Six Weeks of Wandering in Woods

What The Trails Taught Us-

Six weeks of wandering in the woods, what the trails taught us were a lot of lessons. Recently, Abby and I completed the six-week Get Fit Challenge. It’s a challenge sponsored through Health Quest where you log fitness activities on their website throughout the challenge and at certain levels, can win prizes. There are many hiking trails listed on the site that you can attempt. I decided I would add an additional challenge and attempt one hundred miles in six weeks with my 3.5-year-old daughter. Talk about wandering a whole lot of trails!

The Facts-

We didn’t make a hundred miles. However, we hiked approximately 36 different locations in Dutchess, two locations in Ulster County and one location in Fairfield County. In all, because we visited one location several times, we did 44 hikes in 42 days. In Dutchess County, we only missed about eleven listed trails. Total miles, 75.8. This is all fantastic, However, these are just numbers. What we learned and took away from the trail is so much more valuable.

It has taken me over a week to wrap my head around what I want to share. I wasn’t even going to write this follow-up post. However, on the last Sunday of the competition, my little 3.5-year-old child announced she needed Jesus and church we could hike later. While I was sitting in the church was when this compelling urge came over me to share. I kind of felt like I had been wandering in the wilderness for almost forty days and finally was figuring out why. The light went on.

Trust-

When you are in the woods walking on trails, you must first trust yourself. You must trust you are making the right decisions. You must pick the correct path and trust the decision you make when the trail splits are the correct decision. A wrong turn can have horrible consequences not only for you but whoever is with you.

You must trust that the path you take isn’t covered in danger such as snakes. I had to bushwhack and trailblaze the last week. I literally would stab in the brush with pole and shake the leaves. Then I would hike on, a child on the back. I was watching for venomous snakes. I step on a venomous snake with a 3.5-year-old, what would happen? She knows to dial for help. She is trained to know what to do. But, if it happened, what would happen if I made the wrong decision? Here is a great article on snakebite care.

There are trail hazards and obstacles as well. You must trust the rocks under your feet, the water crossings and the scrambles you face.

You must trust your own body and learn to listen to it and what it needs. That could be more water, tightening your boots, support from your poles, a snack.

You must trust who you are hiking with on the trails if you are hiking with someone. In my case, my daughter, age 3.5 was putting all her trust in me. I was putting all my trust in her. At the end of week six, we didn’t even need to speak. The trust was so strong that we just knew.

Lastly, sometimes you have to trust strangers to a point and yet, still be alert. In this day and age, that is not always easy. Human nature often makes it difficult to trust others. However, sometimes you need to ask someone for directions, or how much further or can you help me with something. Something as simple as a smile and a friendly exchange of words. You are trusting that stranger is alright.

Self Sacrifice-

Sometimes you make a poor decision on supplies (food, water, clothing). It happens even to people who hit the trails all the time. I remember one instance where the temperature dropped and got really damp. Abby was shivering and we had three or four miles to go. I gave her every bit of clothes I could off my own back. Yes, my ears got super cold and I got a little chilly. However, she needed it more.

Several times, Abby would split a sandwich or granola bar ask me if I wanted half. I know she could eat the whole thing. However, she was concerned about my well-being.

Strength-

Physical strength is obvious. We completed trails that were everywhere from a nice flat stroll to a scramble and significant mileage. Most of the almost 76 miles, Abby walked on her own two feet. She completed the summit almost every time on her own. Sometimes cheering me on. However, there were also times where I had to carry her. The weight of her and sometimes a secondary pack with supplies became grueling. My legs would slam into rocks and I would have to test trees and use body strength to hoist myself up.

Mental strength also came into play along the trail. There were moments where I was almost was throwing up in my mouth. There are times where bugs were biting. Your feet will start hurting. Simply I wanted to turn around and give up. My brain was completely done. But, you must push forward. The more you wander, the stronger you become both mentally and physically.

Abby started this chant where she would literally growl in my face and yell “are you tough?” I would reply, “yes, I am tough … Are you tough?” It would go back and forth with some loud growling. It psychs up your brain to push forward.

Patience-

This is a huge one and especially when you wander all those miles with a 3.5-year-old. Toward mid-challenge, she could run half a mile in fifteen minutes and we were down to a forty-five-minute mile. However, most miles averaged an hour a mile.

Then there are the many stops to go to the bathroom, to collect pine cones, acorns and rocks. Then having them shoved in every available spot on you or the stopping to pretend a tree is a train, rocket ship, boat you name it. How about the trailside potty accidents? Little ones don’t always make it.

Sometimes it’s the whining and nagging in your ear. Luckily for me, it was far and few between. However, when it happens, it feels like your eye is twitching. The little man in your head starts running around. You must remain calm.

The million questions too. You must breathe when your child asks you a million times if you are going the right way, which way to the car, where is the summit, what is that? Mommy … mommy … mommy? …

Love-

Obviously we love each other. She’s my daughter. We actually have a thing where we like to end many hikes holding hands.

There is another great moment where she is taking her dad’s hand. He is the weakest hiker in the group and we needed to show compassion for him. No hiker shall ever be left behind. No matter how much they are whining. Here, he is actually helping her down after their trailside snack.

But, there is additional love for everything around you. Abby loves hugging trees and thanking them. It started when I was using them to hoist myself up or she used one to help her. She would reply, “thank you tree.” Our love for all God’s creatures grows as we see it all around us on the trails.

You also have to love what you are doing. Wandering for miles is not for everyone and like I mentioned before, my husband thinks it’s so boring. This is not meant to be torture. So, not for everyone.

Humble-

Sometimes you just have to humble yourself. This trail is just too much. I just can’t make nine miles today and it will have to be four instead. I’m not the warrior hiker I thought I was. Sometimes, I found myself turning to Abby and having to say “you were right and I was wrong.” Not an easy thing for many.

Even sometimes asking for help and not having the I can do it all attitude. I remember an instance where I was unbuckling Abby and getting her ready to start our hike. I yelled, “ouch.” My finger was swollen from a splinter I just couldn’t get. Abby said, “let me look at your splinter and try and get it.” I could have had the attitude that you are three and what do you know? So instead, I let her take my hand and she began working the splinter out of it. She looked at me and said, “I can’t get it.” I got me all tool and because she worked it to the surface, the splinter came right out of my finger. We both had to first humble ourselves and work together.

Leadership-

Recently, I read an article about age bracket and when children can lead and walk ahead a bit. Typically, not recommended for a 3.5-year-old. However, as the challenge progressed, I saw such leadership skills growing inside Abby. She would constantly hold me back and announce she was a hike leader. As long as I felt it was safe, I had no issue with it. I would often ask her which way to go and to read the trail markers. Sometimes, she would spot them before me or, correct me. At times, she would even ask to check my GPS to make sure we were going the right way or ask for a trail map if available. At the start of each hike, she would examine the area to see if maps were available. She will sign the logbook if there is one too.

Conclusion-

Trust, self-sacrifice, strength, patience, love, humble and leadership. These words have been swirling around in my head and when I put them all down in front of me, I realized one key thing. Wander in the woods for that long and everything circles right back to life. All the lessons we learned on this six-week journey. The take away was life. Life is just like being in the woods.

Let’s look at the words in relation to life. If we don’t have some level of trust in life, then how will we function in the world around us? It’s the balance of trust and being guarded that you learn in the woods that translates back to life. Self Sacrifice makes you a compassionate and caring person. Strength both physical and mental helps you endure life’s struggles and hard times. Leadership helps you in these instances and decision making, as well as in your future endeavors. Finally, we should all have love and be humble. ” When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. -Proverbs 11:2

Question for You-

Do you have any lessons the trail has taught you? I would love to hear about them! Please send me your comments. Here is my husband’s-

My husband added that the lesson he wanted to share is … “Don’t pee in the poison ivy patch.” we can always count on him for something insightful

House Keeping-

If you missed the last six weeks, you can go back and read a week to week journal of our journey.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

There are also highlight videos on our You Tube Channel!