Know Your Limits

Each hike is a learning experience. That is, I always try to take something away from each hike that will better me for the next. My most recent ascent of Mt Wilson taught me to be humble and know my limits, which is an invaluable lesson for hiking. A piece of advice that can save your life…

Today was my first time at Chantry Flats in a few years. It has been closed for quite some time now due to ecological restoration efforts and fires (thank you to everyone who has maintained the trails and got it open again). I was excited to return and explore the trails I had travelled a few years ago when I was first seriously getting into hiking. It was like stepping into a time capsule and brought back a lot of memories from days past. Including struggling to find a parking spot… (at 7 am, mind you).

All the same, I had a wonderful time on the lower section of the Upper Falls Trail and eventually Sturtevant Trail as I headed into Sturtevant Camp. At 4 miles in, I used the opportunity in camp to take a nice long break and snack. I met some folk who had rented a cabin overnight and got to talking about their own ascent of Wilson earlier that morning. Chats like that are what make hiking special for me (meeting other hikers and hearing their stories). It also got me excited at the accomplishment of summiting.

I thought being more than halfway put me in a good spot to summit Wilson, but I underestimated the upper section of Sturtevant Trail, just as I had done a few years back when I first ascended Wilson. I fell behind my desired pace, which quickly slowed to a crawl. I tried to tough it out, as I have been training for a backpacking trip recently and had all my equipment with me. But I couldn’t keep it up for long. The weight and the incline was getting to me.

Many breaks later, I had plenty of time to think about what I was doing and why I was there. It was a clear, hot sunny day out and the sun began to bear down on me the further up I went, and the less shade I had. It was a stark reminder of the true dangers of being out in the wilderness, something I was soon to do without the comforts of civilization close by. I was getting low on water. Another mile and I would have the water spigot at the Cosmic Cafe to top off. But what if I didn’t have that? What would happen then?

A little while later, I slumped onto a picnic table at the Cosmic Cafe. The last incline on the walkway up to the Cafe taunting me after as ending 3500 feet. The last 20 feet felt just as high. And I felt woozy. I had overdone it. I knew I couldn’t descend back to my car at  Chantry Flats without being miserable. I especially knew that this could have played out much differently it I wasn’t so close to home and civil comforts of a mountain top cafe.

Playing it safe, I called my amazing wife. I admitted I had overdone it and that it might not be safe for me to head back down. She agreed, and made the 50 minute journey up Highway 2 to come pick me up at the observatory. During that time I recovered with some food and a Gatorade from the cafe and thought some more about the whole ordeal. Sure, I had summited. I could do it. But I still have a long way to go in order to ensure I can comfortably do so. I still have so much to learn. Because it could have been much more dangerous.

So yes, I did summit Mt Wilson. I crawled over the finish line (not literally) at just shy of 8 miles and ~3500ft of elevation gain. I proved to myself I could do it with a full pack, sure. But I didn’t make it back down. I found my limit. And I may have even stepped over it. Without a safety net, I could have been in trouble.

I am proud of myself for making it up to the top (not necessarily for how I did it), but even more proud for throwing in the towel. Echoed by my wife, who gave me a big hug at the car.

This hike humbled me and gave me some important perspective. It shows I still have a long way to go. I didn’t fail, because I learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of. If anything, it drives me to do bigger and badder hikes. Yet, I need to set my bar lower and be more realistic, enjoy the moment, and be safe. Hiking is supposed to be fun, that is why I do it. So I should keep it that way, and not reach too far.