What an amazing time of life we are experiencing. Once considered a time of crisis and invisibility for women, we are now taking control and changing the dialogue of what it means to be a woman in her 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond.
How are we changing that dialogue? By reframing how we choose to think about it and embracing the opportunities this major shift is presenting to us.
For me, this meant challenging myself by hiking the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail at the age of 58. The Juan de Fuca Trail is a rugged 47 kilometers (29 mile) wilderness hiking trail located within the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. The trail generally takes 3 to 5 days to hike in its entirety and is a pack in, pack out adventure.
Growing up on the edge of the Rocky Mountains in Calgary, Alberta, hiking has always been part of my life. As a child my family would regularly head out on weekends to camp and hike in the mountains. This has led to a lifelong passion for rambling the trails no matter where I am in the world.
Although I am a seasoned hiker, I have never been a multi-day trail hiker. The idea of carrying a backpack full of everything I will need to complete the adventure has never excited me. But when my eldest daughter Christina, who was celebrating a pivotal mid-life birthday, decided she wanted to celebrate it with a challenging adventure this facilitated our Juan de Fuca trip together. I was honored that she reached out to me to accompany her in her journey of transformation. Besides being a time of bonding as a mother and daughter, we both experienced so many mid-life revelations during our four day adventure.
Poignant words from Christina on her motivation for the trip. “I was focusing on things that felt broken and challenging in my life, relationships and situations that were not bringing me joy. Then one day in late spring I decided I needed to invest in myself once again. I needed to get back to the root of who I was, who I wanted to be and how I wanted to show up in the world. I started making small changes, little ripples through the current of my life but I was starting to feel a difference. Then I decided I needed to make a splash.”
With Christina, at the beginning of her mid life journey, she reveled in the physical and mental challenge. Her revelations included moments of laughter and swearing, being happy, scared, lost and exhausted and pushed to the extreme. I on the other hand, deep into mid life, had many humbling revelations. Having always prided myself on being fit, strong and agile, this was a difficult situation to accept.
Arriving at the trailhead with our backpacks loaded with all we would need for our four day adventure, we were giddy with anticipation. Rambling along that first day we met hikers who were just completing their experience on the trail. They looked tired and dirty but had an aura of accomplishment. We arrived at the first night’s campsite, tired but pleasantly pleased with ourselves and looking forward to the next day's challenges.
On day two an old knee injury started to flair up with the extra weight of the thirty pound pack I was carrying. We had discussed whether or not to use hiking poles on our trip, but decided against them as we are both fit and active women. Being new to long distance hiking, this was a major error on our part.
Almost everyone on the trail, young and old alike, had hiking poles. Arriving at our campsite on the second night, we were beginning to look like all the other hikers, tired and dirty with the discussion of how much longer I could continue with my knee pain.
The magic of the trail is that you meet so many people willing to help you along on your journey. Hearing our dilemma, a fellow hiker gave me one of her hiking poles so I could continue my journey. No expectation of ever seeing us again or returning her pole.
Day 3, I hit an aging milestone. It was a long and painful day, made longer by an unintended detour off the trail. After several hours of climbing and descent back onto the trail we finally arrived at our campsite late in the day barely able to carry my weight on my knee. The time had come to admit that my journey was at an end.
But, in the morning I must still hike another four miles to get back to a point of exit from the trail. And trail magic struck again. A father and son hiking the trail were getting off at the next jump off point further up the trail. The offer was extended to drive us back to our car at the beginning of the trailhead.
Day 4 started with disappointment, we were only ten miles from completing the trail. As we hiked the four miles to the exit point I told Christina that I thought she should continue to the end without me. I would go get the car and meet her at the end of the trail. My journey was over but hers was not done.
We separated with six miles to go as she continued on the trail with the companionship of two other hikers. The pure joy and sense of accomplishment I witnessed as she exited the trail was such a joy to behold. I am so proud of her and her accomplishment.
After internal turmoil and self reflections, I have embraced the idea that in future backpacking adventures or whenever needed, I will fully use whatever rambling gear is available to make my journey safe and enjoyable. Personally, this will include hiking poles and a knee brace. I want to continue doing what I love for many years to come. As my BFF, Jill Thomas, says “I want to walk the world with you, so let’s keep pole dancing”.
And on that note, Christina and I are planning on hiking the West Coast Trail this summer, with our hiking poles.
READ MORE > Jane's Mindful Musings Rambler Cafe Blog.
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