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.
It all started with a hike up the remote pilgrimage mountain — 
The crowds thinned as we made our way up the longer route. I pushed my pace to a fairly unreasonable rate up the winding staircases when Golden Boy — with his young skin, shirtless ripped torso and blond hair — thought he could pass me. Sorry about your luck. This little girl with pig tails and a back pack can push until her insides scream with the right motivation.
The icing on the cake, the last bit of melting my heart, was the hike away from the crowds, up a deserted path to a peak that looked down upon the bamobo forest and monkey park. We sat on a makeshift bench of logs and relished in the chorus of birds and insects. Nature’s music.
After hiking and meditating in the mountains all day, and taking in the sites, we developed a routine of enjoying the amazing happy hour at our hotel.
At night we explored the rather inique and interesting areas of Gion and Pontocho. By the end of our four days, we had gotten the hang of finding the more authentic restaurants and Japanese whiskey bars. It was truly amazing being the only white people in a joint.
As I sit here on this train, my heart is a little tender. I fell in love with Kyoto. I don’t want to leave. I know I’ll be back.
As per our experience so far, every local person we encountered went out of their way to make sure we were on the right track.As soon as we stepped into the forest and started our trek up the trail, my inner being sunk into a peaceful energy. The climb started immediately and it was steep! I fell into that old pattern of finding my flow. The one where my physical, mental and spiritual beings all align with each other, and with nature.
The sounds of nature sung around us. We relished in the squeaking of monkeys and the otherwise silence. Occassionally the trees would crack and creak in the breeze.No people. No buildings. Just us, the monkeys and the forest.The trail had many steep stretches. It was hard work, but it felt good. I fell into the rhythm I knew well. My husband told me of the 1000 day challenge. The trail is a pilgrimage path, and monks do it every day for 1000 days, fasting for 10 consecutive days during the challenge. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was working hard.
Reaching the peak was rewarding. The view was stunning. We rested and had a picnic. No fasting for me.The real reward, however, was quite unexpected. A little more hiking took us to the Dai Ko-do temple (beside Bell Tower). We removed our boots, slid the door open and entered. We sat cross legged. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. The scent of incense filled me. It calmed me. My mind was clear.
Before leaving, I participated in the purchase (by donation) of an incense stick that you light and place in a bowl among others. It is intended to be in memory of someone. I took a moment for silent reflection.
The descent was awesome. There was a bus that took us down the mountain and within blocks of our hotel!A shower and happy hour were waiting for us. The zen feeling lasted into the evening. Now I’m going to crave meditation on every mountain peak.
Just a Girl and a Bike 