kit and added some tape in case of a sprain and packed in my pack along with a North Face jacket in the event of weather at the top. I packed some fruit and nut trail mix snacks, made a turkey, lettuce, humus and cheese sandwich to bring, along with some grapes. I decided to bring my ear buds to potentially listen to music although I have never before listened to music while I hike since I am always with others and needed to be involved in conversation. I packed my walking poles, put on my hiking shorts and breathable t-shirt, and donned by new Hoka trail shoes that are supposed to be great for people with Plantar Fasciitis, like me. They were well cushioned and felt great.

For safety reasons, I texted my husband when I was heading out and advised that I would text him on return so that if he did not hear from me by midday, he could call someone to check on me. I also texted my sister for the same reason since she was closer should a real emergency occur. I arrived at Lake George at around 8:30 a.m. and found a parking spot across from the trailhead. But there were so few cars and people that I first walked to the lake’s edge to check out the view. It was spectacular:

I had never been to Lake George so early, the water was pristine and glassy and the area filled with only the sound of the water lapping at the edge. And this was before I even embarked on my first solo hike!

After using the facilities, I headed out on the trail. I saw a couple of women hiking ahead of me, so that made me feel more secure, but there were little to no one else out on the trail. I walked carefully and watched where I was stepping to make sure I did not twist an ankle or fall. My poles were stabilizers and gave me greater confidence when climbing over boulders and taking large steps. I went at a reasonable pace, still huffing and puffing because of the altitude and the elevation gain. I reached the lookout point before the trail switched back away from the lakes and realized that I was strong, capable and could safely climb this trail alone. I decided it would be okay to try out the ear buds to have some music accompany me as I continued to ascend. Wow, what a difference that made. The beauty of the music I was hearing combined with the visual beauty and physical exertion was transformative. I felt as if floating along the trail, fully present, only thinking about the music and the steps I was taking. I could not believe I had never experienced this before.

The Lookout View from the trail looking back at Lake George and Lake Mary.

I was very proud that I recalled the trail so well, knew when I had reached the false top and had to descend and continue on. I did come across a few more pairs of hikers but was mostly alone. I arrived at Crystal Lake taking less than an hour to complete the ascent. I had never before been able to hike at a pace that was solely based on what I needed, how fast I wanted to go, how many stops I needed to take to catch my breath or snap a photo. I was so surprised first that I needed to stop to catch my breath on several occasions since I usually stop to allow my children to others to rest, and also that the hike was actually quite short. When hiking with a group, stopping as they need to rest and walking at their pace, it always took much longer.

I found a resting place on the top of some granite rocks that descend into the lake and provided a panoramic view of the lake. I decided to stay and enjoy the opportunity to be present in this environment and to listen to the end of my audiobook. Again, when hiking with others, there is no time for individual contemplation, leisurely book listening or reading, so this was another new experience for me. I could decide how long to stay, where to sit, whether to read or just think about my life and what is to come.

Crystal Lake

As the morning progressed, other people began to arrive at the lake. A family with children found the water’s edge and waded into the cold water. Others found their own spots, had picnics and settled in. That was my cue to start my hike back down.

The descent was much easier and quicker, although I was still just as cautious not to trip and to carefully place my poles and maneuver the large step-downs. I listened to music, sometimes matching my steps to the beat, and really fully enjoyed the power of self-propulsion. I made it back to my car without incident, texted my husband and sister that I had made it safely down and headed back.

It does not seem like much of a challenge to hike this trail, one that I have done many times and that children and seniors readily accomplish. But to me it was a big challenge to decide to go it alone, to be solely responsible for my safety, and to just undertake something like this. It helped me to realize that I have the power and ability to take on new challenges even at this time of life and that while my work was very important and defined me for most of my life, I still have more to learn and experience. #lifeafterretirement