I still remember the first time my dad took me backpacking. I was six years old and had waited impatiently for two years watching my brother and dad head out into the great wilderness without me. When I finally became old enough to don a bandanna, hiking boots and backpack and enter the world of mosquitoes and mud, I became the happiest girl alive. Now, 12 years and many backpacking trips later, I can look back and see how much I have learned and benefited from the great outdoors. Here are four things that backpacking has taught me about life:
1. Pain Isn’t Necessarily Bad
I think humans often have an unnecessary fear of pain, whether that be physical, spiritual or mental. Sure, it’s natural to want to avoid something that hurts and is unpleasant, and often fearing pain helps us to avoid doing stupid things, but part of being human is dealing with pain. In fact, I would argue that any growth or strengthening requires pain. By growing up hiking mountains and ridges, I have learned to not only tolerate but to welcome pain. I know that burning sensation in my legs means that I am alive and that I am that much closer to reaching the summit. That doesn’t mean that it is any more pleasant, but understanding the purpose of pain has helped me in all areas of my life to overcome obstacles and reach a greater goal.
2. Complaining Gets You Nowhere
When I was nine, my family went backpacking with some family friends at our usual adventure area in the Wallowa Mountains. This time, however, my dad took us on a different route down from the mountain which turned into an eleven mile trek. None of us were expecting the extra mileage, and I remember being utterly exhausted and wanting more than anything to just stop and sit down on the rocks. But we had to get to camp, and I knew that giving up or complaining wouldn’t make me arrive there any sooner. No one was going to carry me. I had to rely on my own two feet. Eventually, we did make it back to camp, and a little bird that followed us along the way provided a welcome distraction to our sore muscles. Many other times such as this have taught me that in the wilderness and in all aspects of life, vocalizing discomfort or dissatisfaction won’t help you or anyone else reach your goals.
3. Beauty Is An Adventure
Today, beauty is the subject of much debate and conversation. I’m not going to comment on the various perspectives about modeling, body-image, makeup or fashion. What I do want to talk about is the beauty that is found in creation. The beauty that effortlessly appears in the world⎯ wildflowers, mountain peaks, bright smiles and brown, dusty faces. The beauty that you feel when you are six and your brother builds you princess pools in mountain streams. The beauty of seeing the Milky Way from the warmth of your sleeping bag. Somehow you find these beautiful moments and places and people when you go into the wilderness and forget your own importance. You find them when you share stories to encourage your little siblings to keep hiking or when you stand in the shadow of a mountain and learn to be small. This beauty is not beauty that is bought or printed in the glossy pages of a magazine. This is beauty that you must go out and seek. You must pack your bags, lace up your boots and adventure out into the unknown.
4. My Best Friends Are My Family
Backpacking has always been something that my family does together. While we have often invited friends along as well, my time in the wilderness has mostly been with my four siblings and two parents. This has made for many stressful situations and arguments about what to pack or where to set up camp. For many years growing up, my sister and I struggled and fought over how to set up a tent. We’ve all gotten frustrated when one person decides to complain about everything or when there is not enough food to go around (because you eat twice as much when you’re in the wilderness). Despite all of this, however, I would argue that backpacking is one of the things that has made my family as close as we are. Learning to endure flooding tents, numerous mosquito bites and seemingly insurmountable mountain passes has helped us to work together and love each other more. There have been many bumps along the way, but I would not trade all of the dirt and discomfort of backpacking with my family for all of the Disney vacations or cruises in the world.
