Do you play Chess?

Chess is a mental game... a constant back and forth game of cunning, planning and patience. Similarly, long distance hiking is a game of cunning, planning and patience.

The initial month or so is, as I am now learning, mostly a physical game wrought with physical challenges. The mental challengs are still there, just not so pronounced, yet. but on week three, they are starting to appear.

Hiking is a little like fishing too, in that you have lots of time to mull things over in your mind, and really consider things in depth you might not have considered before. If you are one to ponder negative things over and over, then this can be devastating as you do this for hours and hours at a time as you plod on. You pause for a moment now and then to consider the beauty of your surroundings, but much of the terrain is similar enough to help you get lost in your daily pensive moments.

Unfortunately, I have this great ability to ponder negative things over and over to the point where they become obsessions until I eventually rationalize them away. It may take a day or two but as my dad would always say, "even this, shall pass."

I am hoping that once the physical punishment part of my initiation is mostly over, I will settle down and find the balance I am looking for. But for now, each day is a challenge, both physically and mentally.

The chess game has begun...