Joann and Alex were pretty sure they would get back before dark. They were experienced hikers. They seldom felt hurried because they believed the trail should be enjoyed to the very end. But then, it does not pay to get too sure of yourself. This trail was only five miles long, and they had a good map downloaded to the app on their phones. It was just after 2:00 PM, so off they went, eager to explore this new area of the new park.
But the hike lasted a lot longer than planned. The trail had several washouts from the recent rains that required a detour from the map. The trail guide underestimated the elevation gain, which made the stops a little more frequent than they had planned. Lastly, they miscalculated the change in sunset between the western and eastern sides of the time zone. It gets dark earlier in the east. And the sun was well on its way to the horizon as they passed the two-mile marker. They knew it would be very dark very soon. But even though this was a new trail for them, they did not panic.
The unknown, the mystery, evokes uncertainty in our lives. Our usual toolkit of answers and behaviors may be useless. The unknowns can leave us struggling to understand and fighting to adapt to the gathering darkness. This is challenging for everyone. However, it can be devastating for those who do not understand or acknowledge their fears. Their fear taps them on the shoulder, and they are swept away on a rising tide of anxiety.
But Alex and Joann were experienced hikers. Honestly, they enjoyed a bit of mystery along the path. They had been on enough hikes to know that fear created a healthy respect for the trail. They also knew it would be foolish to never take a hike because they were afraid. But it would be even more ludicrous and dangerous to ignore their fears and do the hike anyway, pretending there was nothing to worry about. As experienced hikers, they listened to their fears and allowed them to help them prepare for challenging trails. Joann and Alex embraced their fears as helpful companions in preparing for their hikes.
Alex observed, “This trail is taking longer than we thought. Looks like we will be getting back after dark.” Joann replied, “I think you’re right. Good thing we packed the headlamps. I am not sure we could see the trail markers without them.” Alex joked (sort of), “Not to mention all the creepy crawlies that come out after sunset!” Joann replied, “Thanks. I needed to be reminded about them right now!” They both chuckled.
As they suspected, the sun slipped below the horizon and grew pitch black. Moonrise would not be for a couple of hours. The starlight helped, but the headlamps and hiking app kept them on track. The strange sounds seemed so much louder in the dark. They could hear critters scurrying away from their headlamps. Alex remarked, “These stars are glorious tonight. By the way, you packed extra batteries, didn’t you?” With a little smile, Joann replied, “I did for my headlamp!”
They came to a slight rise and could see the streetlight at the trailhead parking lot. While they had prepared as best, it was never easy hiking in the dark, and their anxiety had given them an adrenalin boost for the last mile or two. They could breathe a bit easier.
The batteries lasted. They had plenty of water. But most of all, they rediscovered that they could handle a fearful situation. They did not need bravado to cover up their insecurities. They had each other and plenty of time on trails to help them know how to deal with their fears. Joann said as they unlocked the car, “Boy, do we have a story to tell when we get to the pub.” Alex replied, “Yep, we do. And by the way, from now on, I will pack my own batteries; thank you very much!” They both laughed as they set off for new adventures, complete with fears, mysteries, adrenalin, and new places to explore.
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