Am I Fit Enough to Hike? Wrong Question

So, I get quite a few people direct messaging me—whether on my newly launched discord server - https://discord.gg/GV4pGhDfrc or my Facebook page—asking me if I think they’re fit enough to hike a particular trail.

Although I’ve hiked close to 100 different trails in my relatively short hiking history, I still consider myself a newbie… just an unhinged newbie who wants to hike every chance she gets.

So at first, I felt completely unqualified to answer people’s questions. But then I remembered—I started writing my blogs to record....okay......REMEMBER my own adventures, but I began posting them precisely to share information that might actually be useful to others.

So let’s talk about the word fit. It’s a slippery little thing. To some (me... I’m some), “fit” means bounding up inclines like a caffeinated mountain goat. To others, it’s surviving a 10km flat walk without needing an oxygen mask. And for others, it’s being able to haul themselves over rocks like Spider-Man.

Me? I huff and puff on inclines, stop to “enjoy the view” (aka catch my breath), and hence consider myself unfit. But give me a flat surface or rocks to scramble, and I am living my best life. My issues with some hand digits (age-related, cough) interfere with my rock scrambling, but that’s a tale for another day… if ever.

And yet, here I am—puffing up the inclines, trekking on the flats, and parkouring (in my mind- reality, I’m just scrambling) over rocks every chance I get.

The real problem isn’t fitness. It’s doubt and lack of confidence. So many people want to hike but worry they’ll hold others back, look weak, or get left for dead by an impatient group (which, FYI, rarely—okay, the dead part, never—happens. Hikers are generally a wholesome bunch).

Lucky for me, my intro to hiking involved my sons, Salt and Pepper, which meant I could assess my abilities in peace. But when I finally joined groups? Yes, I was nervous. What if I was the weakest link? I still get nervous when it’s a “difficult” trail. But guess what? There’s usually someone less fit than you. And even if there isn’t, most hikers and hiking groups will cheer you on rather than roll their eyes—because hikers love that people want to hike.

Now, I get that asking about your fitness in a public forum is terrifying. That’s why my DMs are always open. If you’re lurking in the shadows, unsure whether to take that first step, just message me. Worst case? I’ll tell you to stop asking me questions I have no business answering. Best case? I’ll help you find your people, get started, and prove to yourself that you can do this.

No promises I’ll match you with the perfect beginner-friendly squad, but I’ll sure as hell try. And if this gets you out on the trails, even just once? Well, that’ll warm my cold, sarcastic heart.

Now, go hike. Or at least think about it. That’s a start.