Battle Ready

The Pilgrimage was from a point in Espanola, NM to a church outside of Chimayo, NM.  10.2 miles up and 10.2 miles back.   I have developed OCD from my years with the FD.  It is a great thing for a Firefighter to have but kind of annoying in everyday life.  I check things more times than I need to and I always assume the very best plans will go right to hell by a twist of fate that I cannot anticipate. 

So when I started out at 05:00 AM on Friday, I was carrying cold weather gear, rain gear, water, and assortment of fruit and snacks..my backpack was not light.  Weather was forecast to be in the mid 50's.  Thick socks, hiking boots, and I am already dressed in layers.   I am ready to adapt, improvise, and overcome any obstacle.

I am starting to learn (a little late in life, but what the hell) the importance of planning for and adapting to plans that go much better than I could have imagined.  This is one of those life skills that is important.  I am hoping you will master this skill very early on in life.  Being able to identify those situations that do not require the ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome is as important as identifying those that do.

The 10.2 miles up is all uphill and a daunting hike.  Despite the clear, warm morning, I did not take the cold weather gear out of my backpack.  I missed other opportunities to lighten my load along the way.  Every couple of miles on the uphill climb there are tents where there is free cold bottled water, apples, banana's, and oranges.   In retrospect, the best thing here would have been to drink my water and eat my fruit and lighten my load.  By mile 4 I could have been comfortably been traveling uphill with a very light backpack.  I did lighten my load at about the 18 mile mark. 

Planning for worst case is relatively easy.  Planning & adapting to best case can be much harder and is less intuitive.

The walk was beautiful and peaceful in a way that is difficult to describe.  I certainly could have made it much easier than I did.  I can't escape the feeling that I was the guy who was in armor and battle ready ...at a pool party.

There are plenty of times to wear your armor and be battle ready.  Learn how to recognize when to not be battle ready.  There are plenty of times when you will have to carry a heavy ass backpack and other times when there is no need to do so. 



Love Dad