Hiking Philosophy and Goal Setting
There are as many hiking philosophies as there are hikers. Nevertheless, the best advice for anyone about how to hike continues to be: Hike your own hike. This expression is widely used within the hiking community, especially on long distance trails like the Appalachian Trail. However, HYOH does not mean one can do whatever they want regardless of others on the trail. It is irresponsible to put one’s personal desires above others who may be negatively impacted by those actions. This is the core of Hike Your Own Hike. In a 2015 article for The Trek, “When Hike Your Own Hike (HYOH) Does NOT Apply [Part 1]”, Kenny Howell defined the core principle of HYOH: “Every hiker is entitled to hike their own hike up to the point that it begins to negatively impact the experience of another hiker.” Essentially, you should find what works for you on the trail and don’t try to tell other hikers how to do it better, faster, cheaper, lighter, or define what makes your hike successful. By setting goals for your hike, you are able to make your hike your own.
Bridging the Gap from Why to How
So, how do you go about hiking your own hike? While it might be tempting to let serendipity work its magic, chaos is just as likely to leave its mark on your journey. Perhaps even worse, you end up imitating someone else’s hike rather than having your own unique experience. A more mindful and intentional approach will result in a more personal, rewarding and lasting experience. By setting specific goals, you give yourself the motivation necessary to accomplish things you may have thought not possible. Specific goals are simply a tool to help motivate and move us along a chosen path to achieve our “why” or our purpose for hiking. Specific goals allow you to hike your own hike and not be side-tracked by what others are doing or what they may think of your experience. Specific goal setting bridges the gap between the philosophical “why” and the practical “how.”
SMART Goals for Hiking
It would be easy to simply say my goal is to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. That is a good start, but this is just an idea, maybe even a dream. And it could be a recipe for disappointment at best, disaster at worst. To make the dream a reality; to ensure it is an enjoyable and safe experience, you must shape it into specific goals with clear steps toward achievement of the dream. You need to plan the adventure mindfully and intentionally. I use the concept of SMART goals. The concept of SMART goals comes from the management and business world; however, the concept easily applies to any endeavor, including planning a long distance hike.
S = Specific. The goal must be specific. Instead of simply saying I want to go backpacking, think about why you are hiking. Are you going on the adventure for a physical challenge? For solitude? Doing this helps define the type of trail you should choose, what equipment you will need, and what skills you will need to learn for that particular trail. Then pick a specific trail as your goal.
M = Measurable. This is easier to define in terms of numbers. How far do you want to hike each day? How far do you want to hike for the entire trip and how long do you want to take to complete the section or entire trail?
A = Attainable. Goals need to stretch us a bit, but not be so far outside your level of experience that they are unrealistic. Goals need to be attainable given your current level of experience, the skills we will need to learn, and the time we can devote to preparation. You also need to ask if you have the equipment necessary for the goal. It just may be smarter to start with an easy goal like a day hike and work your way up to a long distance hike as a future goal.
R = Relevant. Why are you hiking? Do you want to see wildlife? Do you want sweeping vistas? Do you want to observe interesting plants? Do you want to challenge yourself physically or have a less strenuous hike?
T = Time-bound. Write a target date on your calendar. It is good to know what goal you are working toward, but also be flexible about when it can be achieved. Setting a time target does not have to conflict with flexibility. Deadlines create a sense of urgency to prepare in a timely manner and not be side-tracked. But we should be flexible when things out of our control, like weather or unexpected commitments, delay execution. Push the date further out, but keep your eye on the goal.
No Plan is Perfect
Many might argue that this is over-planning or over-thinking. They have a point. Some pithy maxims from my experience as a strategist in the military are worth sharing. Hope is not a plan and you have no hope without a plan. Starting with a workable 80 percent solution is better than working toward an impossible 100 percent solution. Preparation prevents piss-poor performance. And perhaps, the best, no plan survives enemy contact; so, be ready with contingencies. In the end, they are your goals and your hike, change and adapting are part of the experience. Nothing is written in stone. The AT changes distance every year. Even the sign on Katahdin is made of wood.
*SMART Goals for Hiking: Image by storyset on Freepik. **No Plan is Perfect: Photo by Jake Kowalsi via Friends of Kathadin.
