WHY ?
Since I know how to run (so from a very young age), I have always hated walking. When someone talk to me about “hiking”, I immediately associated the image of a group of retirees following each other with ski poles in their hands and a “Old Camper ” style.
“Going on a hike” seemed contradictory to my hyperactive character. An activity where you walk for hours when you could do the same route in “Trail Mode”. An activity reserved for my end of life, when really I will no longer be able to run. As the famous saying goes: “you don’t stop running when you get old, but you get old when you stop running”.
Only fools who don’t change their minds
It’s been 4 months now that I am going after my dreams, with a list of 100 experiences to do before dying in 2020. I now realize that we have too many pre-conceived in our way of approaching our life, that the truth is to be found in the experience of things by oneself: going from “I didn’t do it, but I know” to “I did it, so now I know”.
Thursday March 18, 2020, at 35 years old, I went on my first hike in the mountain, them where you walk a long time! And I’m very happy, because it was really worth it !
HOW ?
100% thanks to chance! When I returned from New Zealand, I absolutely wanted to do a DEXA Scan again to find out the variation in my body following the intense physical challenge (1100km of cycling in 12 days).
Monday morning, the day after my arrival in Sydney, I found myself at Body & Bones, a center dedicated to body analysis. I am received by Jocieli, the Clinic Manager, who will give me the test and explain my results to me. Unexpectedly, my body will not have changed in 6 weeks, despite 2 weeks of Vipassana and 2 weeks of bike-packing. I do not know why, but I am a little disappointed. She confirms to me that it is a very good thing, that my body knew how to adapt perfectly.
We chat and I tell him about my bucket-list. She asks me if I have already hiked on the mountain. Seeing the expression on my face, she continued: “Tomorrow, with my boyfriend, we are going for a long hike in the Blue Mountains. It’s really beautiful, you should come with us! Unless it scares you… ”
YES MAN! Departure at 7:00 am tomorrow !
THE EXPERIENCE
07:00 am arrival at the train station, after a small “gentle” awakening at 05:30 am. I still have a lot of leg pain, after my 1100km of cycling, I am starting to wonder if it is a good idea to go for a mountain hike. And I didn’t realize that the meeting point was at the opposite of the city.
“Maxime, Accept as it is”
I find Jo and Adam in the car, direction Evans Lookout. There are people with whom you immediately feel whether contact is going to go well or not, as if you were on the same vibration. This is the case with this really (really) nice couple!
From the first meters, we arrive on a lookout that overlooks the whole valley. I’m breathless, it’s like being in the Grand Canyon right in the middle of Arizona.
We start by going down many steps. Quickly, I felt like I was in a “Tomb Raider” looking for a lost city. The decor is really amazing (see photo below)
Back in the car a few hours later, we decide to have lunch at the Echo Point lookout (Three Sisters). It’s probably the best view you can have of the Blue Mountains.
5pm : back to Sydney
Jo fell asleep in the back of the car, I took the opportunity to get to know Adam. We realize that we have many things in common! He is preparing a triathlon, he wants to start his own business, he is passionate about “Human Performance / nutrition” and above all we have the same references (Joe Rogan, Tim Ferriss, The Game Changers,…).
Last word
This hike was very very cool! I realize that you can enjoy walking, when the landscape is there and the discussions are good. Yes, I know, it’s obvious. But better to do this at 35, than never right?
# 67 – Bikepacking alone in New Zealand for 12 days (what I learned)