Fortified by my morning yoga stretches and a nourishing breakfast, my Moment of Truth had arrived at Mountain Trek. As an infrequent wanderboomer hiker with a compromised knee and ankle, I had a twinge of apprehension. Would I prove up to the challenge of alpine hiking 4 hours a day?
Ultimately, if I wanted to blast through body fat – and I did . . . If I wanted to regain lost energy, increase my stamina and de-stress – Yes! . . . I had to put on those hiking boots, strap on my daypack and get moving.
But first came the foot care routine. Our expert guides (former park rangers, avalanche technicians, rappel forest fire fighters, wilderness skills instructors) ensured that our feet were well-protected to prevent blisters from our hiking boots. I’m happy to report that my feet stayed blister-free for the entire week!
On the trail, our hiking poles became lifelines of support, catapulting us over gnarly roots, sharp rocks and underbrush. Our guides explained that just using the hiking poles boosted our cardio-vascular conditioning by over 20%! Plus, we learned how best to use the poles for maximum benefit: “Hold at a 90 degree angle from your elbows, keep your arms close to your body, and alternate between holding the poles in front of you when going downhill, and back far enough so you can’t see the tips when heading uphill.” The fact that the poles lessened the impact on my knee and ankle joints proved significant.
After a fast start and a slow finish on my first day out, funny thing happened on my path to fitness in the days that followed. My resistance gradually gave way to the rhythm of my daily hikes along meandering meadow and forest trails.
At elevations ranging from 550 – 700 vertical feet and distances up to 4.35 miles, my breathing eased as I inhaled nature’s sounds of silence and the beauty of my surroundings: birdsong, waterfalls, wild orchids, Indian Paintbrush and Queen’s Cup flowers brightening my path in all directions . . . When all I had wanted was to step up my fitness routine, what I gained lay far deeper: slow down, be mindful, listen, let go, take your body with you . .
Oh, I did have weight loss – in my case, just a pound, though others lost far more. BUT I lost 4.6 pounds of body fat, plus 1-inch around my waistline while increasing muscle mass. Stress? What stress?
Not bad for a week’s hiking vacation, hmm?
Tell us what you’ve gained in your summer travels so far, Wanderboomers!
Nancy Thompson says
What a gorgeous location. It sounds like a week well spent. I’m sure you had a great sense of accomplishment along with your 1# weight loss.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Nancy Mueller - WanderBoomer says
It is a gorgeous location, Nancy! So much of the week was about breaking old unhealthy patterns and establishing new, healthier ones. And you’re right – I did have a great feeling of accomplishment by the end of my stay at Mountain Trek. Glad I inspired you to do the same if need be!
Julie Farrar says
I’m going to have to save the stories of your adventure. Maybe I’ll try it next year because I’m sure I’ll still be needing to break unhealthy habits. And I’d love to get back to my hiking ways.
Nancy Mueller - WanderBoomer says
Please do save my posts about my stay at Mountain Trek, Julie! I gained so much from the experience as an infrequent hiker that I’m sure you would, too.
Phil Earnhardt says
I’m enjoying the multi-part blog, Nancy. I’m waiting for the day when you go down to the nearby hot springs.
The folks at adventurebuddies.com have a great DVD for hiking pole technique. Their second DVD shows how trekking poles can be used to extend the mobility of seniors and balance-challenged individuals. From what I’ve heard, the Leki poles are very popular in parts of Europe but have yet to catch fire in North America. Trekking poles help my posture and have consistently helped everyone I’ve worked with personally. They really help people relax their shoulders while walking.
Nancy Mueller - WanderBoomer says
Thanks, Phil! Yes, I made it to the Ainsworth Hot Springs and will blog about it soon. I take it you’ve been there as well?
Thanks, too, for the info. on trekking poles. I’ll definitely check it out, though I’ve already purchased a pair from REI. I don’t want to lose the momentum I gained during my stay at Mountain Trek . . .
Cristina Dimen says
Love your post, Nancy. The views were superb, so worth the efforts. More than anything, I love how your breathing eased and you were able to notice the birdsong, and your precious surroundings. Thanks for sharing your rewarding adventures at Mountain Trek.
I just hiked up Mount Molly in New Hampshire on a family reunion/get-together. It was a steeper climb than I was told. But, when I was finally able to catch my breath, I really took in nature’s beauty and snapped pics, of course.
Nancy Mueller - WanderBoomer says
Thanks, Cristina. When we’re so caught up in our daily routines, it’s easy to lose sight of nature’s beauty and benefits to our health and well-being. Here’s hoping that hiking becomes more of a habit for us both!