I’m Back from Europe (as of yesterday), and boy, have I got lots of ideas in my head for blogs, but first, I’m going to tell you about my hike up Mt Pilatus in Luzern, Switzerland.
My mentality for the entire trip was that I might never be back here, so I would do as much as I could, and that is precisely what I did.
On Thursday, the 6th of July, I rose at 4 am and left the hotel at 4.30 with Tristan, the women’s physio, to hike Mt Pilatus. Tristan is training for an ultra run in September, so I knew that I would be hiking alone for the most part.
Tristan had come prepared with a head torch, so he walked in front, and I attempted to keep up for the first almost 3km when it became light enough for him to go off and do his thing and leave me on my adventure. He gave me a paper map, explained the route, and finished with Please call me if you get into trouble. I had decided pre-departure that I was hiking up and getting the cable car down; Tristan was going up and down. I had been checking the weather since we had arrived on Monday, and Thursday morning was the best window of opportunity, with the weather being clear for most of the morning.
Map reading and direction are not a strength for me. I often use google maps to get around Canberra unless it’s a place I go regularly enough to know the way by memory. This time was no different when I opened google maps to check my location and ensure I was headed where I was supposed to.
Being the daydreamer I am, I did go off track at times but always found my way back. I wanted to ensure I thoroughly explored because I may not hike this mountain again.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the final destination that we forget to enjoy living in the moment and getting to the destination. It’s the process (journey) that shapes us. Sure, it’s nice to achieve the destination (the goal, the job, the medal, winning the game), but the process is where the real magic happens, where the most growth is made, and resilience is built.
This is the most challenging, longest hike I’ve ever done and the first one I’ve done alone. Some of the men’s crew were hiking it on Monday, but we left on Sunday night, so it was potentially a now-or-never situation.
While I was disappointed not to enjoy the fantastic view, and at times during the hike, I wanted to give up, it was hard, but I loved the journey. The peacefulness, being in nature and admiring the beauty that another country has to offer. I was sharing my hike along the way on snap chat, which my friends were responding to, so while I was hiking alone, I was never completely alone.
I returned to the hotel at 12.15 pm to inhale some lunch, shower and be ready to massage from 1-6 pm (which I ended up working till almost 8 pm). It was the athlete’s afternoon off before the World Cup 3 regatta started the next day.
I was anticipating soreness when I woke on Friday morning, but I woke up feeling great, apart from some fatigue and soreness in my left leg (foot drop leg). Working the afternoon (moving and being on my feet) helped my recovery.
The memory (and photos) of hiking Mt Pilatus will be with me forever.
I recommend adding this one to your list if you're a hiker. If hiking isn’t for you, you can get the return cable car, or there is a cogwheel train option so that you can enjoy the views from the top. If I return to Lucerne again, I’d like to ride the Cogwheel train :).
My type of hike looks absolutely epic.