You’ve been planning the trip for weeks. A thru-hike of the John Muir Trail with a couple friends. It’s a big trip, a massive commitment, and one that’s sure to pose unanticipated challenges along the way. You know, an adventure. Permits have been secured, loose strategies made for resupply stops, vehicle shuttling planned, gear packing discussed, and fantasies of vistas and trail moments you’ll never forget already running through your mind on a loop.
Ah, but then, life intervenes. A job loss. A love lost or gained. Personal hardship or injury raises its head. Suddenly, the fantasies of the Milky Way swirling over your tent each night at 10,000 feet, while you whoop it up with your buddies are replaced by a nagging feeling of guilt about taking so long off from the humdrum of regular, workaday life. Or something entirely out of your hands makes the trip impossible.
Sure, other adventures down the road await, that’s a vessel that’s always running over with possibilities. But that original possibility, of memories built one step at a time on one of the world’s grandest trails, with those friends at that time in your life—that specific door is closed. What happened beyond it, in an alternate universe where you took that trip? You’ll never know.
What comes next? Regret? Or understanding?
That exact scenario may have happened in your life, or perhaps you’d never let anything stand in the way of a grand adventure.
What about you, reader?
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Photo: Jasper van der Meij
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There is not enough time, or $$$, for me to visit everywhere I would like to go….so I tend to pick and choose….carefully.
Most of the time, I regret not spending more time on a particular adventure. Regrets also include trying to plan too much and missing out o the “adventure”.
I made that exact mistake the first time I went to Europe. Tried to see and visit way too much in not enough time. The most fun we had on the entire trip, was meandering around Venice, well away from any tourists. We spent the day wandering, eating frequently and sampling local wines throughout the day…. That was capped off by some Cuban cigars, (several) San Souci beers and an endless supply of potato chips supplied by our waiter, which he assumed we needed/wanted since we were Americans. He provided the cigar as well.
Many years ago I passed on a private Alsek trip with a bunch of Flagstaff/Haines locals. Regretted it ever since. On the good side it taught me to say yes whenever I was on the fence!
The Sierra Club had a Brooks Range on a Budget trip years ago. I was so excited to go. Then the mining company that owned a needed airstrip said, nope. That was the end of the trip. I still have not made it to Alaska.
I’ve missed a few but overall been very fortunate.
I definitely see one adventure lost as another gained, but man does it feel good when you are on the cusp of bailing for a legitimate enough reason (in your own head at least) and then a friend, spouse, or family member pushes you to keep that commitment and it kicks total ass in the end!
It’s like standing on the brink of mediocre and then diving into fun!
I don’t have any significant adventure regrets, but I do find it’s really easy to pass up short, more local trips. I’m going to try to make more of an effort to get out for two or three day trips close to home this year, especially given the current situation with travel restrictions.
Greatest adventure right now is to be healthy. Foolishness right now to worry about things you haven’t done.
Be happy that you have a chance in the future unlike those who are unable.
About 100 years ago (33 actually) I had the chance to drive my 1974 VW Vanagon camper around Mexico after I graduated from college. I had enough saved up to live on the beach and just roam for several months (way before “van life” was a thing). Inspired by Carl Franz’s “The People’s Guide to Mexico,” I was near ready to set out. However, my father had died the year before and I thought I should do the “responsible” thing after college and get a job instead of go vagabonding. So, I did. I got a job, moved in with a girl and never made the trip.
I made some long weekend trips around Baja Norte and did my thesis work in the mountains of Tamaulipas, but never did the “big” trip.
I’ve been largely blessed by the experiences I have collected and trips I’ve taken, however I will always regret not taking a year off before or after college to thru hike the AT. I’ve settled for short trips every couple summers or so, but I feel like I am missing out on one of my biggest goals in life. I am young still, so there is potentially plenty of time to get it in and also add on the JMT or PCT, but the older I get the more everyday life seems to get in the way. Perhaps my desires are bigger than reality allows. For now, it shall remain a dream in limbo, the trip for which I laced up my boots yet never took the first step.
I worked at a Mountain / River shop in Driggs back in the day and had the opportunity to join a 21 day private Grand Canyon trip with a bunch of close friends, some of which had many years’ worth of high end white water guiding experience. It would have been THE trip.
My boss at that time ( who also was an old timey Grand Canyon guide) advised me NOT to go, purely based on the fact the trip was in August. ”Too hot!” ”It will be miserable” he said over and over, telling me not to go.
I took his experienced advice, and have regretted it since.
A few months later in conversation with friends that Boss made the statement that ”you should never turn down a private Grand Canyon trip with friends, no matter what.”
Needless to say I was unhappy to hear that.
The good thing was at that young age I learned that while your boss may be nice and seem to be your friend….in the end he is looking out for his business, and not you or your interests.
It came about that he simply talked me out of the trip, as he didn’t want me to be out of the shop for a month in the busy tourist season.
Its a bummer I missed that once in a lifetime trip, but I also learned a valuable life lesson.