Carve Out The Time

Long ago, when I was first hiking and backpacking, I’d be on a trip. And be so focused on getting that trip done that I would pass up on side ventures. I’d tell myself, “You can come back to see it later.”

But…what if you eventually realize that you won’t come back. Or does life get busy? Or you move?

I do this still, even when I’m driving. I’ll see a road sign or notice things on Google Maps. But Kirk has learned to ignore me and just take me to those places. And tell me to enjoy it. Even when I argue that we don’t have time, or it’s not important.

Do it now, not in the future that might not happen. Kirk’s right on that. Moving across the US has really pushed this into my mind.

There’s a couple of times I regret my way of thinking. For I didn’t get back. And most likely won’t.

One of my biggest regrets was not seeing Peggy’s Pond on the PCT. I was so focused on hiking from Hwy 2 at Steven’s Pass to I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass that I had my head down. We were ahead the entire trip and could have taken the time to go explore. I looked at the map and told myself I could come back via a different trail and explore. But by the next year, I was hiking a different part of the state and in Oregon. What I missed out on was an alpine lake and a view of the valley below that’s one of a kind.

Another was Hidden Lake at Mount Rainier. It is a short trail off the Palisades Lake trail. I hiked that trail multiple times, even visiting lower Palisades Lake, which is a tough fisherman path. But I never took the short side trail. I have no idea why I didn’t. I guess I thought I’d “get it next time,” but then I went on to other hikes… and never got back once I had more kids. Then we moved away from Mount Rainier. And yet, years later, I look back at that side trail and realize I passed up a pretty subalpine lake because it was a mile round trip. A mile. I had the time and chance many times!

I’d say this …. don’t miss out on the chances. Take them when you see are passing by.

~Sarah