Do you consider yourself a pack animal or a lone wolf? I used to think of myself as a loner, but over the years I have come to realize that I am very much a pack animal. I may be introverted and do just fine keeping to myself, but I feel most comfortable when I am with a pack that I can be quiet with.
This week's hike reminded me of that fact. If you've been keeping up with my hiking posts, you know that last week I went hiking with two strangers and felt a bit lonely and sad. This week, I went hiking with 3 strangers and 3 acquaintances, and I couldn't have asked for a better time. It was just the right number of people to go on a 12-mile hike with (yes, I just said 12 miles); I could chat with anyone at any given time, and if I didn't click with someone there were other women to talk to. Also, if I just felt like being silent (which I did several times, though the first time I was self-conscious about it), I could walk along in silence, a lot of times leading the way.
I met up with these women through a Meetup that was scheduled for a hike along Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls, which is a 12-mile round-trip hike. I was nervous at first, especially about riding in a car and being forced to talk at 8:45am on a Sunday morning, but everything went very smoothly. I got to know some interesting women (one was from Denmark studying neuroscience, another majored in African Studies at Harvard) and hiked one of the most beautiful and rewarding trails around.
As the name suggests, the Eagle Creek trail follows along Eagle Creek and there is no shortage of waterfalls to see along the way. The big reward for the hikers going the distance is Tunnel Falls, which seemed like something out of a tropical rainforest. It was so green and vibrant- and wet! You get to actually walk through a tunnel behind the waterfall, and when you come out on the other side, you get sprayed by some of the water. After hiking 6 miles, some of which was in the sun, that water doesn't feel so bad (I still flinched, but I also can't handle cold bursts).
We had all brought lunches and snacks with us, so about 0.2 miles past Tunnel Falls, we parked ourselves on some rocks near the creek and munched away. Some of the women paired off, others found a more solitary spot (yet close to the group). I was happy to eat my lunch in silence and listen to others' conversations. I'm truly at my best when I can flow into and out of a group as I please, and this hike provided that for me. As for the scenery, I'll let the pictures do the talking.
Beautiful! You are such an adventurer, from the Meetup groups to the 12 mile hikes. I am definitely taking inspiration from you to get out and explore more often and intentionally.
ReplyDeleteAlicia
Jaybird Blog
Thank you! I'm touched that you are taking inspiration! For a long time, these things I've been up to were things I'd think about, but I'd never do anything about it. I'm seeing the importance of doing the things I want to do, and it really is paying off!
DeleteI think i am very much like you, I am happy spending time by myself and also in groups, but i do like it when I can be silent with people and I am happy to just listen rather than talk. Someone I used to work with said they used to find it unnerving that I'd happily sit in a group and just listen and take everything in and remember it, he once asked me if I was I undercover for a newspaper!
ReplyDeleteI love comfortable silence with people, that you can spend time with someone and don't feel the need to talk and everything still be ok, I love it.
Ps - great pictures, it looks beautiful!
Deletemust add this hike to my summer list! ps. i think you said it best here: a pack that I can be quiet with.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm happy that you had a great time. I'm most certainly a lone wolf - especially when it comes to shopping. I've never been the girl to invite other women with me to the restroom either!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great hike. We went to Silver Falls this past weekend for the 5 mile loop with the kids. As for lone wolf or pack animal...I'd say pack animal. I can feel it when I haven't been able to connect with people, I need the invigoration. That doesn't mean it's not nice to be silent with friends. I run with friends in mornings and some of them enjoy talking and sometimes we just run together. It's nice to know someone has your back, chatty or not.
ReplyDeleteI think I am both. I naturally crave people around me, but I can also really THRIVE when alone. That hike looks amazing!
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