3 Lessons from the Inca Trail

This picture was the glorious end (at Machu Picchu) to an incredible journey of hiking the Inca Trail. It was 3 days of hiking 26 miles at high altitude (between 9,000 and 14,000 feet) on a technical, rocky trail. It was the most physically challenging thing that I’ve ever done and I’m so proud that I did it!

Three things I want to keep with me from this experience:

1. Sometimes, the smallest steps are the best choice. On the second, most challenging day of hiking, we had a 4-hour ascent to a peak at 13,800 feet, followed by a 2-hour descent, then another 2-hour ascent, and finally a 2-hour descent. Our guide told us that it would be a big mistake to walk straight up the center of the stepping stone trail on the ascents. If we did, we wouldn’t have juice left in our legs for the descents, which is actually more difficult. He told us to zig-zag back and forth and to look for the smallest steps rather than taking too big, more direct steps straight up. And… how wise for challenges in the rest of life that require reserving energy for the long haul! Taking small steps forward is still forward movement!
2. Mindset is everything. I cannot underemphasize how grateful I was for the work on mindset I’ve been doing leading up to this experience. The orientation meeting we had with our guide before we left would have sent the old me into an anxious and angry swirl of doom and gloom. “Why did Dan say this was a moderately average hike?” “What if I’m sore and miserable?” “What if I don’t sleep enough with the early starts (4:30 am)?” “What if I can’t do it?” But… I practiced my holy imaginings that night after the meeting instead. I imagined the hike going well. I imagined myself at the end of each day, tired and satisfied. I asked God to give me whatever I needed to show up in a good way to the experience. When I noticed my mind pulling into an anxious “what if…?” I would counter with “Or what if it goes well?”.
3. Context is key. Considering the physical challenge of something like this in isolation removes you from the power and motivation of the experience: the camaraderie of the hiking group, the encouragement of our guide, and the fact that every time I looked up I was seeing some of the most amazing views of my life… all of these things give our bodies energy! God created us with automatic benefits when we are in community when we are cheered for when we experience beauty… I love that about our humanity.

I’m more sold than ever on having adventures in community! What started out as a graduation gift for my son became a personally stretching and encouraging life experience that I will always treasure.