Tag: positive attitude

Mountain Love: Aguille du Midi

Aguille du Midi is a mountain in Cahmonix, France. It holds a very dear spot in my heart.

We had been to Chamonix twice before. The first time, we had to turn a planned attempt of the Tour du Mont Blanc into a series of day hikes due to snow levels. The second time we embarked on our great adveture of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Now, on our current adventure, we returned to Chamonix years later.

At this point in our journey, we had three solid weeks of hiking in the mountains under our belt. I had struggled in Gstaad. With two solid weeks of hiking in the mountains, when we first arrived, I was tired. So tired. The first hike was tough, but then I found my flow. Gstaad turned out to be our best climbing week at that point in the trip.

When we moved on to Chamonix, all the ions in my body were vibrating with excitement. This would be our third time in Chamonix.

You know when you go to a place thinking it can’t possibly be as beautiful as the first time you saw it, but then it is? That’s Chamonix for me.

It’s a lovely French town in the very core of some spectacular mountains. We revisited some hikes and explored some new ones.

The fourth day was special. We climbed Aguille du Midi. As I said, this mountain is very near and dear to my heart. The first time we visited Chamonix, we attempted to climb this trail twice. The first time, the snow was too much for me to handle along a certain ridge. The second time, enough snow had melted that we were able to get to the top despite the last section of trail being completely buried by snow. It was cloudy and cold and we couldn’t see much at the top. Both times were emotional experiences for me.

Now, back here again, with no snow in the way, we began our ascent. It was tough. The trail starts with straight up fuck you up for quite a while. Eventually, there is some relief, but not for long as each short section of relief is soon followed by more straight up. This climb is one to be taken seriously. I slogged my way up, slowly watching the meters of ascent increase.

It was hard. But I wanted it. I was deep into a zone, each day getting up, lacing up my boots, and hiking up a mountain.

When I saw a refuge, I thought, “Oh yes, we are almost there.” I soon realized that, of course, we were not. My memory reminded me that the very top is right next  to a cable car station. I looked up at the rocky switchbacks, winding up the impressive incline. Buck up, Jules. You got more climbing to do. And I did. I kept putting one boot in front of the other, huffing, puffing, and slogging it out.

That’s the way. Simply focus on your steps, traversing one step at a time.

The last section after the Refuge is more exposed. I thought back to climbing it straight up in the snow. This time, I got to experience the full path.

As I reached the top, the view of a spectacular mountain range opened up beofe my eyes. The sun gleamed off the snow capped peaks. It was glorious. We didn’t get to see this the last time. It was cloudy and cold.

This time, I sat down on a patio bathed in sunshine and stared up in awe at the mountains. My heart swelled. It was such a feeling of elation.

Hubby went into the hut and emerged with two beers brewed with d’leau de la montagne and sandwiches made with local cheese. Omg. Could this moment get any better?

I thought back to the first time we came here and hiked these mountains. I did the hikes. But there was a lot of fear, anxiety, worry. Don’t get me wrong, I think that will always be part of the journey for me when I’m pushing myself and moving into uncomfortable spaces. I had experienced moments of that during this trip.

But, since we’d been in Chamonix this time, each day, I got up, laced up my boots, and climbed a mountain. I hadn’t been thinking, can I do this? I did think, wow, this is hard, and omg, this is steep. Of course I did. But I never stopped putting one boot in front of the other. I never doubted I would make it. I simply did it.

I loved that feeling.

Basking in the sunshine, sipping my beer and savoring the mountain cheese and fresh bread, I sunk into the moment. I took in the feeling of being right beside this massive mountain range. I relished in the fact that I had gotten here with my own two feet.

It feels pretty good to work at something day after day, year after year, and reach a moment where you realize, OK, I’ve got this. Even for this moment.

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Reflections on Gstaad: Finding my Inner Mountain Woman

With two weeks of hiking in the mountains done, the third one got tough.

We arrived in Gstaad, a beautiful mountain town nestled in the Swiss mountains. I was quite tired the whole day as we transferred from train to train. Waiting to board our last train, I sat and basked in the sun, taking in the view while hubby trotted off to the store to get us a snack. The last train ride was lovely. We enjoyed a cold beer and a spectactular mountain view. We had the small front section of the train to ourselves. I relaxed and let my body be tired.

Upon arrival, I was enchanted by the beauty of the small mountain town. After checking in to our hotel and strolling around town, we enjoyed a pizza on a patio. I realized how tired I was. We had done a good amount climbing on the mountains, but I was eager for more. I had to listen to my being and give in to a nap.

That evening, despite the rain, I needed fresh air. I needed movement. We followed a path along the river to the next town, enjoyed a beer at the one place filled with locals, then walked back. I felt better. I was eager to continue with our big hikes.

The next day, we embarked on our first full day hike in Gstaad. It wasn’t far into the trek that I realized how tired I was. I kept moving at what felt like a snails pace as I pondered my situtation. Was I ascutally physically tired? Was it all in my mind? Was I emotionally tired? I really wanted to continue hiking the way we had been. It had been so gratifying to see so many mountainsides in another part of the world. We only had so much time. I didn’t want to waste any of it.

I quite enjoyed the hike. But I was concerned with how tired I was. I slogged it up to the top. We had a picnic break. My being was settled. I loved being out there, the view, the satisfaction of getting to a peak with my own feet and hard work. I did wonder how I was going to hike five more days in Gstaad. And continue hiking after we moved to the next town on our itinerary.

I tried to focus on the descent and not think too much about the next day.

After a fairly lengthy hike down, the beer on the patio at our hotel was amazing. To make Gstaad work for us, we were staying in a sport hotel and eating picnic dinners from co-op on our balcony. Gstaad is a fancy place, and the cost of things can get out of hand quickly. Unless you hike all day and picnic at night.

The next day, we filled up on breakfast before starting another climb. I was thrilled that the hotel provided fresh farm eggs, homemade bread, jams, cheeses and meats. It made the long days of hiking more feasible.

As we started the trek, I went through the same thing as the day before. The start is always tough. Getting warmed up takes a bit, especially when you start climbing right away. I was worried about my ability to do this hike and the next four. Let alone the ones after that.

Sounds like the kind of thinking I don’t like. Right? Right.

I went through the same process I have gone through many times, including the recent climb up Kitzbuleh Horn.

I acknowledged that I was tired. That I’d done a lot of climbing. That it was getting hard.

I also acknowledged that I wanted this. I wanted this climb, right here, right now. I focused on this hike, this section, this footstep.

None of the other days mattered. Not right now.

My mind transitioned and I focused on each piece. I was no longer worried or over thinking things. I was simply climbing a mountain.

My body began to respond. Between the rest day, allowing myself to go a slower pace on our first Gstaad hike, and now allowing my body to warm up as I transitioned my thoughts to a more positive place, I felt my body finding its flow once again.

The hike was in two parts. The first part was a climb up to a cable station. By the time we reached the top, I felt so much better. My mind was repositioned. My body was feeling strong again.

We continued on to do a forest section up another climb. It was lovely. A bit challenging but we were surrounded by fresh forest and chirping birds.

We picnicked, then made the descent. It was long and hot. We ended up in Saanen, the next town over from Gstaad, where we found a shaded patio, cold beers, and some recuperation time. The picnic that night on our balcony was amazing. I was falling in love with the long, challenging days, the cold beer at the end, and the long, luxurious picnics on the balcony at the end of the day as the heat eased.

The next four hikes continued to go well. We had some real adventures, which are all stories of their own.

The third day was a climb up to the top of a waterfall followed by a descent along a thin trail on a ridge. It was adventurous and I was thrilled with how relaxed I was. The fourth day was a climb up to Col du Pillon. The fifth day we found ourselves on quite a little adventure on a glacier walk. The final day was a big one. We climbed a hefty peak and took a long route back down.

My mind and body were strong. I allowed myself to warm up at the beginning of each hike. I talked myself through it when it got tough. Most of all, I was thrilled that I had tapped into a positive vibe and that my body had found strength and I had found my inner mountain woman again.

We had ascended about 6828 m over the six days. The first day was tough. The second day I adjusted my mind. The third day I was so focused on the mountain I was on, nothing else mattered.

When it isn’t working, an adjustment is in order. Choosing what you want can be the first step. I wanted the climb. I didn’t want to miss out on any of the climbs. I knew there wasn’t any reason that I had to.

Think about your own mountains, your own climbs, the things that you want to do but your mind is holding you back. What can you do to release those thoughts that aren’t serving you? What pieces can you focus on to make real progress?

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.

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Glacier Walk in a Looming Storm

Today was a good day. Today was a really, really good day!!!

Yesterday, we did a nearly 4 hour hike to Col du Pillon. It was tough but beautiful. It was mostly through lush forest. The distance and climbing were both more than we thought, and we were pushing. It was invigorating. The goal was to get to the cable car to go up the Glaicer 3000. When we arrived, we were told there was a storm at the top, no view, and no activities. We chose a beer and homemade apricot pie followed by a bus ride back to Gstaad.

Today, at breakfast, hubby declared a clear sky at the glacier according to the web cam and thus an opportunity to see it. We jumped on a bus, got to the cable, and up to the glacier.

Our first activity was to cross the peak to peak bridge. I did feel the altitude going up the stairs hot off the cable car, but once I reached the bridge, I quickly adjusted. The bridge does move in response to the people crossing, but it wasn’t the scariest one I’ve been on. I mostly looked ahead on the way over.

We had only a few moments at the other side, admiring the view and breathing in the essence of the mountain before the crowd took over.

We moved on. We crossed back over the bridge. I was more relaxed and looked around more, taking in the view. We walked over to the chair lift and rode it down into the glacier to the Glacier Walk. Very few people were on this trail. Wonderful.

We started trekking up in the snow towards a peak. It wasn’t easy. But the sun was beating down in a glorious glow, and I was literally stepping in the footsteps created by my hubby, making it much easier for me.

We reached the peak and took in the view in silence. We were alone, looking at a series of mountaintops that would impress anyone.

We continued on, making our way toward a small refuge at the top of another peak.

We were almost at the restaurant. A tiny incline with what looked like a great view called to us, so we listened. It was incredible. I stayed another moment or two after hubby moved on. It was the first time in a while that I whole heartedly heard the sound of the mountain. Have you ever heard it? It will change your energy completely. I drank it in.

Then I caught up.

The tiny Refuge L’espace at the top was beautiful. Rustic. Charming. Perfect. The view was to die for. We had really nice beers and charcuterie. Holy shit, right?

As we finished drinking the last drops of beer and basking in the last rays of sun, the clouds rolled in. We hoofed it down the marked path to the chair lift, stopping only to put our essentials in a plastic bag and our rain coats on.

As the rain turned to light hail, I had one focus. Literally. The footsteps in the snow made by hubby in front of me. I sprinted, ran, power hiked, in whatever combo I could muster, and kept a good pace.

A massive snow vehicle passed us, likely going up to the Refuge to get the people that were still there when we left.

When lightning lit up the sky, I amped my pace up. It seemed we were almost back to the lift. I figured they weren’t running it, but would have a way to get everyone to the top.

We nearly made it to the chair lift when a snow mobile pulled up and the driver motioned me over. I followed his instruction and hopped on. Next thing, hubby was beside me, and in no time we were back at the lift.

We were told it would pass. It did. The lift stared up again. On we hopped. We were boarding the cable car down from the glacier when the skies really opened up.

Today was a good day.

I hiked in the blazing sunshine and snow on a glacier to a mountain view that filled my soul with happiness. I did it with my best friend in life. I literally followed his footsteps through the snow back to shelter in a looming storm. Trust me, it was a moment of clarity and strength. We were only at the beginning of the storm and in no way in danger. It was simply one of those moments in life when walking through snow into some rain, following someone who inspires me, and feeling my inner strength was exactly where I needed to be.

Today was a good day.

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Mountain Love in Leogang

The very second we reached the top of the stairs on the train platform, and I scanned the horizon, my heart sang.

We’d arrived in Leogang, Austria. After two weeks in big cities, and years of time since we’d been in the European mountains, every molecule of my being felt right. There were mountains in front of me, behind me, and in every direction. The peace of a small town rose up from the valley below, filling every bit of space. The only sounds were of birds chirping and water trickling.

This space is one of the most amazing for my being.

It’s important that we all find the space that fills us with calm, gratitude, and love. A small town in the middle of the mountains is one of those spaces for me. The only thing that tops it is the feeling on top of the mountain. But, we’ll get to that.

We leisurely made the trek down a hill through lush forest beside a stream and into the heart of the town. With every step, my heart fell in love all over again. The feel of a small, European mountain village is like no other. It consumed me with every breath I took in synch with that of the forest and the surrounding mountains.

We spent a week nestled in this cozy town. We climbed by foot every day up to peaks and across ridges. On our first day of hiking, I was thrilled with how well my mind and my body responded. The second day I was a bit challenged as it went on longer than planned, but it was a good exercise in tapping into the positive space I am trying to train my mind to be in, no matter what. The third day, I felt a natural flow. The fourth day, we did a time trial up the same mountain we climbed on the first day of hiking, and I was surprised to shave off a good 20 minutes. That bionic Julie came out for a bit. On the fifth day, I felt the accumulation and had to accept a recovery day. We did the right things. We did a shorter, slower trek with a couple steep climbs to stretch the legs. We took some rest time. On the last day of hiking, we did a lovely climb straight up on the other side from where we’d been exploring. We found a really nice pace and both eased into a nautral flow. That good ‘ole physical, mental, spiritual flow came back, reminding me of my first ascents up mountains on a bike.

I was sad to leave Leogang, but I felt ready. We’d done all the major hikes. We’d been to several wonderful mountain huts for beer and lunch with a view. We’d both reconnected with our inner mountain beings, and I’d found a flow for writing about my journey that I hadn’t tapped into for a while.

Did I have moments of doubt? Of course. Did my mind slip into a negative space? Absolutely. But not for long. I’m human. I’ll never be perfect, not that I know what that means anyway. But, I’ve continued to build my toolbox of strategies and am capable of identifying when I am going to a place I don’t want to be in and correcting it.

We are all working on things. No matter what it is, persistence and practice does pay off.

No matter what it is…Yes. You. CAN.

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English Garden Hike

I said it before, and I’ll say it again.

The best way to see a city is to hike it.

It was time for a quick stop in in Munich. This time, I saw it like never before. We spent an entire day hiking the English Garden, and we didn’t even cover the whole thing.

It starts off with massive stretches of well manicured park dotted with cafes and beer gardens. If you are adventurous enough, you can explore portions of the other side. There are long stretches along the water and trails through the lush forest. Despite the size of the city, you will feel like you aren’t even in one. Deep in the upper portion of the park in the forest, we saw a herder, in his attire, grazing his sheep. His herding dog put on an impressive show.

We covered a good portion of the garden. Including the trek to and from the hotel, we clocked around 27 km. It might sound like a lot, but it’s doable. I’ve been hiking more back home and setting a certain pace. I’ve also been working on my metal space when the hikes get long. After a while, it comes naturally. It’s invigorating, allows you to truly experience more of the cities you visit, clears your mind, and builds up an appetite for the local culinary delights.

On the day of the English Garden, I was quite happy with my ability to keep the pace, physically and mentally. Being in the forest does have a magical effect on me and puts me into a better place.

On the map, close to the point of the figure 8 crossing, there is a mini hofbrauhaus. It’s a small outdoor version of the big beer hall in the core of the city. We covered most of the upper portion of the park before stopping at the mini beer garden. At this point, we only had the last leg to get back to the city center.

Once back near our hotel for the evening, we hit the main beer hall and stayed for a while. The beer is great. I particularly liked the Helles. The food at these beer halls is amazing. We grazed on a small charcuterie, then shared a roasted pork knuckle. If you’ve never had one, you should. The beer halls Munich know how to roast meat. We even caught some live music.

Don’t get me wrong, Munich has lots to offer, but don’t miss out on the nature embedded within its core.

My city hiking tips: carry a small pack with water, rain coat, sweater, emergency snack, and sun screen. Also have some spare change on you in case you need to use the facilities when in Europe.

Follow along on Strava for all the hikes and click able maps.

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Brussels by Foot

It’s been a while since I’ve been on a proper adventure. You might be familiar with Just a Girl and Her Bike. This time, it’s Just a Girl and Her Boots.

Yes, that’s right. Back pack loaded and hiking boots laced up, I was more than ready to see new parts of the world.

This trek started with a 2 week stretch through some big cities. The best way to really see a big city is by hiking through the parks. I was utterly surprised and delighted with the immense green space in Brugges, Munich, and Prague. But, we’ll get to that.

Let’s start with Brussels. We arrived in the afternoon and hit the ground running. Putting on your walking shoes and getting in some steps right off the bat is the best way to reinvigorate yourself after a long journey and to keep yourself awake and not suffer long effects of jet lag. Just lace up those shoes and go!

We made a proper first stop at Moeder Lambic for some outrageous beer. I gravitated to the lambic style that they had on tap (this doesn’t happen at home). I replenished with moules & frites. The lover of creepy things on me came out when we grabbed a night cap at a high-end beer place that used to be a theater and is filled with puppets!

Our second day gave us a full day to hike and see things. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to walk through the forest areas that we thought we could. When it doesn’t go your way, find another one. We turned the day into a big city tour and covered a lot of ground.

We started off with a visit to a Gothic cathedral. The style is stunning, inside and out. There’s something sureal about looking up at windows, arches, and structures riddled with intricacy and that must have taken a long time to create.

We then fuelled up with a proper local breakfast of Croque Madame and a delicious beer.

We hiked all through the city and up a hill to a science center. Keeping a good pace and meandering off the main route to cover the occasional little bit of forest is a sure way to get your body and your mind feeling great after a long day of travelling. I highly recommend setting at least a guideline for your route with a target pace and distance. It’s the key to feeling great from the beginning of the trip.

After our invigorating walk, we kept the steps going. We made two stops at the famous Delirium brewery. It’s an entire street of separate places, all serving up fresh pints!

The day was getting long, and it took us a bit, but we found an amazing spot for dinner, down in a cave like place. This is when patience paid off. I was famished. The day was getting long. But when we walked into this place, I knew I needed to tap into my zen. When a plate of rabbit slow cooked in lambic beer was set down in front of me, I was in heaven. When it gets long, take a deep breathe a d regroup. Travelling by foot can be amazing if you can tap into your patience and your calm energy.

Here’s my route uploaded to Strava. Follow me there to see all the hike and the details of each.

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Self Care

The forest heals. The fresh air infuses life. The sights and sounds of nature refresh and revive.

After a busy time with unexpected challenges, I could feel the fatigue building as I plunged into final preparations for and all weekend reading and writing conference. I did something quite smart that I don’t usually do. I took a day off and enjoyed life. A full day of hiking, happy hour and even a football game, with my husband, refreshed me.

I had way too much fun at the conference, despite the fact that it had to be online. I gave presentations. I went to presentations. I helped host others. It felt good to be part of something that has been fundamental to my writing success.

By the end of the three days, I was cooked. I did something smart, that 9 don’t usually do. I read in bed and binged Shudder (if you’re a closet horror lover like me, check out my other website, KillersAndDemons).

After two days, I felt better. I decided to continue to be smart. I did a bunch of work, then, I went outside into the sunshine, and walked for two hours through the forest.

Am I finally learning to listen when my being needs something? I hope so.

Do you listen when you need some self care? I find having a list of things that I know I love thay make me feel good, and being setup to easily execute on them, sets me up for success. For example, having good hiking clothes clean at all times, a great pair of shoes by the door, and pack ready to go with snacks and sunscreen. Or having books or movies on hand so I can chill. Or having my bathroom stocked with bath salts, candles, and aromatic bubble bath.

Take care, and be sure to stop and be nice to yourself when you need a break.

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Nature Walk and Happy Hour

I have recently fallen in love with nature walks.

Through the various phases and stages of lockdown, my husband chose a fantastic way to deal with closures and isolation. He walked. Everyday. Sometimes for hours.

He even got a rotation going where he would walk with different friends on different days. It was a fantastic way to achieve both mental and physical health.

I started going with him. Two or three times a week, even during the coldest winter days. With the right gear, and right attitude, a dose of physical activity and nature can be good for the body and the soul.

Today I had my head buried in a couple of writing projects. Late afternoon I realized my brain was done for the day and I felt blah. I decided to put on some walking gear and do a beautiful forest loop close to home.

My hubby ended up joining me. Two hours later, forest loop done, I feel revived and relaxed. Time for a home brew on the patio.

What do you do to stay healthy, physically and mentally?

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Racing and Climbing, Fierce and Strong: Ania

{Welcome to my feature series on those who have inspired me on my journey.  Today’s post is about a very strong, supportive and encouraging person who loves to climb mountains.  She has been there riding with me and supporting me for years.  If you missed My More Aggressive Twin, or Crazy Wild Infection Positivity, be sure to check them out!}

‘Oh, you are the one that my wife has been following on Strava’.  This is the first thing that Karel said to me upon being introduced at one of the local bike races.  ‘She would like to go riding with you’, he continued.  The rest is history.

The first time I rode with Ania, I was nervous.  I had seen some of her riding data, and in every picture she looked so strong, so athletic.  Was I really in the same realm?

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Continue reading “Racing and Climbing, Fierce and Strong: Ania” →

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The Importance of Appreciating the People that Push You

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I will admit it, there have been times when I have gotten on my bike, and I did not try. It has happened. When I am riding alone, I am the only one who suffers the consequences. I have been in situations where the ride wasn’t just about my bike and me, but there was also a team aspect to it. Driven by fear of not living up to expectations, I have chosen a defeated attitude that paralyzed me from performing as well as I could have. I have learned some very important lessons from these experiences. There was one ride in particular that I recall during which my husband and I were out in the open desert, only had so much water with us, and were up against a fairly aggressive head wind. If I had stuck with him and drafted, then we both would have made it back to our vehicle within a shorter amount of time then I could make it on my own. Due to some communication breakdowns, and some lack of understanding on my part, we ended up separated during the last leg this ride. I was really battling to finish. I was so caught up with the fear of slowing him down that I chose to ride on my own. I was so blinded by my fear that I didn’t even see the support that was being offered. Continue reading “The Importance of Appreciating the People that Push You” →

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