Hiking a favorite trail more than once is super common but 5x in one summer… probably seems obsessive? Boring? Cowardly? Well, I did it. I hiked the same 9.5-mile trail 5 times (Three Burroughs on the Sunrise side of Mt. Rainier).
I did this hike 5x to watch those I brought with me experience the wonder that is hiking under a giant volcano. Close (quarantine) friends, my aunt, and my father all got to spend at least 4 hours with me talking their ears off while breathing hard and staring at the mountain.
Initially, it was a friend who showed me the trail. It’s one of her favorites. I now feel the same way. The full 9.5-mile hike begins at 6,000 feet in alpine meadows covered in wildflowers. It then continues up to a series of three peaks (the three Burroughs) with the last being the snowiest and closest to Mount Rainier.
Doing this hike 5x with 6 different people was never a chore and each time felt equally special. After the first go-around, I was excited to share it with all who would agree to join me. Sharing what I love with others is one of the most rewarding things in my life. I have hiked and traveled alone, but it never feels as fulfilling as when I get to share it with the ones I love.
One of my hike “victims” was my 49-year-old aunt. She is about to turn 50 but you would have no idea by looking at her. We ended up completing the hike in the fastest time and arguably had the most fun. We glissaded down some of the mountain with childlike laughter and howls. Others hikers on the trail saw her youthfulness and were inspired to do the same. Not only did I provide my aunt with a unique experience unlike any she had had before but we also influenced others to take risks and slide on their butts down a snowy, icy mountain. From my aunt, I learned that there is no age restriction on fun (specifically, when it comes to sledding on your butt).
Another hike “victim” was my 60-year-old dad. Although I possibly had the most fun with my aunt, the hike with my father will go down as the most important person to have joined me on my 5x adventure. He is the one who initially sparked my interest in the outdoors and I owe him so much for all he has given me. Being able to share this experience with him was so important for me because we don’t get to see each other often and making lasting memories with him can be hard to come by.
From him, I learned patience on this hike. He was once an amazing athlete but the ravages of time and being 6’4″ has taken a toll on his knees. The going up was fast, the going down was slow. I consider my normal hiking speed to be fast, so slowing down and taking breaks was not initially easy. I learned to appreciate more of the little things, like the quartz that filled fractures in the trail boulders, or the butterflies that seemed to hop more than fly between wildflowers.
And lastly, from the friends I initially went with and the friends I later took with me, I learned to just be young and take advantage of our lack of real responsibilities. We have our day jobs, and our rent to pay but realistically now is the prime time to get out and see the world.
I may not do this hike again this year but I know I’ll be back next year with more people and new lessons.
Claire in Fresh Air 