I just got back into service from the most MAGICAL backcountry trip.

 

My first solo overnight backcountry trip - and I'm hyped. Driving out to the trailhead the weather was absolutely perfect. Sunshine, not to hot but just perfect. I get to the trailhead, get organized and get started. I check the trail signs before I leave just to triple check I'm headed in the right direction.

 

Well, wouldn't you know it - where I'm going is not the first lake... it's the 4th lake.. Twice the distance I had initially planned on, and now I have no idea what the elevation will be.. I packed extra food, and am confident in my physical fitness so I head out.

 

Two minutes later it started to rain.. I don't mean drizzle - I mean thunder and downpour. I stop quick, grab my pack cover and shell out of my bag. Get organized, geared up and back on the trail I go.

 

It rained on me the entire way until about 10 minutes from the hut. It's funny people always assume that being in the backcountry in the rain would be miserable, but this trip was magical. I had so many reasons not to go - so many reasons people would've given me a pass on turning back for. 

 

I've always been stubborn though, and I'm a big believer that we either learn to do head things and live an easy life - or always take the easy way and forever live a hard life. I was rewarded was a HOT SHOWER when I arrive at the hut. It was the most beautiful backcountry hut I've ever been to. A gorgeous timber cabin tucked away in the mountains.

 

The next morning I woke up early to watch a magical sunrise and saw another storm coming in. So I packed up after breakfast and headed back down. I was hoping to miss the storm - I was surprised when 10 minutes into my hike it started to rain again.

 

It's funny, I cried tears of joy as the rain fell. I knew I was exactly where I needed to be in life at that moment. I was the only party of one at the hut the night before. Doing anything alone - let alone going into the backcountry is something most people won't do.

 

Not because they're not capable, but because they're not confident, because they're held back by fear.

 

I was to live a magical, impactful, purposeful, and incredible life while I'm here on earth - and doing that won't be easy - I know that. I didn't have some special reason to go - I certainly had enough reasons not to go.

 

Truth is - before I left I said to a friend that I needed something to mentally challenge me, and that is exactly what this did. Coming back I am so proud of myself - that trip helped reinforce my confidence.

 

You will always have an endless list of reasons not to do something - you only need to find one reason to do it.

 

Cheering you on always,

Maddison Noel