What I learned about perseverance and resilience in three days and two nights in the mountains

Embarking on a three-day/two-night backpacking trip in Colorado was both thrilling and nerve-wracking for me. As someone who had only done day hikes, this was a significant step up. People on the trip asked me ‘Why are you doing this?’ because I was clearly close to double the age of the others in our six-person group. While I didn't have a concrete answer, I felt drawn to this physical and mental challenge. Sometimes, our goals may not have clear explanations but possess a personal relevance and meaning that drive us to push our boundaries. Clearly I had something to prove to myself.

I learned valuable lessons about perseverance during this trip. Surprisingly, the physical fitness aspects of the trip were pretty manageable. However, the true test came in enduring physical and mental discomfort, primarily the bone-chilling cold. As night fell on day one, the freezing temperatures became almost unbearable. Despite layering all the clothing I had brought, I remained awake all night, battling the cold and grappling with the effects of the high altitude.

All night long I kept asking myself. Why are you doing this? Why are you making yourself miserable? Why are you here? What are you trying to prove? And I couldn’t answer these questions in the middle of the night.

Day One: “I am sleeping in everything I brought on this trip – t-shirt, fleece, puffer, raincoat, long underwear, pants, socks, hat and gloves, and I still can’t warm up. Maybe I need to be more realistic about who I am, what I enjoy doing, and where I am in life.”

Three reasons prevented me from giving up: my commitment to drive a fellow traveler back to Denver after the trip, the desire to maintain my family’s respect, and my aversion to quitting. Perseverance on this trip was about not giving up, and persisting through challenges to attain self-respect.

I did stay and things improved.

During the trip I thought a lot about what I want to optimize in life and what its ok to simply “satisfize”?  I learned that concept recently when Tim Ferriss interviewed Derek Severs on his podcast. This concept of “satisfize” really spoke to me. My summary: we should optimize what we prioritize, and then be comfortable “satisfizing” other areas of our life.  What is wrong with day hikes and nights spent in a cozy cabin? What is wrong with outsourcing work I don’t truly enjoy nor am truly excellent at?  Giving up the pursuit of optimizing everything could be empowering.

Day Two: Today was much better. One couple left, which made me worry that I was too slow. I am definitely the slowest, but so what. I'm in my cozy little tent now, and it's so much warmer than last night. I feel like a different person. It's funny how I woke up this morning with no thought other than "I'm going to do this, after spending all night plotting my departure. Lesson to self: don’t make big decisions in the middle of the night!”

My Colorado adventure not only showcased my perseverance but also nurtured my resilience. While perseverance helps us endure challenges in the present moment, resilience emerges as a valuable attribute once we conquer those challenges.  In other words, I’m starting to think of resilience as the result of perseverance. I feel more resilient now, armed with the knowledge of how to use a stove, set up a tarp, and carry 25 pounds on my back for three days. Furthermore, backpacking has taught me the significance of surrendering to the experience, knowing that whatever I am experiencing in the moment will pass and leave behind valuable lessons. This added resilience boosts my confidence and equips me with a sharpened toolkit for future adventures.

Day Three. Hiking in the dunes was amazing but I'm not sure if I would do a trip like this again. Maybe it's the kind of experience that needs perspective. Let's see. I'm really glad I stayed, though.  And yes, its definitely type 2 fun, the kind that seems more fun from the rearview mirror than it ever did in the moment!

As I look back on my journey to 10,500 feet and back, I recognize the true essence of perseverance. The challenges I faced on this trip provided valuable insights into my ability to endure and pushed me to expand my limits. While I continue to ponder the “optimize-satisfize” balance, for now, I take pride in my perseverance and the resulting resilience. Completing this adventure has filled me with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment, and that, for the moment, is enough.