“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”
- Frank A. Clark
Whether in life or on trail, shortcuts sometimes seem like a preferable option. Why walk all the way around it if I can get there faster and easier another way?
This way of thinking is especially prevalent in those with ADHD. We tend to be spontaneous risktakers with a thirst for adventure.
Sometimes these side trails work out great, other times not so much, but as with everything, the attitude in which you look at things can drastically change the stories you tell. So let me illustrate my point with the following tale of marmots, river crossings and general hilarity.
It was our second day on the TMB and after crawling out of our tent and consuming a tragically cold and coffee-less breakfast, due to our previously mentioned mishap regarding all buying the wrong gas canisters, we started our day full of enthusiasm and positive energy. We were all a bit sore after our 26km / 16miles of the previous day, but as I said, our spirits were high.
After traversing a couple of snowfields as well as a very sketchy snow bridge, and consuming a glorious hot cup of coffee and cake in one of the huts on the way, we made our merry way down the mountain.
It took us maybe 10 minutes of steep downhill to realize that we had taken the wrong fork and should have gone to the left instead of the right we so confidently chose.
We stared up the way we’d come and consulted our map. The way we were on was more or less parallel to the one we should be on so we quickly decided it would be too much of a hassle to hike back up the mountain just to come straight back down and that it would be a much smarter idea to just take a shortcut.
We would just walk straight through the lush fields of grass in the middle and arrive at our desired destination in absolutely no time.
In this, it turns out, we were tragically mistaken.
So, we set out across the hills that grew increasingly steeper, encountered a number of startled and confused looking marmots and were swiftly faced with our first unplanned stream crossing. We checked our maps, this didn’t seem right - there were no rivers shown on here, but according to the GPS we were on the right track and it was too late to turn back, or we were too proud - who can say.
The stream was easily jumped across however and we found ourselves clambering up the opposite hill, hysterical with laughter. What had we gotten ourselves into?
But as the saying goes, “the only way out - is through”, so we bravely soldiered on.
Soon we found ourselves on top of a missive hill which steeply sloped down towards a river. An actual river this time not just a tiny stream. It was partly covered in snow which we were not too sure would hold us.
Our sense of adventure however still wouldn’t let us turn back so tentatively we put one step in front of the other and shuffled over to the other side.
After scrambling up the opposite hill on our hands and feet, holding on to tufts of grass we stopped, checked our GPS once again and were still laughing hysterically at the ludicrous situation we had gotten ourselves into.
We promptly got to our steepest descent yet, it was a rocky, slippery mess that we mainly slid down on our bums and which delivered us straight to, you guessed it, another river crossing. This river was wider and more turbulent than the previous one and it soon became obvious that we won’t get across it without getting our feet soaked.
After a lot of back and forth all three of us managed to get across and, filled with the adrenaline rush we scaled the next accent and finally, blissfully caught sight of the trail.
Once there we sat in the sun, exhausted and dried our shoes and insoles.
Exhilarated but also knackered from our side quest. Simultaneously promising to never do it again and secretly thrilled by the adventure and the stories we could tell about it.
So, what did we learn from this?
Well, the one thing I can say for sure is that it wasn't the last time we took shortcuts but it was definitely the most memorable.
In the end it didn't turn out to be much on a shortcut, it took us w lot longer and was most definitely not the easier way.
What it was however, was a story to remember and a part of our trip that I wouldn't want to miss!
Sometimes it turns out attempted short cuts lead to adventure, laughter and good memories. as long as it is with the right people and of course a positive frame of mind.
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