Backpacking & the Challenges of Your Own Business

I took my first backpacking camping trip this past weekend. That’s when you haul your tent, sleeping bag, and food into the wilderness on your back, rather than just unpack it from your car a few feet from your campsite. I was excited and nervous. Would I have enough food? Did I have the right supplies? What if there was a change in weather? I prepared myself as well as I could, thanks to backpacking enthusiasts on the internet, and was on my way.

The four of us were tackling Half Dome, the most recognized peak at Yosemite National Park. None of us have ever climbed it before, but have heard stories about how all kinds of people, big and small, have climbed it. I’m not sure about those stories anymore. It was scary. Much scarier than I had anticipated. I’m talking about the cables up at the top. But just when you think you may not make it, and when your heart is beating its fastest, you dig deep to continue and finally reach the top. And then you are rewarded by the most breathtaking views of the park. We had started out really early that morning and at one point, were the only four people up there.

Over the three days, we hiked close to 20 miles. I have never hiked for multiple days in a row, nevermind for such distances. We would go for hours without seeing other people. Just us and nature. It was so peaceful. We saw beautiful sunrises, beautiful sunsets, high peaks, mountain streams, lots of trees, lots of squirrels and chipmunks, and even a bear. We got water from streams, climbed up and up some more, celebrated dehydrated food, and kept walking even when we wanted to stop.

It was a phenomenal weekend. I learned a lot about backpacking, and about myself. As cheesy as that sounds, it’s true. When not distracted by cell phones and email, you’re left with just your hiking partners and your thoughts.

So here are a few of mine, forged over a few days of walking. It seems to me that a backpacking trip shares a lot of things in common with building your own business.

Prepare as much as you can
Research what you can, but as some point, you just have to start and see what happens.

Gear is important
Backpacking is more successful with efficient equipment. Lightweight, compact, not more than you need. Make sure you have the few key pieces that will really make a difference.

Sometimes you don’t know where you are
You may not have the best map, or maybe the trail is taking longer than you thought it should. Check in with signs when you can, and don’t wander too far from the trail. Keep heading in the direction you want.

You have to go up high to enjoy the coolest stuff

But it’s a real challenge to push yourself there

It’s a mental game
When you’re tired, the last thing you want to see is a trail going straight up. How will you get yourself through it?

Your hiking partners can make the difference in your success
When you are losing at your mental game, those around you can inspire you in a new way. Never hike with naysayers.

There is a lesson in everything
Learn from this experience, and make the next one better.

You can go further than you ever thought you could
Without the encouragement from each other and the fact that we had to keep going to get back to basecamp, we would not have gone that far and pushed through the tough spots. It’s there within you, you just have to wake it up.

What other things have you learned from hiking? And what are some of your favorite hiking spots? I'm ready to take another journey...