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Solo Hiking is Risky

In this post, I give a personal account that highlights why, I firmly believe, it is a bad idea to venture out into the Wilds alone.

Author’s Note: I’ve touched on this subject before, but I feel it is VERY important so I decided it deserved its own post. My opinion is a little controversial, but I don’t care. Multiple situations we’ve encountered on the trail have fortified this belief…

SOLO HIKING IS VERY RISKY!

I know some people don’t like to hear this but stick with me here. Some of us have an independent streak that is so strong it can, unfortunately, outweigh our common sense at times. 😇

I’m not trying to tell people what to do, obviously, at the end of the day, we’re all adults and we have to make the final decision for ourselves on what is best for us. Only we can determine what risks we’re willing to take regarding our own personal safety. I’m just trying to weave a cautionary tale.

Getting Stuck When Adventuring Alone

Several winters past we were snowshoeing in the Big Hill area on a warm, March day. (That portion of the Black Hills had received another foot of snow from a blizzard earlier in the week.) We were hiking a new portion of the Big Hill recreation area, where new, fat bike and snowshoe trails had been added, that we weren’t very familiar with. Unfortunately, due to its newness, the maps for these trails were a little unclear and not well signed (or if they were signed, the info was buried under several feet of snow). 😝

Accidents Can Happen FAST in the Wild…

We were maneuvering down a gulley, (which may or may not contain a creek bed in warmer months). We thought we might be on-trail, but couldn’t really tell. (You are allowed to venture off-trail in these portions of the national forest, especially in the snow, and we knew our general location, so we were just having fun and exploring). Mr. Trekker had taken the lead and was cutting trail, I was following almost exactly in his footsteps. He took two steps, I took two steps…and my right leg immediately sunk into hip-deep snow.

Normally, this isn’t too big of a deal. It can be difficult to get out, but you just have to work at it. This time, my leg was stuck fast. I could move it around, but my ankle and foot refused to budge. It was in the 40s and sunny that day, so the snow was heavy, wet, and easily packable. (This was one of those days where large ice-balls gather on the bottoms of your snowshoes as you walk. I had sunk to almost knee-depth a short time earlier, and had a little trouble getting out as my snowshoe had created almost a vacuum in the snow.)

So, we weren’t too concerned. We began digging…and digging…and digging…

We finally dug far enough to reach my knee (we learned something from this event…snowshoes make good shovels! 😳) and I kept trying to loosen my foot but to no avail. This was getting a little ridiculous! Also, after several minutes half-buried in the white stuff, any part of my body that was touching the snow was starting to get cold! 🥶

We kept digging and about the time we reached my shin we hit something hard…very hard. We couldn’t tell what it was, other than we wouldn’t be able to move it and my snowshoe was lodged UNDER it. We couldn’t reach my foot–it was enclosed in my hiking boot which was firmly lashed to my snowshoe…and we couldn’t reach the bindings on the snowshoe to free the boot…

…at this point, my claustrophobia started to set in. I DO NOT like being stuck. It makes me feel like I’m suffocating. I had images of sinking into this hole and being smothered by all the *&%$# snow! 😝

I wasn’t too worried about being stuck forever because we knew what we needed to do, and I knew I wasn’t injured…but you start getting a little panicked when the adrenaline from the fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, and that can easily override rational thought. Fortunately, Mr. Trekker, with his IRRITATING AS HELL 😉😉 sense of calm was there to help keep my panic–mostly–at bay. 😝

You May Have to Wait a Long Time for an Outdoor Rescue

It was becoming clear that we’d have to tamp down the snow around where I was stuck to have any hope of getting me out, as every scoop we removed immediately filled in with more snow from other parts of the drift (it was almost like digging in sand). So, Mr. Trekker set about using his snowshoes to make a base around me.

By now I was starting to get uncomfortable. I was getting covered in snow that was blowing back on me from what we were scooping out of the hole. Also, the cold from the snow I was leaning on was conducting through my thin, hiking pants. Fortunately, we had supplies. (Another safety rule, ALWAYS bring extra supplies, even on nice days when you’re venturing onto trails and areas you’re familiar with. You NEVER KNOW when you will need them!)

I had the windbreaker/top layer of my winter coat with me (which is waterproof). I put that on to shield me from the snow blowback. We also always carry a small, 20-year-old rainfly from the first, $30 Walmart tent we ever purchased. (We usually use it as a base to sit on for lunch). Today, it provided a much-needed, extra layer between the cold snow and my tush so I could sit–fairly comfortably–while Mr. Trekker worked to free me.

A deep snow hole with gear spread around the top. A shadow of a person taking a picture covers part of the hole. — The picture doesn’t show the depth of the hole well, but it was close to six feet deep and maybe 10 feet in diameter! The dark spot at the bottom is the log my foot was stuck under. Snow had partially filled in the hole, already, by the time I got free.

FINALLY, my superhero-on-snowshoes was able to tamp down a base of snow around me to work from and then we set about digging further. At some point, we figured out my foot was lodged under a large, fallen tree, and its entirety was buried under FEET of heavy, wet snow. It wasn’t going to move, so I had to. Finally, after about 30 minutes, Mr. Trekker was able to reach the lashings on my snowshoe and unhook them, and I was then able to remove my foot. I was free!!! (We were then easily able to twist the snowshoe around and lift it out.)

To be clear, we never saw the ground. There was snow under the fallen tree, as well, which means that portion of it wasn’t sitting on the ground. (We think there was probably an air pocket around the fallen tree and that’s what I fell into.) So, we don’t know exactly how deep the drift was, but by the end, the snow piled up around me was at least shoulder-height from where I had sunk into the drift. So, it was easily six feet deep at a minimum!

Solo Hiking can be Dangerous

Stuff happens fast out in the Wilds folks. My “event” happened over the course of one step and about two seconds…and it took two, able-bodied adults more than 30 minutes to get me free. I don’t necessarily think I would have died if I had been out there alone. I wasn’t injured (fortunately) and I had full use of my arms and my other leg (as much as I could twist it around). However, it would have been CONSIDERABLY more difficult, and taken considerably more time, to dig out if I’d had to rely on my own devices. This increases the risk factor exponentially for two reasons:

1. 1. With the exception of my hiking boot and the gator covering my calf, the only protection between the entire rest of my leg and large amounts of cold snow was a thin layer of hiking pants (it was a warm day). It was also breezy, so every time we tried to throw snow out of the hole, half of it would blow back in my face and cover me (adding to my wetness). If I had been stuck out there long enough, frostbite could have become a real threat to the areas of my skin that were touching the snow.
  2. Hypothermia was the other concern. Because it was warm and sunny, if I was able to stay above the snow, I stayed reasonably warm. However, digging out meant getting covered in snow and getting wet. It also meant leaning/sitting on cold snow at least somewhat. If it had been 20 degrees–or more–colder, like it usually is when we venture out “shoeing”, the risk would have been even greater. I could have called for help, but that portion of the trail wasn’t heavily used (hence why we had to cut trail). There were also a lot of snowmobilers in the area that day and their noise may have drowned out my cries.

To conclude

So this brings us to my point. Unless you are trekking a heavily used trail at a busy time, (and remember, even popular trails can be isolated at certain times of the day, the week, or the year) solo hiking (or solo-adventuring in any manner) is risky! I know this position is strongly debated, I don’t care, I stand by my conviction. Illness, injury, equipment breakdown, animal attack, losing your way, all these things can happen VERY quickly and easily. Cell service is lost just as quickly, and GPS shouldn’t be trusted either. All it takes is one, nasty rolled ankle, or a fall, to put you in a precarious situation that you can’t get out of on your own, or to leave you stuck somewhere you can’t call for help.

Your furry friend is a great companion, but unless they can search for a cell signal, then dial 9-1-1, and THEN give a good explanation of your location—unlikely—they DON’T count as a trekking buddy. 😜 (A furry friend may have been able to help dig me out in this situation IF you could make them understand what was needed, and then IF you could get them to help correctly–maybe your dog is more well-behaved than ours). 😝

This was one of those unique situations that don’t seem that bad on the surface. I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t sick and we weren’t lost. I just had my leg and foot trapped under a log and several feet of heavy, wet snow (as it was, we ended up “shoeing” around a good bit after Mr. Trekker “recovered” me.) But in other conditions, or if I had been alone, this could have gone bad very quickly.

I’m a firm believer in learning from the mistakes of others (or at least the situations others find themselves in). So please, take my experience as a warning. In my case, we avoided disaster. But had I been alone, and had it been colder (or if I had been injured, God forbid), this could have very easily ended up as a rescue scenario and then only once I was able to raise help.

There was no cell service where I was, and I was stuck so I couldn’t crawl to where there was service. I should also point out, we were less than a mile from a regularly-used road, so we weren’t really out in the wilderness–this wouldn’t have helped my situation either, had I been alone. Likely no one on the road would have heard my cries for help (I was in a gully, they would have been driving by at 50 mph and their windows would have been closed).

Obviously, I can’t force anyone to follow my advice. There is no Adventure Police manning the trails ticketing people who venture into the wilderness alone. But I think we can all logically acknowledge that it IS riskier to solo hike.

Bad things can happen SO quickly and SO easily when we’re enjoying nature. Even on fairly easy trails and/or on good-weather days. A perfectly wonderful day can turn dangerous (or at least problematic) in an instant. I’m not trying to be a killjoy, but I feel very strongly about this. For that reason, I can never endorse someone adventuring alone, anywhere off the beaten path.

I know some people really enjoy going out alone, so you need to make the decision for yourself if it is worth the risk. Also, sometimes, people don’t really have any acquaintances that enjoy these types of activities. This problem is much easier to fix. If you don’t have a trekking buddy, this is a great opportunity to make new friends! Look for groups online or join a meetup group (or start one yourself!)

So my final word on the subject is this: I implore you, please, think twice before going on a solo hike!

And also, sometimes, superheroes wear snowshoes! 😉😘😍

What are your thoughts about the risks of solo hiking? Tell me in the comments!

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Anxiety: The Devil Inside

In this post, I discuss two songs that I feel well explain my struggle with anxiety.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” –Hans Christian Anderson

Music has long been known to stimulate the brain and emotions. An entire field of therapy has evolved around this theory. Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows that I struggle with anxiety and some depression. I’ve mentioned previously how certain songs speak to me. Today I am going to discuss two songs I’ve always found draw a perfect picture of what it feels like to live with these disorders. (This may apply to other mental health diagnoses as well, but these are the ones I have personal experience with and can speak to.) The songs are “Monster” by Skillet and “Jekyll and Hyde”, by 5 Finger Death Punch…

“Monster” (by Skillet)

I love, love, LOVE this song! It is, by far, one of my top 10 favorite songs. It’s just so pertinent. It’s one of those tunes you can’t help but get revved up by. My understanding is, the band’s intent with this song was to use the “monster” as a metaphor for sin, or a person being fake and not showing their true selves to the world.

(For those who may not know, Skillet is a Christian rock band. I can proudly say I liked them back in high school. We don’t need to talk about how long ago THAT was, 😝 but let’s just say it was well before everyone else thought they were cool. 😉)

Anxiety as an invisible demon

“The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can’t control it…”

Every time I hear these lyrics I think of my struggle with anxiety. They refer to a monster (the diagnosis) that is caged (invisible). This is especially relevant as many of us who struggle with mental health disorders are often quite adept at concealing them. Sometimes, people suffer so silently they aren’t even aware they have a disorder at all, as they’ve never talked with a professional and been diagnosed. They may think they’re “just a worrier” or that they’re just “different” from other people.

It’s not uncommon for those who struggle with anxiety to actually be incredibly outgoing, driven, and as a result, quite successful. This means outsiders may be surprised to hear of their internal struggle, as it isn’t obvious. The thing about this monster is though, while I can keep it “hidden away” and subdued in its “cage”, I can’t control how it may scream or violently shake its enclosure (i.e. me 😝)…

“…the beast is ugly…”

The beast (the disorder) is nasty. Dealing with it is exhausting and a constant chore…

“My secret side of me I keep hid under lock and key…”

“…Cause if I let him out he’ll tear me up, break me down…”

I worry that if I slip and allow “the monster” to show its ugly face, that it’ll get out of its cage and I’ll lose control of it–and as a result–lose control of myself.

“It’s hiding in the dark, its teeth are razor sharp
There’s no escape for me…”

“…No one can hear me scream…”

This speaks to the fact that “the monster” causes emotional pain. It’s difficult to explain to others what it’s like dealing with a mental health diagnosis, so you feel like they can’t understand you. It makes you feel isolated…due to this, people often suffer in silence.

Anxiety constantly plagues you

“It’s scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can’t control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head…”

“…I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin…”

Imagine the frustration of something continuously scratching on the walls around you, constantly picking at you. You know it can’t physically hurt you, but you also know nothing you do can make it go away, either. It accompanies you everywhere. It’s your everpresent, unwanted companion.

You feel it in your chest, it churns in your gut, it makes thoughts bounce around in your head. It hides just under your skin, where no one else can see it, but you know it’s there. You worry that it’s obvious to others though, oftentimes, it’s invisible…

There is no magic pill for anxiety

“The nightmare’s just begun…”

To me, this phrase speaks to the fact that this disorder is something I’ll, likely, have to deal with for the rest of my life. There’s no magic pill that will cure me tomorrow. It’s something I have to accept and deal with.

“Jekyll and Hyde” (by Five Finger Death Punch)

This song, obviously, references the pop culture icon where two souls, one evil, one an upstanding doctor, share the same body.

Anxiety is a constant anchor around your neck

“There’s just so much..weight on my shoulders
All I’m trying to do is live my…life
Supposed to be happy, but I’m only getting colder
Wear a smile on my face, but there’s a demon inside…”

just like Jekyll and Hyde…”

“…I feel like Jekyll and Hyde…”

This song also reflects the idea of a demon (the anxiety) living in you that you can’t quite control. It constantly wears on you and drags you down. You’re continuously dealing with this weight on your shoulders while putting on a brave face for the outside world. It even speaks to the feeling of guilt that is often present for bothering other people with this struggle because you know that others are struggling far worse than you are.

“I just wanna be Jekyll, but I’m always fighting Hyde…”

“…Everyone I know, they’ve got a demon inside…”

This also alludes to the notion that everyone struggles with problems. These could revolve around mental or physical health, finances, relationships, a job, or other outside circumstances beyond our control. Everyone is dealing with something.

In both of these songs, I see “the demon”, “Hyde” or “the monster” as a metaphor for my anxiety symptoms. They’re always there, waiting to rear their ugly head. I can usually control them, but sometimes, it’s a struggle.

Battling the “Demons” of Mental Health Disorders

A “demon” or a “monster” is a good way for me to describe my personal experience of the sensation of dealing with mental health diagnoses. Whenever I try to imagine my anxiety in a physical sense, it’s always in the form of a black shadow, with large claws, reaching out to grab me. Other times, I imagine a beast with its talons already embedded deep within my shoulder–like something out of one of Frank Peretti’s books from the ’80s. 😉

The “demon” is something I can control. I own it, not the other way around. However, what I can’t control is the fact that it is consistently present within me. I may be able to keep it from “breaking out” into the larger world, but it’s still something I have to deal with.

Are there “perks” to anxiety?

I don’t mean for this post to be a downer. I actually find both of these songs to be energizing. Who doesn’t enjoy some hardcore dance moves with a little headbanging thrown in for good measure? 😳😉 I’ve actually come to appreciate, to a degree, some of the insights into life that my anxiety has brought me. The disorder allows you to better empathize with the hidden struggles others face because you’ve experienced difficulties, personally, as well.

I also find my anxiety helps me to appreciate life more (in a sense). When you’re constantly stressing that something may go wrong, it helps you to fully appreciate, even the small things, that turn out right! The disorder also helps you keep in mind that regardless of how happy and “put together” someone may look on the outside, you have no idea what they may be dealing with privately. NO ONE has a perfect life, or has it “easy”. That’s a common bond we all share. I am thankful that I have learned how to use this struggle as a tool, to deepen my lived experience.

I don’t expect anyone to pity me for having to deal with this struggle. This is just the one God (the Universe, Fate–or Whoever/Whatever-you-believe-moves-the-pieces-around-on-this-giant-chessboard-we-call life) dealt for me. Everyone has challenges placed in their lives, this is mine. I just hope this allows you a clearer understanding of what life is like when dealing with an invisible illness or unknown, difficult situation. Maybe we can all use this knowledge to give each other a little break since we’re all dealing with something.

**Below are links to both songs. For those who aren’t aware, Five Finger Death Punch has an affinity for explicit word use. I love their music, but in the interest of keeping this blog’s PG rating, I left those words out of the lyrics. This is a GREAT song though (and it’s got an awesome guitar riff near the end) so I encourage you to click here for the UNRATED, full version. 😁 (But if you’re offended by strong swear words, you’ve been warned. 😉)

You can view the video for “Monster” here. (Anyone who’s heard the song knows one of the best parts is the final chorus line when an electronic demon sound screams “I FEEL LIKE A MONSTER!!!”) 😉

Do you struggle with anxiety or another mental illness? Is my experience similar to yours? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Cross Country Skiing is Hard! Be Persistent!

This post is a glimpse into the ongoing process of the Tranquil Trekker learning to cross-country ski…

Most articles I’ve read about cross-country skiing call it the “easy” winter sport. You never hear about people having terrible accidents on cross-country skis. “It’s something even a beginner can do!” they say…these are LIES I tell you, filthy, dirty LIES! 😮😉

Cross-country skiing is HARD!!!

The Trekkers have been cross-country skiing for several years, though we usually only get out a few times each winter. (Life is busy! We’ve also had such warm winters the last few years it’s hard to keep the snow around–at least snow that isn’t sticky or icy, that is powdery, and actually fun to ski in…have I mentioned how much I hate climate change? 😡)

This could explain why I’ve struggled so much to grasp the techniques of the sport. I read somewhere that you have to ski 10,000 kilometers to become skilled at cross-country skiing (it was a Canadian talking. 😝 For those of us living south of the border, that’s over 6000 miles!) We’ve probably skied less than 100 miles so far, so we’ve got a little ways to go. 😅

We’ve pretty much done all the stuff you’re supposed to do to learn to ski. We’ve watched various videos on Youtube, we’ve talked to the “experts” at several sports shops and equipment rental places. (To be fair, we haven’t taken an actual class, I can’t quite bring myself to do that. I don’t need five-year-olds skiing circles around me to humble my skiing ego. The bruises and sore muscles I acquire every time we go out take care of that just fine, thank you…Also, comparing my skill to that of a five-year-old is probably insulting…to the five-year-old! 😝)

An example of what frustrates me so much when all these experts make skiing sound so EASY… “The snowplow technique is an easy and effective way to stop yourself that even beginners can employ.” Will someone please tell me how I’m supposed to do this with six inches to a foot of snow on top of my ski? Or at the very least, with a six-inch lip of packed, icy snow surrounding the lane my skis are in?! They don’t tell you THAT in the videos! 😝

The trainers also say things like, “if you fall, just get your skis under you and roll back up!” Uh-huh, again, how do I do that when I can’t even see where my skis are under all that snow? And when I can’t get any leverage, because every time I try to push myself up my arm sinks into the powder up to my shoulder? Also, I have weak ankles that are “supinated”, meaning they tend to bend outward and I put most of my weight on the outer edge of my feet so I roll my ankles easily and frequently…this causes lots of problems. 😝 (I’m just saying, my lack of skill may not be ENTIRELY my fault, 90% my fault, tops. 😉)

I think a lot of these “experts” and trainers are used to cross-country ski resorts, where the trails are groomed and the terrain is fairly flat. They aren’t guiding people in the backcountry, through the secluded (albeit GORGEOUS) national forest, where hills can be steep, turns tight, and you may have to break your own trail.

Cross-country skiing is easy! (NOT!)

This sport is, supposedly, easy to master. People don’t usually even wear helmets when engaging in it. They aren’t needed, you aren’t going that fast. You hear people say, “if you can walk, you can ski.” This may be true for some people, but, on a normal day, my feet don’t–usually–slide out from under me (each going an opposite direction) due to their waxed or fish-scaled bottoms. 😝 I do believe the saying is true regarding snowshoeing, I just think skiing takes a bit more finesse.

Let’s just be blunt here, I pretty much suck at skiing. Yes, that flailing spider monkey you see SLOWLY making their way down the hill, the one you pray doesn’t hit you…the one you wish would just get out of the way…or the one you just want to avoid entirely…yeah, that’d be me. 😇 I’m the one who, when on skis, falls over…WHILE STANDING STILL…on flat ground!…because I had the audacity to turn my head to look in another direction. 🙄

For those who aren’t familiar with the Eagle Cliff area where we usually ski, it has some groomed trails. (The area is run by volunteers so sometimes you have to be patient for them to finish with the grooming and plowing at the trailheads.)

To be clear though, it isn’t unusual for us to have to break trail when we go skiing. Or, if we don’t have to actually cut a trail, oftentimes there is just a two-track ski path available to follow that was recently cut by someone else. If it was only just created, it may not be packed much yet. Due to this, we may not have the struggle of breaking through six inches (or more) of fresh powder, but we can still sink with every glide we make as the process of packing the trail is still occurring (it almost feels like walking in sand). I only stress this to make people aware, we often aren’t dealing with perfectly groomed ski trails here.

Cross-country skiing IS fun! (No really!)

Regardless of the frequent humiliation, when I am able to remain vertical, I really enjoy skiing. I like the exercise. I like the way I can glide along, almost soundlessly, through the beauty of the snow-shrouded forest, with just the *wisp-wisp* of the skis slipping through the powdery snow as an accompaniment. I LOVE seeing the adorable, little, rodent paths crisscrossing the snow as they make their way from snowbank…to fallen log…to tree…

I do feel bad, though, for the rodent whose path suddenly ends in the middle of a large area of wing-swept snow, where it’s obvious that something both much bigger than himself (and with talons) scooped him from his daily business, never to be seen or heard from again. 😳 At least it was a good day for the bird, I guess. 🤭

I enjoy watching the deer spring effortlessly through the snowpack at our approach. I always find it fascinating, “reading” the stories the forest “tells”. In the Black Hills, this often includes the large, padded tracks left in the snow by a giant feline’s paws. You can picture it stalking the unsuspecting deer herd in the meadow below, from its vantage point on a ledge high above.

Learning to cross-country ski

After several years of trying, I have finally learned to use my knees while skiing! (This technique may seem like a no-brainer, but it was a HUGE game-changer for me, so bear with me. 😉)

I’ve always known a bent-knee stance should help with control, flexibility, and looseness. Apparently, I’ve just never bent my knees enough. (It’s amazing how well things work when you do them correctly. 😝) All of a sudden I felt like I hit this sweet spot. I could finally use the angle of my knees and the weight of my body to turn (a little!) I could finally attempt the “snowplow” maneuver used for stopping (slightly!) But, for the first time, I actually felt like I had a little control (“little” being the crucial word).

I also found, the lower I kept my center of gravity, the easier it was to keel over into a fall if I felt like I was losing control. I FINALLY conquered my fear of plastering myself into the nearest tree! Now, if I feel like I’m heading towards a tree and can’t seem to turn the skis from their stubborn track, I can lean to my side and slide to a safe stop–with legs that flail a bit less. Getting rid of the fear changes everything! (Remember I have anxiety! 😉)

I recently learned a new trick…plant your heels! This helps when trying to “snowplow” to stop and can help with steering too!

The best method when cross-country skiing actually reminds me of the best method when mountain biking…stay loose! When you’re fearful or worried, you’re tense; you’re tight; your body can’t flow with the normal rises and falls of the surface you are gliding over. And if you do fall or hit a bump badly, you’re more likely to injure yourself due to your, already tight, muscles. So, this newfound ease of mine is a game-changer!

I also need to learn that I’m not really moving all that quickly. It just “feels” like I’m careening down the hill at unimaginable speeds. In the real world, I’m actually just coasting along. 😝

Be persistent when learning a new skill

For me, this has been one of the most frustrating activities we have attempted, but I FINALLY feel like I’m starting to make some progress! I think there’s a take-home lesson in this. That is, never give up. If there is something you enjoy doing, something you have your heart set on, something you want to accomplish, keep working at it, and keep persevering. You may fail MANY times, but each time is another opportunity to learn a new technique that you can implement on your next attempt. Each time you try, you get a little better, a little stronger, a little faster.

I read that the word “F.A.I.L.” can be a positive acronym for:
First
Action
In
Learning

I like that, it’s empowering. It helps us to recognize that sometimes failing to do something the first few times–or the first few hundred times–we try it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. It pushes us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. We can use it to make ourselves better. Oftentimes, I find failing at something, and thereby having to work hard and be resourceful to achieve it, actually benefits me more in the end than if I had just, easily, succeeded on the first try. Those difficult experiences are how we learn!

Regarding skiing, I just have A LOT of learning to do! 😉

What experiences do you have with cross-country skiing? Tell me about them in the comments!

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A Trekker’s Manifesto

In this post I discuss my motivations for writing this blog.

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.”

― John Muir

Some may wonder why I write this blog…

One of my favorite songs is “Noise”, by Kenny Chesney. For me, it’s a rallying cry, of sorts, as it well expresses my growing disillusionment with the rat race that is the modern lifestyle. I firmly believe one of the central problems with modern society is that we are constantly overstimulated with busy lives, busy minds, and busy spirits.

The song demonstrates how this “noise” that continuously engulfs us makes us miserable. It is inescapable and unending. My personal belief is this overstimulation contributes to the anxiety so many feel. I know, for myself, the anxious symptoms I experience peak when my life feels the most hectic.

Some lyrics from the song state:

“…Yeah we scream, yeah we shout ’til we don’t have a voice. In the streets, in the crowds, it ain’t nothing but noise…”

We’re constantly pulled in multiple directions at once: relationships, chores, work and school, hobbies, attempting-to-find-some-time-to-just-relax!

“Twenty-four hour television, gets so loud that no one listens…”

In addition, we’re persistently bombarded by 24-hour news cycles, streaming music, and video, our sources of stimulation continue on ad-nauseum…. I can feel my blood pressure rising just THINKING about all of this! 🤯

Articles are written about the burnout people feel. How they are striving to “unplug”, to have a better work-life balance, to take back control of their lives. But then, they’re told to “lean in” and live “well-rounded” lives…

“There really ain’t no conversation, ain’t nothing left to the imagination…”

From an early age, we’re exposed to so much technology that our creativity is squashed. Children used to spend hours playing outside, but now their days are filled with activities structured by others and devices that tell them what a game is and how to play it. We don’t think for ourselves anymore or take a step back and critically examine situations. Instead, we allow ourselves to be influenced and pressured by what our friends are “liking” on social media, or what our trusted news source is telling us is a fact.

“…trapped in our phones and we can’t make it stop…”

We’re all adrenaline junkies running around constantly stimulated by the technology that continuously surrounds us. This stimulation is so persistent that when we have to go more than 30 minutes without the dopamine hits it provides we get anxious and think we’re bored—even though that’s what life is supposed to normally feel like—we just aren’t used to it. Our phones chirp mercilessly, constantly giving us the recognition we’ve come to crave as it means that someone “liked” our post or tweet, or is trying to contact us so we don’t feel so small and alone…

*This may seem contradictory for a blogger; whose job is dependent on the use of technology. To be clear, I’m not anti-technology, I’m pro the purposeful and controlled use of it. It’s a tool that should be used deliberately and within limits, without allowing it to control our lives.*

I write for my love of the outdoors…

“Sometimes I wonder, how did we get here? …we didn’t turn it on, but we can’t turn it off…”

We’re constantly surrounded by all this “noise” but we haven’t yet evolved to handle it, and I don’t think we are meant to. We weren’t designed for the modern-day lifestyle. Evolution didn’t prepare us for this craziness, because it isn’t a natural thing. We’re meant to be surrounded by the peace and tranquility that nature brings: the perfectly formed snowflake; the sound of chirping birds and the whistling wind; the silent clamor of snow falling in the woods; the pitter-patter of rain against the window and the “CRASH!” of thunder outside. We’re meant to feel the sun warm our skin as the wind caresses our face and to smell the fresh, earthy aroma of wet dirt that a fresh rain brings.

I’m an avid Nature Girl. I enjoy pretty much any activity that gives me an excuse to be outside. I’m also high energy (in case that isn’t obvious). 😉 I like the outdoors, active hobbies and I find walls induce claustrophobia. I grew up as a country-girl, playing in the dirt and fresh air, so, outdoor recreation is a perfect hobby for me.

This love of nature brings me peace by enjoying the beauty and simplicity of the environment that surrounds us. Many people find comfort in these things and I think there’s a reason for that, it’s our intended habitat. It’s where we’re supposed to be, so, we connect with it on a basic, transcendent level. The most instinctual part of our being longs for it. I feel my spirit is renewed by nature, so I want to use this blog to encourage others to enjoy this incredible experience, as well.

For me, this peace is also spiritual, in a sense. Not everyone agrees with this, and that’s ok, religion is a very personal journey, and everyone has to choose what’s best for them. I feel my life is richer and I find hope in despairing situations when I embrace the spiritual side of life. Experiencing nature aids my spiritual journey as it helps me to form a tangible connection to the Creator, by communing with the extraordinary creation.

I’ve enjoyed being out in nature since I was a kid, I especially love the mountains. I still remember the instant I fell in love with them. Mr. Trekker and I were enjoying our first road trip together, in 2005, shortly after we both graduated college. We were at Mesa Verde National Park, standing at one of the lookouts on top of the mesa, with the whole of Colorado stretching before us (maybe THAT’s why I love the state so much?!) 😉

I remember thinking, “I could live here”, and feeling a connection to the mountains, on a visceral level. At the time, the Trekkers were preparing to move to North Carolina. Until then, I had only ever lived in Indiana, this was my first time experiencing the Rockies. I had visited the Appalachians throughout Pennsylvania and New England on numerous family vacations and had always enjoyed the mountain scenery, but this time, something struck a chord within me…

It would be six years before we returned to the mountain west, this time to stay. We’d had enough of the big city, and after numerous adventures in the mountains of western North Carolina, we were hooked on our outdoor activities. The Black Hills aren’t quite the Rockies, but the smaller towns and simpler way of life—not to mention the frequently beautiful weather—suit me just fine.

I write to describe my struggle with anxiety and (hopefully) to help others who are struggling…

When we moved to South Dakota, I started experiencing frequent symptoms of anxiety. To make matters worse, I also began noticing depressive symptoms due to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), thanks to the minimal hours of sunlight–and the resulting Vitamin D deficiency—present in the Northern Plains during the winter. I set out on a mission to learn methods to alleviate the symptoms I was experiencing, so I began working with a therapist.

For some, anti-anxiety medications work wonders. For myself, I hated the woozy, detached feeling I experienced as a side-effect, so I sought out natural and behavior-based methods as an alternative. I have found that by taking a step back from the continuous “noise” of our modern lifestyle, through pursuing outdoor adventures, and by employing intentional methods such as mindfulness, I am able to effectively manage the condition.

Besides the obvious benefit of a flood of endorphins brought on by physical exercise, I think experiencing nature helps to decrease anxiety symptoms because it has a tendency to test our resolve. It’s an incredibly humbling–and somewhat frightening—experience when you find yourself at a different location on the trail than you originally thought, and you realize how far you still have to go as the sun sinks ever lower towards the horizon. Your concern is heightened as the cold wind intensifies, and dark clouds close in. You come to the very sobering realization that you are at the mercy of Mother Nature and her elements.

This is a moment where anxiety is truly warranted! But, it’s also an incredibly empowering moment. You realize that you’re reliant on your own devices, that your ability to get home rests squarely on your own shoulders…and you CAN do this! It’s liberating when you do, eventually, make it home safely. The feat raises your confidence level as you now know that you are capable, and you can handle the challenges life throws at your feet. It helps you to realize how powerful your inner strength really is!

I think we often forget that anxiety can be a useful tool. It’s a natural, beneficial response to an element in our environment that’s posing a risk to us. But it should be reserved for situations where our safety is actually at risk. Unfortunately, these aren’t the situations that often cause anxiety in modern times.

Oftentimes, “modern” stress stems from situations that are, frequently, not threatening at all. As I had a therapist once explain it, “your body doesn’t know the difference between being called into a meeting in your boss’ office and being chased by a saber-toothed tiger! It responds the same.” “Good” stress situations (such as finding yourself lost on a trail) help to keep anxious feelings in perspective. They help us to realize that some circumstances unnecessarily induce anxiety within us.

Beyond personal empowerment, basking in the awesome power of nature helps to remind us that we aren’t the center of the universe. It’s humbling (and relieving) to experience that power overshadows many of our worries, and it helps us to realize that many of them aren’t as unique or catastrophic as we think they are. What is an impending root canal in comparison to the immense “ROAR!” created as millions of gallons of water pour over a waterfall every day? Or when you observe the natural forces required to create locations such as the Grand Canyon?

I write for my quest for a more tranquil lifestyle…

“Every room, every house, every shade of noise. All the floors, all the walls, they all shake with noise. We can’t sleep, we can’t think, can’t escape the noise, we can’t take the noise so we just make noise!”

We were all dropped into this technological soup that we aren’t equipped to handle. To mitigate the stress brought on by our modern lifestyles, we seek out more stimulation (or noise), when what we really need is rest! We get worked up from the constant information and news, we worry about our friends and family, about the state of the world. Then, due to all this, we struggle to sleep at night which just leads to exhaustion, more stress, more anxiety, and depression…WE NEED A BREAK! We need to be able to take time to just STOP!…relax…take a breath…and enjoy the natural beauty and peace that constantly surround us.

I write this blog because I want to help people find their break. Through my struggle with anxiety, I’ve found that one of the best ways to control the condition is to actively seek out activities and lengthy amounts of time where I remove the craziness of the modern world from my life and get back to what matters most. The Bible says, “No man can serve two masters”, and that’s true in life as well. We seem to know that we need to take control of our lives, but we don’t know how to do so. This blog is about my search for a more tranquil lifestyle. I write to help others with a similar desire.

I find I’m able to mitigate my anxiety symptoms by employing a more tranquil existence. I strive to maintain a purposeful mindset where I utilize deliberate techniques to control my symptoms, such as mindfulness, meditation, and journaling. Mindfulness helps us to focus on the present, not an upcoming meeting with the boss or an argument we had with our spouse that morning. It also helps us to fully enjoy whatever we’re engaging in at that current moment and to make the most of it. Journaling allows me to relieve the thoughts that are bouncing around in my head in a productive way. It helps me to view my concerns objectively, and either devise solutions to them or realize they aren’t as concerning as I first thought.

A peaceful lifestyle helps to lessen anxiety. This is because the more stressed we become, the lower our tolerance is to handle stressful situations, which increases the likelihood that we’ll feel anxiety regarding them. In contrast, the calmer we feel, the higher our tolerance to handle stressful situations, and the better adept we’ll be at using coping methods to alleviate any anxiety that results from them.

For myself, tranquility means not constantly feeling hyped up, not constantly dwelling on things to come, or constantly replaying previous conversations in my head. It means focusing solely on aspects of my life and the world at large that I actually have control over (such as how I respond to circumstances). For elements of life that we can’t control, worrying about them doesn’t help anyway, so why bother? (To be clear, this is easy to say, but NEVER easy to accomplish in practice. This is one of those skills I toil with on a daily basis.)

These practices have led me to a more fulfilling life, a decrease in symptoms of anxiety, and greater control over the disorder. Writing this blog also helps me return my focus to nature and the things I enjoy. It helps me focus on positive things and reminds me of the empowering effect of the activities we pursue; how they stretch the bounds of my comfort zone and show me how capable I really am. I hope by sharing these experiences with others I can be a vehicle to help lead them to a more tranquil, thoughtful, and less anxious experience, as well.

I write the blog as a guidebook of sorts…

I also write this blog as a type of guidebook, to share the adventures we’ve had and to assist others who may want to follow in our footsteps (so to speak). I truly enjoy traveling, the sites we see, and the random hodgepodge of people we meet.

Since we live in the Black Hills of South Dakota, my posts primarily focus on activities in that area. However, Mr. Trekker and I are also avid travelers, so I also outline the various journeys we embark on around the country. The Trekkers engage in an eclectic mix of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, canoeing, exploring 4-wheel-drive roads, car camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and road trips, among others.

I want to encourage others to try activities that are outside their comfort zone, while at the same time giving them practical, useful tips to help make that experience as painless as possible. I want to spark their interest in new activities, but also give them an awareness of what hurdles may lie in their path so that they can embark on their adventures well-prepared. For those who may be unable to partake of some of these sites, I hope to bring the experience to them, in a sense, through my writing.

To Conclude:

The techniques listed above have empowered me to take more control of my anxiety. I don’t put my issues out there to garner pity from others. Rather, I seek to relate my personal struggles with the disorder, as well as the methods I’ve learned to help control it. I want this blog to be a place where others can come to acquire these tools for themselves.

I’ve accepted the fact that my anxiety is a part of me, that it’s something I will, likely, live with for the rest of my life. But, that doesn’t mean I have to allow it control over my life. I strive, every day, to reign in those worrisome thoughts and emotions and use them to improve myself. There will be some tough days. Sometimes, the anxiety will win. But that’s just one day. Life is a marathon, not a sprint! The sun WILL rise again tomorrow! So, when we have a bad day, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and press on!

Part of what I love about the outdoors is that nature cuts out the BS. It takes away our technology and gets us back to basics. It humbles us as it forces us to acknowledge there are some things in life we can’t control. Along with that, though, it helps us to understand that some of the things that cause us anxiety aren’t really as threatening as we might first think. Nature gets us back to our intrinsic roots. I find that one of the rare times I can truly put my mind and spirit at peace is when I’m engaging with and appreciating the natural world, in all its glory. I want to share that with others.

So, some may ask, “why do I write this blog and spend so much time outside?” To that I answer, “to escape the noise!”

*Ya’ll, I’m telling you, this song is awesome. If you aren’t familiar with it, I BEG you, go listen to it. This is three-and-a-half minutes that IS worth your time (the video is pretty cool, too). For your convenience, I’ve linked to it here. Pay careful attention to the last couple of shots near the end, see if you notice a common theme…*

I HATE Seasonal Depression!

In this post, I attempt to shed a “sunny” light on the dark days the winter season brings…

We’re currently mired in the midst of dark, winter days here in the northern portions of the northern hemisphere. Days with little daylight are rough.

I’ve written previously about my annual struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It starts hurting somewhere in mid-September, though it really ramps up after the time change in early November (specifically, from the time change through Thanksgiving.) Usually, once the Holidays are in full swing and I’m excited about Christmas the ache eases a bit.

I was SO THANKFUL, several years ago, when they changed the date clocks fall back to the first Sunday in November instead of the last in October (yes, that week MATTERS). It meant staving off the worst of the SAD ache for a few more weeks.

Then, after the Holidays, I start struggling again. The weather is crappy, the sun is still setting well before 5:00 pm, and most of the sparkling, Christmas lights are gone from the neighborhood, so they no longer offer their break from the seemingly, endless darkness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hurts!

Individual people experience varying degrees of severity and symptoms with this disorder. For me, they’re mostly classified by irritability, emotional sensitivity (I burst into tears easily), the desire to lash out at those around me for daring to engage in the most ghastly of behaviors (such as chewing or swallowing loudly 🤯), or…loud breathing (must people do it CONSTANTLY?! 😉)

For me it isn’t so much a sense of hopelessness or of impending doom, it feels more like incessant PMS (this descriptor won’t be much help to the members of my audience with a Y chromosome. 😂) I just don’t feel good! I want to curl up in sweatpants, in the dark, and eat a pound of Doritos with a two-pound bar of Hershey’s, Special Edition, Dark Chocolate as a chaser…and wash it all down with a Big Gulp of Cherry Coke!

I’m a midwestern girl so, naturally, I think all emotional pain should be solved with food, preferably something of the casserole variety (with main ingredients of cheese, potatoes, or cream of mushroom soup! 🤤)

*I don’t mean to make light of this–admittedly difficult–condition. I just try not to take myself too seriously. A little good-natured jesting helps me to keep things in perspective. Plus they claim it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, and I’m lazy so…😉*

Embrace the dark of winter

In another post I wrote, regarding my disorder, I discuss ways I try to mitigate the “ouch factor” by embracing the darkness. In that post, I encourage people to seek out the peace and tranquility present in sizable amounts of dark hours. A good example of this is enjoying the peace that settles over the chilly nights when stars speckle across the dark blanket of sky that drapes across you.

The Trekkers are fortunate to live in an area of (fairly minimal) light pollution–we can actually see the Milky Way from our backyard on clear nights! This is even more true if we head out of town to the true darkness the Black Hills proffers.

You never know what you’ll observe when enjoying the quiet peace of the dark evening. Owls hooting in the distance, a shooting star, the lost Dominos driver cruising past your house multiple times searching for the correct address…😂 Also, I’ve learned, Mother Nature provides natural refrigeration for your wine if you are outside on those cold nights! 😁

Rushing the holidays increases stress

During the fall months, when my SAD is usually at its worst, I find the rush to Christmas also increases my stress.

Now, don’t get me wrong folks, I’m no Grinch, I LOVE Christmas. There are no “bah humbugs!” coming from the Trekker household! Mr. Trekker’s ears are usually bleeding from the excess of Christmas music by January 1st. 😂 I LOVE the sparkling decorations; the music and movies (here’s looking at you Clark Griswald!); the food, the parties, and the time spent with family. I even LOVE the snow (if you’re actually lucky enough to have a white Christmas these days! 😝)

I just think there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Since when does Christmas start in October? (In the US at least) there is a whole other holiday between that month and “the Jolly Old Elf” people! 😜 November is still Fall! Leaves are still falling, the deer haven’t finished gorging on the pumpkins on our front stoop yet. As Sally from Charlie Brown would say, “I haven’t even finished all my Halloween candy!” Then there’s all the stress and commercialization of the Holidays…

Why are we always in such a hurry to rush through life? Why can’t we learn to take each day, week, month (and holiday!) as it comes? There is a lot of busyness and stress that comes with the Holiday Season. Can we have a little time to ramp up to it? And seriously ya’ll, do we really want to rush to the dull, dark days of January?! REALLY?!

STOP RUSHING ME!!! 😜 (Straight No Chaser does a GREAT song about this, by the way! 😂)

Days with little daylight

I don’t know about where the rest of you live, but in western South Dakota, it’s DARK dark by 5:30 for three months of the year, and during the darkest times the sun is down by 4:00. 😜 (If anyone is reading this post in even more extreme latitudes, you have my MOST SINCERE sympathy). BUT, at least for some of that time, it is starting to get light by 6 am. That makes dragging my sorry butt out of bed a little easier!

The good news is, we only have a short time left until the Solstice! There is a light at the end of the tunnel! While these short days SUCK!, it means the countdown has started. And now the sparkling lights and festive music of the Christmas Season have arrived in earnest to raise our spirits!

Other Vitamin D3 options: Nature’s Bounty, Nature Made 2000 IU tablets, NOW softgels, Extra Strength!

Once the Holiday Season is over, January’s dark days come (though they are getting a little shorter!) Then finally it’s on to February and the sun starts staying up past 5! (My mood usually starts to improve again when we return to more normal daylight lengths.)

So, until then, get outside as much as you can (or at least sit by a window and enjoy some sun and daylight whenever possible), and don’t forget the Vitamin D3!

I’m also a fan of fun movies, this is when you pull out the good stuff. My personal favorites are those with car chases or anything that makes me laugh (they say it’s the best medicine!) There is absolutely nothing wrong with 12-hour Star Wars or Netflix marathons on cold, dreary days (just open the curtains so you get some daylight!) 🌞

I’ll just be hunkering down here for the next few weeks with my temporary best friends, dreaming of bright sunshine! A little “woosah!” doesn’t hurt either (and if you haven’t seen Bad Boys 2, I strongly recommend it for a little distraction during these dark days!)

Heads up ya’ll, the countdown to daylight has begun!

How do you cope during the darkest days of the year? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Therapy Lamp and Calm App Reviews

I review a light, therapy lamp and an app I use to decrease symptoms of anxiety and seasonal depression.

I’ve mentioned before that I struggle with general anxiety as well as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and that I prefer behavioral treatment methods over psychotropic medications. Below are two, non-medication, products that I use regularly and that I find help greatly, a therapy lamp and the Calm app:

Light Therapy Lamp

During the fall and winter, as the daylight wanes, this tool is a must for me (these have been documented to help decrease the symptoms of SAD.) There are several versions of this device, but this is the specific, light therapy lamp I use several months out of the year.

You have to be careful which ones you buy as they need to provide at least 10,000 lux of light, the minimum wavelength required to stimulate your brain correctly. Unfortunately, the good ones aren’t cheap. The old adage is true, however, “you get what you pay for”. When you’re experiencing several dark, cloudy days in a row, I find this helps, significantly, so it’s worth the cost.

Other Vitamin D3 options: Nature’s Bounty, Nature Made 2000 IU tablets, NOW softgels

This is not a perfect replacement for true sunlight, and it offers no source of Vitamin D3 (I mentioned previously that I enhance my levels with supplements in the winter months). But, when you’re struggling amid a string of several gray days–and especially when you’re driving both to work and home in the dark 😝–this device helps to brighten up your world a little bit.

A word of warning, because of the way it stimulates your brain, it can cause sleep disturbances if it’s used too closely to bedtime. I use it in the morning and evenings, in the kitchen, when I’m preparing meals or doing dishes. Those are the times I notice the lack of daylight the most and these timeframes don’t affect my sleep habits. You’re supposed to sit within a certain distance of the lamp, though I find just having it in the same room I’m in and being able to see the light provides relief.

Other therapy lamp choices: Happy Light Luxe; Happy Light full-size; Happy Light UV-free; Happy Light Alba; Happy Ligh Lumi; Happy Light Compact; Happy Light Touch

The Calm App

Another tool I LOVE (and use throughout the year) is the Calm app, available for Android and IOS. Several versions of the app exist, including a free, limited version–this is the one I use.

The app showcases multiple relaxing sounds (including heavy rain, a thunderstorm, waves, and a sunny lake), and white noise options (such as floating clouds or deep space). These are complemented by animated scenes that are incredibly beautiful to watch.

The paid versions also offer spoken meditation podcasts and sleep stories. You can visit the app’s website here or search for it on the App Store. I cannot recommend this product enough (I’ve gotten Mr. Trekker using it as well! 😁)

If you find yourself struggling with the ever-increasing darkness of the winter season, or just need help calming your mind, check out these products!

Have you ever used these tools? Tell me about your experiences in the comments!

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Black Elk Peak, Trail #9 (the Difficult, Northern Route)

In this post, I detail our attempts to conquer Trail #9, the difficult/northern route up Black Elk Peak.

Black Elk Peak, formerly Harney Peak, is the highest point in the Black Hills and one of the most sought-after hikes in this area.

In case you aren’t aware of it (and as I outlined in this post), the name of this mountain changed just a few years ago and they’re still working on updating all the signs and maps.

There are multiple trail options for getting to the summit. The most popular route is the southern portion of Trail #9, the Black Elk Peak Trail, that starts at Sylvan Lake. However, in this post, I’m going to talk about the far less-traveled (and far more difficult) northern portion of this same trail.

It is a little confusing because the names are the same. Be watchful for this (there are signs!)} This portion of the trail is actually shorter than the southern route, but it is far steeper, which is why it is more difficult.

Accessing the Black Elk Peak Northern Route Trailhead

There are a number of ways to access this portion of the trail. One of the easiest is from the Willow Creek Horse Camp off of Route 244. You will find it directly across the road from the Mount Rushmore KOA campground (and around six miles west of Mount Rushmore.

The Willow Creek Trail is an easy and fairly short loop that makes for a great, quick hike. It is only around two miles in length and you can enjoy it in either direction. You will need to start on the Willow Creek Trail to reach the Black Elk Peak Trail which branches off about halfway through the Willow Creek loop.

1st Attempt to Conquer Black Elk Peak, the Hard Way

We’re standing at Black Elk Peak, we’ve been on the trail for five hours, the guidebook we’d consulted said the trail options we chose were only around eight, total miles long. We now KNOW that can’t be right as our GPS says we’re well over five miles into the hike and we’ve only reached the summit. It’s 5 p.m. and…it’s starting to drizzle…

We had used the Lost Cabin trailhead off Palmer Creek Road to ascend the mountain on this attempt. We weren’t sure if we’d make it the whole way or just turn back at some point, but at lunchtime, we were nearly four miles in and the book had said it was only an eight-mile trek so…this is a lesson in listening to your gut. When your guidebook (and/or GPS) say one thing, but while looking at the map and using human logic your gut says another…ALWAYS listen to your gut! 😝

Fortunately, it was Memorial Day weekend so we had guaranteed daylight until 8:30 pm or so, and we had headlamps with us. (This was one of the only, true, “uh oh” moments I’ve ever had on a trail. The thought crossed my mind that we could be facing a long, cold night.).

We did, eventually, make it down safely, and with daylight remaining. We even managed to save one set of dry pants, each, to change into when we got back to the car!

After descending this trail in drier conditions, I’m somewhat impressed we made it down as safely and easily as we did. Water trickles over the large, boulder steps on sunny days, so, on rainy days, it can turn into a veritable river in spots!

The path is steep and technical enough on its own, in the rain and growing darkness, it can get muddy and slippery very quickly–portions of it literally turn into mini-waterfalls from water running down the slope! I thank Mr. Trekker for suppressing my tendency to rush…I hate this trail. 😝

This trail system is a beast! Mr. Trekker and I almost had a dead limb fall on us on another, nearby trail during a hike a few years ago, on a day that wasn’t particularly windy. 😳

A large tree limb lies across a dirt path that meanders through the woods — This big guy is the one that almost fell on us!

See the limb? See the trail? About five minutes before this fell we walked through this area. We then stopped for some lunch and were startled by the “CRASH!” when it fell!

2nd Attempt to Conquer Black Elk Peak’s North Route

It’s a beautiful, sunny day. We began hiking fairly early in the morning. One problem with Trail #9 is its exposure. It used to be fairly shaded…until the pine beetles had their way. That and the resultant logging to lessen the danger of falling, dead trees has culminated in A LOT of sun exposure. Fortunately, a breeze is often present…but not always…

The heat got the Trekkers on this day (especially me). I’ve mentioned before that I don’t do well with heat. We made it about halfway to the summit, to the point where it really starts to get difficult.

I call this “the Boulder Section” because you have to clamber across a long length of boulders while negotiating a rather steep incline–this is the section that becomes mini-waterfalls in wetter conditions.

After this section comes the first phase of mind-numbing switchbacks (that’s right, I said FIRST! 😝) You then proceed to a flatter section, before the final phase of switchbacks, which takes you to the junction with the Black Elk Peak Summit Trail (a short, spur trail).

About the time we reached the “Boulder Section”, I started suffering from stomach cramps and nausea, similar to what I experienced when I became overheated hiking in Glacier National Park several years ago. Due to this, we made the wise decision to turn back…have I mentioned that I HATE THIS TRAIL?! 😩

3rd Attempt…SUCCESS!!!

It’s a, fairly cool, July day (lower 80’s). Earlier that week we had returned from a 10-day trip to the Colorado High Country that I outlined in these four posts. Due to hanging out at 8000 – 10,000 feet throughout that trip, we were especially acclimated to the altitude. (Black Elk Peak, at a little over 7000 feet, is not only the highest peak in the Black Hills, but it is also the highest peak in the country east of the Rockies). I honestly felt in my gut that if I ever hoped to vanquish this monster, this was the time to do it. All conditions were perfect, we were both feeling great and it was a beautiful day!

We made it through the easy, early section with no difficulty. We happily said “hello” to others on the trail, and avoided the occasional “remnant” from horses that had gone before us. 🤥 We reached “the Boulder Section”…my first nemesis. We conquered that fairly easily as well!

Then, we reached the first section of switchbacks. Fortunately, the shade was on our side at that time of the day. It was starting to hurt…but we made it through.

The next section traverses a ridge that parallels Black Elk Peak, so it is fairly flat. This is beneficial as it’s also fairly exposed.

This area affords lovely views of the crags that lord over you from nearby peaks, and the panoramic vistas of the plains to the east (on clear days). Buzzards soar on the thermals high above your head (waiting for beleaguered hikers to falter? 🤔) There are also several, lovely, lookout points along the way that make for a great break/lunch spot. We stopped at a couple, both on the trek up and down the mountain.

Then…we hit the final section of switchbacks. Both of us had just started feeling the altitude a bit (we were pushing 7000 feet at that point). This was the only spot where I started feeling ill. Fortunately, it was still early afternoon and we were in a shaded, quiet area, so we were able to take some time to rest and recover.

And then…

…we began our final push…

…as we rounded one, final switchback…

…and crested one, final rise in the trail…

…we saw a brown sign appear in the distance, indicating our destination was just ahead…

…WE HAD MADE IT!!! 😁

A wooden sign on a wooden post in the woods that reads, "Harney Peak, Tr. 9" and "Sylvan Lake 3.5", both with arrows pointing to the correct direction — My ray of hope, the sign at the top of the trail!

Seriously ya’ll, I almost broke down in tears! I get emotional now, just thinking about it. It had taken us three attempts to conquer this beast!

I maintain this is the toughest trail I’ve ever completed in the entire Black Hills. It has a reputation for being “a doozy”. It’s long, it’s difficult, it’s exposed, and the weather can change at a moment’s notice. Fog and rain can seep in, which is an experience unto itself. (You won’t have the grand vistas that you’ll see on clearer days, but the granite columns materializing through the mist create a spooky gloom that is definitely worth experiencing, just watch your footing!)

Descending the Northern Route of Black Elk Peak

On the way down…we ran out of water (seriously). With the exception of another difficult trek in Glacier National Park, this almost NEVER happens! We usually return with a liter or so left in each of our water bladders.

It was projected to be a fairly cool day and we wanted to limit weight as much as possible– due to the strenuous hike–so we didn’t fill them quite to their max, fill line. I will NEVER make that mistake, in July, again!

Fortunately, by the time we ran out, we were only about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, it was all downhill from there and we had reached the easier portion of the trek. (Also, fortunately, a gas station in Hill City, the nearest town, had LARGE Gatorades for sale! 😜)

Have I mentioned that I HATE this trail?! I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a hike before. I am SO GLAD that we finally beat this brute, but seriously, I don’t know that I’d do it again.

I may consider it with two cars, one parked at Sylvan Lake so you can take the easy route up, and the other parked at Willow Creek trailhead as descending the hard route isn’t too bad…as long as it isn’t raining. 😝 (Or, find a nice friend who will shuttle you between the two points). Or I would try ascending the Lost Cabin trail and descending this one again.

Below are some pics from our day of achievement! 😁 (Thanks, as usual, to Mr. Trekker for some of these!)

View over a forested mountainside with lots of dead trees. At the top of the mountain sits a silhouette of a stone building. — Our first glimpse of the fire tower on the summit!

View over a forested, mountainside vista with lots of dead trees. — My Hills! You can see the sparseness of the foliage in the foreground.

View over a forested, mountainside vista with lots of dead trees. Flatter plains are in the far background through the haze. Random, rock mountains rise from the surrounding forest. — If you look closely, you can see the plains, far in the distance. I “think” one of those rock faces is the backside of Mt. Rushmore! 🤔

View through sparse pine trees of large, craggy rocks, all under a clear, blue sky — This view of the nearby crags is on the first set of switchbacks

A standing, dead, tree trunk that has had the bark and most of the trunk chewed/whittled away in the middle, stands in the sparse forest, all under a clear, blue sky — Not really sure what happened here?! Deer or elk perhaps? Looks like somebody has been gnawing on it!

Conquer Fear by Reaching your Goals

This trail had beaten us twice before, but we had finally defeated it! If we hadn’t already been acclimated to the altitude, it may have won again. This was a personal goal of mine that I had wanted to achieve for years!

This trail had made me sick, it left me with (several) blisters, it hurt me, it caused lingering anxiety to even think of attempting it again, and it pushed the limits of my endurance. But…I beat it!

Reaching this goal was an incredibly empowering, inspiring experience. This was, truly, my “white whale”. It’s hard to express my sense of accomplishment for finally completing this hike. I know others have done it and claim it “isn’t that bad”. I know it’s not a “14-er”, but so what? I don’t hike “14-ers”! 😉 This was a personal goal and desire I had set for myself and I had achieved it! What could be more empowering than that!

I don’t mean to sound like I’m bragging. My point is just that, each person has their own, personal goals, whether they be to learn a new skill, to conquer a specific challenge, etc.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Only be concerned that you push yourself to expand your comfort zone. It doesn’t matter what the goal is, as long as you strive to achieve it and, perhaps, find a way to trounce a few personal demons along the way. 👊

Have you attempted this trail? What other difficult goals have you set for yourself and achieved? Tell me about your experiences in the comments!

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