The Small Step Revolution

Trudging up yet another 30 degree slope and watching the line of hikers grow farther and farther away from me, I started thinking about my childhood. I have so many memories of being outside and enjoying nature. But rarely was I hiking. My brother and dad would always hike peaks and explore mountains while shy me and sympathetic mom would find other things to do. During this 11 mile day 2 of the Nebaj-Todos Santos hike I wondered at why I was so resistent to hiking as a kid. The answer I came up with was that I was always the smallest, the slowest, and the one that was left in the dust. I would always get so upset as the rest of my family seemed to keep fast paces and I was stuck always trying to catch up. It would always make my little face screw up with sobs and I would run, bike, or trot as fast as I could to keep up. And I never could. Man, I hated it!

Moving to Idaho changed my attitude about outdoor activities like climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, and biking. I naturally fell into its great outdoor community and discovered I could keep up and relly truly loved all the above activities! I was finally in a place where I could consistently get outside and was with friends who also loved it, taught me, and helped me improve my skills. Now when my folks and I were in the West, I could keep up and loved watching them enjoy the outdoor experiences too. Life was good. I realized that I was a consistent hiker. Maybe not fire crew material, but consistent. No more sobbing about being in the back for me! I relished the back!

I’ve been two-footing it through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Guatemala since. People told me I was a good hiker, always in a good mood, okay with different paces, and enjoy the hike. So, now, hiking through the Cuchumatanes, what was the deal? There the group went, hundreds of feet in front of me, speeding through the Cuchumatanes Mountains, and I was left in the dust... again. Dangit!

I remembered how people always give such helpful advice as “keep a steady pace and you’ll make it to the top. Don’t take breaks. Just keep going.” Well, shoot, I was keeping a steady pace and still having to take breathers on the uphills. I couldn’t breath at over 3000 meters without taking a break. Why could everyone else keep up with the ridiculously fast guide? Meah!

Finally, Alex slowed down to wait for me. We talked about hiking skills and she said, “You’re still taking really big steps. Take really little ones and you’ll get there. Small steps get you anywhere you need to go!” I immediately changed my steps and realized the small step revolution. All of a sudden I could power up those hills! I was hiking away, not needing breaks, and moving like a mule, sherpa, or llama up those 30 degree slopes. Why hadn’t anyone told me this crucial step before? Why hadn’t they said, “You need to have a consistent pace and take small steps when climbing hills”? Come on, people, the Small Step Revolution can get you anywhere!

I saw the rest of the hike unfold in frot of me. I could make it up and down all those mountains with the small step revolution! And indeed I could. My breaks reduced to nothing as miles melted under my feet. But still, the group was way ahead of me no matter what I did. I guess I am just not a fast hiker. But instead of my face screwing up with repressed sobs at being left in the dust, I enjoyed developing my small step skills, examining the dark soil under my feet, and visiting with the handful of other people who couldn’t, didn’t, or wouldn’t keep up with the guides’ army-training-pace march through the mountains. Fine, I thought, I can’t keep up, but I can consistently hike with my pace and small steps all the way from Nebaj to Todos Santos (38 miles).

The small step revolution gets you anywhere your head and heart desire!