Mount Lady Macdonald: Unplug

Sometimes you just have to unplug from the daily routine and the city stimuli, venture out on your own in nature, and think.

I know. It’s so cliche. But how often do you actually give yourself the time… the space… to be at one with your thoughts? To really honour what it is that occupies your mind? To allow yourself a chance to gain some clarity- without the car noises, text message beeps, pressing work and family commitments, ongoing to-do lists, or multitude of other things vying for our immediate attention?

There has been no shortage of interesting events in my life recently. Even with the life changes and job and school stresses, I haven’t felt too stressed mentally. However, the body knows, and it has been feeling the weight.  With abnormally vivid dreams, grinding my teeth at night, bouts of vertigo, and more fatigue than usual, my body has been saying loud and clear: “Hey you! Take a break!”

I knew it was time for the mountains. Hiking in the playground known as the Canadian Rockies is always emotionally enriching for me, and provides an instant cure for the body.

I decided to head out to Canmore and hike Mount Lady Macdonald to the “tea house” / helipad. As I walked along Cougar Creek, looking up toward the summit, I felt a sense of gratitude. For the people in my life. For my health. For the ability to hike. For the time to think. And as I ascended the steep incline to 2377 metres, all I had was time to think…

• Where do I want to take my fitness training? What is the goal?
• What trekking holiday should I do next, and why do I love to hike so much? What does it provide me?
• Now that I’ve graduated from an accredited coach training program, what now? How do I be in service?
• How do I take more control of my life and design the lifestyle I want with intention?
• How are my 2015 goals progressing, now that it is the end of Q1?
• For what am I grateful?

As this was the season opener for summer hiking, it was physically exhausting, but my mind and body benefited in so many ways.

There are always “important” things to do. But are they really all that important? Are they all that pressing? It helps to take a step back, unwind, reassess, and put yourself in a place that promotes creativity, awareness and clarity.

Hiking in the Canadian Rockies is that place for me. What is it for you?

Mount Lady Macdonald. In Canmore, drive to the Cougar Creek parking lot, and walk north along the west side of the creek until you reach the trailhead. I left the parking lot at 2:05 pm and arrived at the tea house/helipad at 4:10 pm. After a 15 minute break, I began descending and reached the car at 5:50 pm, for a total hike of 3 hours and 45 minutes. Elevation gain: approximately 700 metres.

Author: rickohikes

Avid hiker, mountain lover and fitness enthusiast with insatiable wanderlust. Usually battling with an injury and my mental health, but I always persevere! View all posts by rickohikes