A summer highlight was a 40 mile trek…. in the San Juan wilderness. 5 days; 4 nights in basic huts & new hiking companions from Telluride to Ouray (more specifically… from hot spring to hot spring!)

My level of anxiety was oddly heightened. Weather forecast went from clear mid 70’s to snow, lightening and cold rain everyday. The multiple emails and texts from the hut system warning of this and that—liability waivers and figuring out how to do meals with everyones preferences made for a lit of pre-trip nerves.

But….. looking back? A trip of a lifetime. To be disconnected from my phone; to meet parts of myself that navigated my discomfort with serious exposure on the trails; shady river crossings on slick logs and rocks (yes, I ate it one day —I wasn’t alone in that— and walked in wet clammy shoes for the remainder of the days section). And the fact that our three forms of navigational support were not aligned made those trail junctures interesting. It would often take three of us with written instructions against the AllTrails app and Google to ensure we were on the right path. By the way—being directionally challenged from birth—this is one of my worst nightmares. Also running out of water so unbeknownst to my fellow hikers—I carried extra water weight—just in case!! Yes, I got wet everyday but it wasn’t as extreme as predicted. Hands were really wet and cold one afternoon but there was relief just hours away.

Even though I didn’t have to carry tent and cooking pans (and we had the hut system bring food supplies on nights 2 and 4 to our huts) I still managed to carry about 35 pounds. One day… I swear if this is something I continue to enjoy.. I will need a full system upgrade – i.e. a similar pack with all the contents—closer to 20 lbs. I’m not even carrying pjs or extra anything, but there are the basics like three pairs of glasses that I can’t do without… and then there is the phone charger— again a non negotiable for the pictures and the call out if I ever needed!

We came across a bear, ptarmigan, wild turkey, woodpeckers…. as well as the opportunistic hut mice and a rat!! Songs and camaraderie are the elements that felt so incredibly powerful and nourishing. The ability to meet one another, spend five days together, be curious and work together made this time truly memorable.

#gettingoutofcomfortzone #innercompass #forestbathing