2024 update 8/52
I got back from the mountain trip on Friday. No snow shoes were worn. Only cleats, for about half an hour on an icy portion of the trail. We did finally get a powdering of snow on the last day for our last hike, which made it beautiful. All in all, it was a great trip.
Before this trip, I had never hiked for more than two days in a row, so I was a bit worried about how my muscles and joints would handle it. Once again, I shouldn’t have worried, I felt myself getting stronger and more self-assured over the course of the week, which was a great feeling.
I was a bit annoyed at the beginning when I realized everybody was quite a bit older than me, since it would be nice to meet more people around my age. Hiking is a retiree game here apparently. Group hiking anyway. But it actually ended up being a great experience for me, showing me examples of people slightly younger or around my parents’ age (and one 83-year-old!) who are
very fit physically and mentally sharp. Eager to learn and teach, passionate about the mountains and wanting to share their passion with as many people as possible. These are people who used to do a lot of mountaineering and ski mountaineering (some of them still do) and are now starting to slow down and “only” hike.
I went back to my parents’ for the weekend to pick up my cat, and that was quite the contrast. I went from a group of 18 high-functioning older adults able to navigate a whole week of hiking and living together without
ANY conflict or negativity to two retired semi functional adults who are constantly finding something negative in everything and everyone and are always too tired for even the most basic tasks of life.
In complete opposition to one of my previous posts, I now think I might need less routine and more of this stuff in my life, I need to push myself to do what seems hard from the outside so I can realize I’m capable of it and gain confidence and competence. I feel more energized after the trip whereas I expected to be exhausted and to want to hunker down for a couple of weeks. Now my new hiking buddies have convinced me to sign up for the more difficult hikes and for a 30 mi in a day walk around the surrounding villages (with food and buses every 5mi or so, for those who want to bail early, let's not get crazy).
I had very few physical experiences of pushing past my level of comfort when I was younger, always assuming it wasn’t for me since I wasn’t “good at sports” in school. I did learn to surf, but always shied away from the bigger waves. I think I’m ready to break away from my immediate family’s indifference for physical pursuits. I wish I had been more encouraged in that way earlier on, but better late than never. The 83 yr-old I mentioned above only started mountain stuff in his 40s after all. I’d be very happy if I was still capable of doing what he does at his age.
Total cost for the trip, Saturday to Friday, with transport to and back from the mountains, breakfasts and dinners, 6 nights in basic group lodging, and all gear (which we mostly didn't use): 330 euros.
Another positive of the trip was that for the first time in years I had no trouble falling and staying asleep. That was also a whole week of no netflix (and no reading). Who knew all I needed was hiking 7-8 hours/day (with an average of 1000m elevation gain every day) to solve my sleeping issues. If only that were compatible with work and all the other things in my life.
Speaking of work, I submitted my proposal and more stuff they had failed to request earlier, but still waiting to hear if they’ll approve me as a subrecipient...
sorry, I don't feel comfortable being more specific in public posts.