Have you ever been lost, disoriented, tired and alone, wondering “how am I going to get myself out of this situation?” Losing your sense of direction can be very frustrating, especially when you are in unfamiliar territory. But in the process of finding a way out of the sticky situation, it can be rewarding when more than simple direction is recovered.
Recovering seldom used skills, attitudes, qualities and strategies helped me survive and even thrive on a recent back-country trek, when I ended up running out of daylight coming off a mountain ridge and had to spend the night alone huddled under a tree until daylight.
It all started by accepting a spontaneous opportunity to jump on a float-plane and fly into the alpine for a few days of exploring new territory. After landing on gorgeous glacial Lorna Lake, I hiked up the pass and ambled along a meadow full of wild flowers and giant mushrooms.
My friends at Tyax Adventures had invited me to overnight at Bear Paw Camp. There I enjoyed a great meal and a good night sleep in one of their canvas platform tents. Not having to carry tons of food and shelter was quite appealing to me – this was to be my first hut to hut experience.
The next day, instead of hiking the well worn trail to the next camp, I decided to tackle a seldom traveled mountain path. So armed with a map, compass, water and snacks – I thought I would be fine. Just after daybreak I headed up the trail to Deer Pass where the view was spectacular – one of the prettiest vistas I have ever seen. I was on such a natural high.
From the highs of Deer Pass I scrambled higher along the Sheba Ridge. With no visible trails to follow, I just hiked from peak to peak. The first two were pretty easy but with the third abrupt peak at 2,700 meters (8,850 feet) the challenges began. At this point I realized that perhaps I had bitten off a little more than I could chew.
Here I found myself continually chewing through lots of daylight looking for faint mountaineering paths to get across sheer slopes of loose rock. As I struggled across the ridge and the day evaporated I remained strangely calm. Getting angry with myself, becoming emotional or sitting down for a good cry wasn’t going to get me out of this situation. Focusing on rationally and carefully tackling this mountainous terrain was best use of my waning energy.
And even though it had already been 12 hours of continuous hiking I simply kept going. Physical exhaustion was not an option. Yes I realized I was going to have to dig deep to get out of this one. Stubborn persistence ensured I made it safely off the ridge as dusk fell.
But with the dusk and travelling below the tree line the problems just changed. Now I had lost easy points of reference. Although I wore a headlamp, the trails were still difficult to follow in the dense spruce forest. Hearing some running water, I refilled my water bottle and accepted the fact that it would be best to rest until dawn.
An old tree let me curl up under its branches. I could hear big things walking about snapping twigs and little things scurry about eating but again I refused to let myself worry about that which I could not control. I did ask Mother Nature, Angels and Ancestors to keep me safe and I was glad that I had carried a down jacket with me.
With the pre-dawn I started moving again and meandered through a maze of animal trails. I did notice a number of ‘fresh’ bear scat piles and slightly shivered at the thought of how close they were to my sleeping spot. Stumbling into the Spruce Lake Camp the crew were happy to see me and I flew back to my log cabin where I enjoyed a hot bubble bath and a long nap.
While I was slipping off to sleep I thought about all the gifts this journey gave me. The biggest being that while I was struggling trying to find my sense of direction, I was recovering a few old parts of me that I hadn’t used in a very long while. Stretching way way out of my comfort zone was quite extreme and not only did I survive, I rose to the challenge enjoying most of the journey.
Our journey here on earth is short. Choosing a road/path less traveled and finding our own way can remind us of what we are really made of. Now, I no longer fear getting ‘lost’ … because it just provides an opportunity to remember, recover and to see what other parts of me can be ‘found’.
Thanks to Dale and the crew for keeping an eye out for me.
www.tyaxadventures.com
July 30, 2013
WOW Carol you are such a champion! 🙂
Much love and light to you!
xoxo
ali
July 30, 2013
Thanks Ali … miss you!
July 30, 2013
Great story & must have been a fantastic trip.
Love the updated pictures.
David
July 30, 2013
Almost as good as our shark adventures!
July 31, 2013
Yikes! Glad this ended happily. Maybe another life lesson — if you’re going to go off-trail, carry some extra supplies!
July 31, 2013
Perhaps … however I don’t think I could have done that trek with a full pack.
July 31, 2013
It’s such a life-enriching experience although when in the middle of it, it’s so frustrating and frightening! Your courage and calmness come from your comprehension of the meaning of life. Thank you for sharing your story. Life has to be lived!
Veronica
July 31, 2013
Yes indeed – we choose the fullness of our life.
July 31, 2013
Wow, now THAT’s an adventure! Many of us would love the experience, as long as we could know it would turn out the same way it did for you. Funny how something like following your own path, the path least travelled, isn’t something money can buy or something that can be re-created. Peace out my friend, happy you’re safe!
July 31, 2013
Interesting observation about what money can’t buy …
July 31, 2013
Money definitely cannot buy peace.
Trek on my friend. You are amazing.
July 31, 2013
I hope you are enjoying your lake side oasis.
July 31, 2013
Your sense of adventure and adversity never cease to bring enlightenment. Keep going…
Lynn the Viking
July 31, 2013
You too kindred Viking spirit!
July 31, 2013
Wow … Those mushrooms sure did a net on you!!! Haha. Glad you are safe and sound…
July 31, 2013
Well I certainly would have considered eating those mushrooms …
July 31, 2013
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost
All the difference!!
July 31, 2013
Nicely stated.
July 31, 2013
Well Carol – there is clearly one thing that was no longer with you – here come da judge! So happy you have let that one free!
July 31, 2013
Interesting how we choose to bring Da Judge along or not.