I'm Not Here For The Views

Last Sunday, the mountains were just too tempting. It was sunny, the sky was blue, and the snow was fresh powder. My boys packed their skis and hit the slopes. I decided to go hiking, solo- a follower in me had to become a leader.

But when I opened a newly downloaded and very overwhelming trail app, my sherpa confidence crumbled.

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I looked at the majestic mountains and remembered what my younger son said, when we explored the famous in Oregon Umpqua Valley Waterfall Trail. As we approached one of the waterfalls, a fellow hiker guided us towards a viewing point. Instead, my son chose the path that would allow him to jump in the waterfall pool. “I’m not here for the views,” he said. “I am here for the experience.”

Maybe this time I should be here just for the views not the experience? After all, I would not be the only one. I saw at least several young Asian women, who looked like they were ready to visit a trendy club in Tokyo. Fashionably clad in miniskirts and Uggs, high-end bags in hand, and evening make-up on their faces, they gathered at the ski lift station in front of giant windows overlooking the mountains. They came here for the views for sure. And for their social media pictures.

But I liked to experience things. I liked challenges and I had a proven strategy to tackle challenging projects. I wrote about it in my latest post, “Step by Step.” I might as well practice what I preach.

The trick was to make the first step, and for that I needed to find the trail head. I had to stop looking at the intimidating peaks but look around me. That’s how I noticed a brochure station, where I found a trail map. Bingo. As I followed the map, I saw signs for Kleine Scheidegg, the trail I wanted to take.  I was ready to make my first step.

Unfortunately, according to the information on the sign, it took almost four hours to get there. I was hesitant. It was winter, and I didn’t know the conditions of the trail.

I decided to put into practice another thing I reflected on in “Step by Step.”. I shouldn’t look too far ahead. The trail had several rest stops and chalets on the way. Maybe I should just shoot for the first one and go from there?

Step by step, from one rest stop to another, I moved forward. Finally, four hours later, I reached Kleine Scheidegg. The views of Eiger and other mountains were worth the pain I felt in my legs.

When I was sitting on the train on my way down, I realized something curious. The train rode basically along the trail. Instead of starting my hike from the village, I could have taken the train halfway way up and climb even higher, to the very top of Eiger, for example. Wouldn’t that be more impressive?

Nah. It didn’t sound like something I would do.

Apparently, I was one of those people who were ignorant of time-saving opportunities. Stores are filled with baking mixes, but I look for ingredients to bake from scratch. I could hire a tour guide when traveling, but I choose to buy guidebooks and plan my vacation myself. I can find the trail, but I can’t see the train track. I guess seeking hacks, is in not in my blood.

For the most part, although taking the longer route is surely more tiring, it is not a bad thing, I guess.  At least you can stay assured I wrote this post, not AI. At the same time, maybe it wouldn’t hurt if every now and then I kept my eyes peeled for an innocent shortcut? Who knows? It might lead me to different experiences and different views.