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Joy Nicholas's avatar

Love it, of course! Oli sounds like my dad, who always said it was “just a little further” when it was at least a couple miles. The stories of the “passers” made me think of Korea, where I lived for six of the past seven years. Hiking is huge there. And every time I went, there were always ahjussis and ahjummas (men and women of a certain age) steaming past, even on the steepest parts of the climb. To be past by someone thirty years older than you--and maybe even crowds of them--is humbling, to say the least. But also inspiring. Not only could they do that, they always looked like they were having a blast, playing music on their phones and stopping for selfies. Best lives, without a doubt!

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Holly Huitt's avatar

Yes, it's that exact combo of humbling and inspiring. I decided to focus more on my physical fitness this year and the goal I came up with was to someday be a elder who could blow past youths on the trail. 😂

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Irene McGuinness's avatar

Phew... I was exhausted reading your exhaustion. 😓😰

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Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Same here 😂 Like, I needed that hike to end FOR her!

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Holly Huitt's avatar

Haha! I exhausted myself for a second time while writing about my exhaustion. 😅

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Lee Denton's avatar

I enjoyed this so much! I only got active in my 30s when I made a friend at a dog park and we went on day hikes that pushed me to my limits. When I felt like I couldn’t go on, my friend would always tell me not to give up because “there is a bench where we can rest just around the bend.” Of course, there was rarely a bench. We still laugh about it.

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Holly Huitt's avatar

Oh, I love this. I would've imagined increasingly elaborate, ergonomic benches the longer the hike went.

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Sherri's avatar

I’m enjoying reading of your struggles and triumphs--living your best life! ❤️

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Carmen Radley's avatar

Stunning prose, stunning photos. Can't wait for days 3/4.

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Liz Reiser's avatar

love this! I want more, please.

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Brenda W's avatar

This is making me want to hike in mountains in British Columbia, Canada. And proudly trekked 12 km bushwhacking through overgrown path this past summer. Exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

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Pat Taylor's avatar

I was riding my stationary bike while I was reading about your incredible hiking day #2, Holly. And, 15 minutes in my legs were aching. Haha! Can’t imagine doing what you did. Amazing effort and accomplishment.

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