The ROCK to Success

I recently had the opportunity to cross an item off the "bucket-list" with an all day battle hiking Half Dome in Yosemite.  Over 5200 ft of elevation change, upwards of 8200 ft above sea level, and terrain that is beautiful but punishing.  What started out as a "quest" turned into much more of an epiphany.  For the first time I took on an adventure that kicked my ass and had no problem dishing out pain, anxiety, and doubt with each step.  It is easy to be seduced by the beauty of this hike and drive to complete this task...both mask the sheer effort, danger, and toll this requires...one can not fathom what they are "in" for here.

The permit was acquired 48 hours before the hike (we were one of the lucky ones in the daily lottery).  We had nothing prepared and left the evening before arriving at an hotel a little past midnight.  Up at 4am, we drove the final two hours and had packs on in unexpected 38 degree weather by 6am...ready for the next 10-12 hours.  From granite stairs (thank you Mist Trail), to steep inclines, to traversing trails, to ridiculous Sub Dome blocks, to managing water and food, to total exhaustion, to managing the self-talk constantly jabbering in my head...I have not been challenged physically or mentally like this before (the closest was the Boston Marathon). I learned some invaluable lessons along the way:

Planning Is Not Optional:  I did no planning for this trip and am lucky with the outcome.  I did not check the weather (38 degrees).  I did not have proper equipment (I bought the water-pack the day before).  I had no hotel (slept at some ladies house).  I did not prior training.  I had done no planning on the route (we took the wrong one).  The most I did for this endeavor was apply for the permit.  I should not have been on that trail.  In the past, I would chalk it up to being young, free and this lack of preparation was part of the attraction. Youth masks the failure of accounting for the details, but it is a critical element that I will never again overlook.

Goals Are Not Constant, Know Your Limits:  I have been successful by setting a goal and doing whatever it take to accomplish it.  This approach to goal setting is out-dated, ineffective, and detrimental.  I did not go all the way to the top of Half Dome as was the stated goal (my past way of thinking would have chalked this up as a failure).  Based on my physical condition and a set "turn-around time", my very long day became a set of smaller goals.  The overall goal "connected" all of these smaller goals for an overall picture, but the focus and challenge shifted to the individual smaller goal I was working against.  There was an assessment done at the completion of each of these smaller objectives...all the available information was tapped to reach the next decision and direction.  While it was mostly out of desperation as I went through it, there is a beauty now to understanding what was going on in my head that day.  I had learned a little about this in the book, Push, which I read right before this hike...one of the take-aways was that failure to achieve the stated goal is prevalent and true success is being able to take-away the learnings from that experience and apply them the next time out.  I experienced exactly that and this became a huge win for me.

Adaptability, Flexibility & Routine:  When I think about attributes for success I immediately think of intelligence, strength, endurance, etc.  Those are important qualities, but I learned that flexibility and adaptability are probably the most important ingredients to success.  I was forced to adapt and be flexible- from the overall goals to which trail would be best to whether my body needed trail mix, beef jerky or a banana (and believe me, there is a big difference in each of these solutions).  Nothing went as expected over this very long day...the success and results were not a function of me being smart or strong, but my ability to adapt on the move and be flexible in how I approached the goal.

No Regrets:  I can see myself in my earlier days being completely depressed and distraught about not going all the way to the top.  Maybe it is my mind playing tricks on me, but I have had not one regret about my day and hold it as one of the greatest accomplishments I have endured.  I found that this was bigger than a stated goal.  This was certainly about will, drive, and strength...but in the bigger picture it was about who I am, how I think and what I learn...some of this I have shared, some I have not...but all of it was a wild success.

MDM