These two short inspirational stories are from times I have faced adversity in the mountains. In each situation, I had to dig deep to overcome fears and negative self-talk. The strategies I used allowed me to think clearly and make decisions to get myself out of a pickle.
| Going the Wrong Way |
| Stuck on a Limestone Spire |
Short Inspirational Stories: Going the Wrong Way
Going the wrong way was something I did during my epic adventure in the White Mountains in 2023. This happened at roughly the sixteen-hour mark of my nineteen-hour hike of the Presidential Traverse.
As I ascended my second last peak of seven on the Traverse, I texted my husband that I was about to summit. I also let him know that I was going to turn off my phone to conserve batteries. It was storming on the mountain and I knew I had to preserve battery life in case of emergencies.
Storming on the mountain as I completed the last three peaks of the Presidential Traverse
Mysterious Messages Ascending Mt Eisenhower
There was another reason that I wanted to turn my phone off. I was receiving mysterious messages as I was ascending Mt Eisenhower. I had just come through the worst part of the hike and was feeling very defeated and lonely. It was a Monday and with the pouring rain, fog, and seventy-five mile-an-hour wind gusts there was barely anyone on the mountain.
As I was ascending peak number seven, I heard music playing. I took my iPhone out of my rain jacket pocket and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” was playing on iTunes. It made me mad that my phone had come on when I needed to preserve batteries.
I turned the song off and put it back in my front pocket. Minutes later the song came back on. This is what led me to text my husband and let him know that I was turning my phone off.
Critical Error on Top of Mt Eisenhower
Before I climbed up to the peak of Mt Eisenhower, I checked my topographical map to make sure I knew where I was going at the top. I was climbing up one route and descending another.
The peak was different than others. It was a flat tabletop with a cairn in the middle. I put my head down as the winds were gale force, the rain pounding and it was freezing cold at -8 C (17 F). It was the only peak in the entire Presidential Traverse that I did not take a selfie.
At this point of the hike, my warm hat was pushed down over my one eye from my rain jacket hood (this photo is on the peak of Mount Monroe, right before Mt Eisenhower).
I looked up and saw a second trail to take me off the peak.
Soon I realized that the descent looked familiar. Sure enough, I ended up back on the main trail, Crawford Path that had led me up the peak.
I studied my topographical map again to see if I was going left or right. I went left. I knew I had seen several of the big boulders before as I approached, so turned around and went back to where I just came from. I studied the topographical map again. Looks like I was on the right path.
Mount Monroe – Again
Little did I know that I was heading toward Mount Monroe, again. I was heading into the eye of the storm in the White Mountains.
I was tired. I was already defeated. The sky was gloomy. I was hiking uphill. The wind was beating on my face.
My saving grace was knowing that I had a mere hour-and-a-quarter hike to the last peak.
At an hour thirty, there was no peak in sight. I was traveling on an exposed ridge. I was cold.
I was on the right path, Crawford Path but trail signs only pointed left and right, not north and south. I stopped in the howling wind to check my topographical map several times.
Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I’ve done alright up ’till now
It’s the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls, loneliness calls
Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I grew scared. I feared the worst. I could not believe this was happening to me. I was lost. I started crying. I shouted my husband’s name as he was hiking up to the last peak to meet me so we could hike down together. I whistled, thinking the piercing sound of a whistle might travel further than my shouts.
Nothing.
I knew this was bad news. I cried more.
Read more about carrying a “Travel Cheat Card” on a hike to know your times between peaks
Obstacles in Achieving Goals
When we dream big, we will always face a series of obstacles in achieving our goals. We have to learn skills to overcome these obstacles. In times of adversity, it is these same skills that can help us.
Short Inspirational Stories Key Lessons: Affirmative thinking and Self Coaching
What I realized when I was lost, is that my emotions were taking over. My thinking that “this was it” and “I can’t believe this is happening to me” was also problematic. I knew that I had to quiet my mind and make a plan. Here is what I did:
- I decided that I WOULD get myself off the mountain
- I decided to lie down by a rock outcropping on the exposed ridge and study my topographical map again and then come up with a list of options
- I knew that I needed to let my husband know that I would be late for our meet-up on the trail (and when I discovered that I did not have cell coverage in the storm I accepted that and did not let it worry me)
- I ate my Mars bar. While I didn’t feel hungry, I wanted to comfort my mind and make sure I was fuelled for the next leg of my journey
- I decided that the best option was to backtrack to Mt Eisenhower and stay on the defined trail
- I knew that I had to keep moving to keep warm. When I started hiking again, I purposefully swung my arms to generate extra heat
What else do I pack on a hike besides emergency chocolate stores?
Finish at Crawford Notch
My mental strategies worked. I made it back to the trail head that led up to Mt Eisenhower. From there I began to descend down the mountain. I was extremely thankful to see my husband on the descent and even more elated when I was off the mountain and done the Presidential Traverse.
Mt Eisenhower Trails from the Peak
As a side note, there are several trails ascending/descending from the peak of Mt Eisenhower. The correct trailhead to make the final descent on the Presidential Traverse was not completely visible under the conditions I experienced.
For more short inspirational stories continue below
I delve into more details of my Presidential Traverse hike in my article on hiking solo.
Short Inspirational Stories: Stuck on a Limestone Spire
I love sharing these short inspirational stories of overcoming adversity in the mountains. Many of my mountain adventures are solo and similar to my harrowing experience on the Presidential Traverse, this next story is about a solo pursuit.
Hiking in Fernie, British Colombia
Many years ago I had the opportunity to go hiking in Fernie. This quaint Canadian town is located in the southeast of British Colombia.
I was doing a contract job and traveling around western Canada. It was a beautiful spring day and I thought I would head up the closest mountain for a short hike.
Jagged Mountain Range
After several hours of hiking, I arrived at the top to find a breathtaking jagged mountain range. I was in awe. Several years earlier I had completed a three-month mountaineering course at Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore, Alberta. I grew to love the ruggedness of the Rocky Mountains while in Canmore and was excited to be immersed in them again in Fernie.
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Climbing the jagged mountains during the Yamnuska Mountain Skills Semester
I continued onto the back of the range to scramble to the top of the mountain. Once at the top, I saw a route down the limestone spires that flanked the mountain top. I loved climbing and had spent many days climbing similar rock faces in Canmore and around Milton when I was younger.
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Rock climbing in the Canadian Rockies
Unfortunately, I had gotten to a point on the rock face where my legs were too short to reach the next foothold. I was stuck. I had a little ledge to rest my feet on and held on tightly to the limestone with my fingers.
Stuck on a Mountain Ledge
I panicked. No one knew where I was. I was stuck on a mountain ledge. I would not check in with the office for several days. I made an error. I should have known better. Here is what I did to get myself off the mountain:
- I took a deep breath and evaluated my options
- I could either climb back up and around the backside or I could take a leap onto a neighbouring rock and continue the descent
- I decided to trust my body and extend my legs further than before and land my foot on that neighbouring rock
What happened next occurred in a flash. My foot landed on the neighbouring rock but my body began to slide downwards. While I know it happened very quickly, it seemed like it was happening in slow motion.
I quickly thrust my entire body into the rock face to block the slide. The jagged rock pierced my legs and blood began to trickle down the mountain. At this point, my mind quickly evaluated options.
It was not that far to the ground. I could survive the fall but would most likely break a limb or two. Given it was spring I was sure bears would be out and that would not be good.
Short Inspirational Stories Key Lesson: Believe in Your Abilities
If you believe in your abilities, trust that you have the power, you can overcome obstacles.
My mind chose to trust my abilities and I dislodged my legs from the limestone and transferred weight onto my foot on the neighbouring rock. The path down to the ground was now short and easy.
Hope you enjoyed my short inspirational stories. One thing I love about adventure, whether in the mountains, wilderness, desert or, on the water is that we are forced to dig deep. Obstacles are an inherent part of adventure. We have to find inner strength. We have to quiet the mind. We have to engage in logical thinking. We have to maintain confidence.
You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength
Marcus Aurelius
