Lessons From the Trail: Return to the Grand Canyon Part VI
Posted on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 12:15 PM
We have safely completed our Grand Canyon trek! I want to share with you a few of the dozens of lessons learned on this trip.
First, we are guests here. We, as humans, cover our humanity with a lot of uniforms and opinions of ourselves that are not in sync with Mother Earth. While hiking out on Tuesday, I noticed that the trail was very patient. Having been used for thousands of years, the trail was simply ‘with’ the weather, the animals and the sounds. My opinions did not influence the trail. My high class ice cleats meant nothing to the trail. Its rules were equal for all travelers.
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Second, in our role as guests, we bring a lot of noise to Mother Earth. One of the things I treasure about difficult hikes is the silence. My brain has more than enough chatter to keep me occupied. The absence of chatter from other humans is one of the first steps back toward the center. I observed that the natural state in the canyon is an absence of voices. Raising one’s voice in the wilderness changes it. Mother Earth may not respond, but Spirit does.
Third, there are rules for hiking dangerous trails. (Once we had reached the ‘safety’ of the South Rim, each of us admitted that we were scared almost the entire journey. More on fear later…).
The rules of hiking in Grand Canyon are simple: hiking alone is by far the safest way to travel. Hiking with a companion is thought to be the safest, but it actually doubles your chance of collisions on the trail. And collisions lead to death. Skilled preparation replaces the added value of walking with another.
Hiking with more than one in your party requires a set of voiced and agreed upon rules: hike in the same order all day. Do not change the order. Do not pass each other. Announce to the group, both ahead and behind, if you are going to stop. Step away from the edge when you stop; do not stand on the trail. After a stop and before you turn to walk again, be sure your poles and ice cleats are ready. Put away your camera and water bottle before you address the trail. If you sense any type of compromise in your ability/endurance, announce it to your group. Group safety starts with each hiker taking care of him or her self. Break into groups of two hikers, each watching out for the other. Each hiker should watch the other’s zippers. When a hiker begins to neglect little things like zippers or straps, the onset of mental fatigue may be close at hand. Monitor your heart rate. Watch your companion’s legs; a change in gait or foot plant means a significant decline in endurance and control. Start the day at the pace with which you want to end the day.
Cover up; sun and wind continue to burn long after sun down. Share information with other hikers: is there a significant change in the ice on the trail ahead? Feel the earth: a change from mud to hard ground means you are entering an ice zone. Be ready to strap on your cleats early rather than later. Think about not talking: intimacy doesn’t require a lot of noise. Sharing danger in a physically demanding pursuit with something beautiful to appreciate is one of the highest forms of intimacy.
Another trick for the trail is to pick one thought to ponder as your walk. Drift in and out of the thought. Solve a problem, consider a life change, and focus on trailside sights. Then, let your mind rest.
One of the things I have struggled with my entire life is fear. Today a good friend explained the difference between intentional fear and random fear. I respond to intentional fear; I initially freeze with random fear.
Intentional fear has to do with the idea of volitionally taking a risk. My best example is hiking on the South Kaibab trail in winter. I know there will be ice. I prepare for the ice. I know it may be very windy. I use carabineers to secure everything I plan to have with me at the bottom of the trail. I know it will be dark before dawn. I wear a head lamp. I understand the root of my fears and am able to address them with action. The result is I test myself and achieve much more than I would, if I were to freeze.
For me, random fear is mostly related to my business life. In the past, this fear was related to not knowing what will happen down the road while feeling unprepared to respond. Will my current development project find an audience? Will the thousands of dollars invested in a project be stolen by the copy cats? Will people sign up for courses next month? Will the software engineers give me something that works? Will I be able to fund the payroll in six weeks? This basket of fear may be anchored in some past experience but is allowed to thrive because of a lack of confidence in my ability to take action. (My reaction to fear is to work harder, take harder actions if you will).
My reaction to this type of fear would be more useful if I were to do what I have done on the trail when in danger: once secure from immediate threat, sit quietly and become as clear of my situation as possible. Given what I have around me, what are my real options? Given the situation should I press on or turn back? Sit quietly and let the earth support me. Sit quietly and let my quiet mind work on the fear. After all, I am simply and wonderfully a guest here. If only I could take a trip to the Grand Canyon any time I faced a challenge!
Do you have any lessons to share that you learned while hiking? Share your stories below!
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