What the mountain taught me

Over the past weekend, we went for a hike two hours west of the city. The total elevation gain was 700 m, and we kept a steady pace of 14 km/h. The night before the hike, we organised a “meet and sing” karaoke session.

Planning for the trip was fun. Our initial plan was canceled due to weather conditions, but one member came up with an alternative, so everyone was thrilled to go. As the forecast indicated extreme UV conditions and temperatures as high as 38°C, we planned a route that was shaded for most of the trail.

Lesson one: Prepare ahead, get the odds by your side.

When we hike we are caring for the next step and got our heads down, the view was not worth dwelling over as we have the top of the mountain in mind.

We are as fast as the slowest member on our team. - James Douglas Zhang

Lesson two: Balance between focusing on the next step and the end goal.

Focusing too much on your next step leaves you dreading taking steps. Focusing only on the end goal defeats the purpose of the journey.

The balance I found was this: when I was gasping for air, I focused on catching my breath and the next step. When I wanted to rest past recovery, I focused on reaching the mountaintop.

Lesson three: Stronger shoulders carry more weight.

As each of us had different activity habits—some went to the gym, others hiked—we had to move at an average pace. We also brought a dog; she’s super shy, and it wasn’t until our fourth meeting that she got closer to me. It was her first mountain. The owner carried the dog’s food, water, and necessities that others didn’t think of: wet wipes, fruit, and protein bars. The big guy carried water; the smart guys took pictures of the map before the trip and cracked jokes to lift morale.

Lesson four: Rest to go further.

Jokes and snacks could only last a while. By the time we arrived at a village below the mountain base, we were starving and needed food, so we found a restaurant that served local dishes to replenish ourselves: chilies with marinated meat, vinaigrette potatoes, laobing (Chinese flatbread), and stir-fried veggies with garlic. After some earthy food, we chatted and made sure the dog was fed for the remaining journey.

Lesson five: Go higher to see further.

When we reached the mountaintop, the view was breathtaking, and we celebrated both the scenery and the effort it took to get there.

At the top, the wind was stronger; we felt a chill.

At the top, the air was thinner; we felt serenity.

At the top, the view was clearer; we saw farther.

At the top,

I sat in silence,

listening to the wind,

feeling the sun’s warmth.

Preparing, balancing, carrying, resting, seeing.

A summary to the lessons from the mountain, seeing life’s humour from a higher perspective, connect the dots or even removing the dots all while stepping back to the present moment; to see farther and focus on the next step.

Which one did you resonate with the most?

Dog was so scared.