Last year my family hiking group set a goal of hiking through Matterhorn Canyon in the north eastern corner of Yosemite National Park. It is 20 miles from any roadand the overall trip was 50 miles in 5 days.
Most people who visit Yosemite go to the Valley which is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. And, you can get to it by road. So, millions of people visit every year. To go to Matterhorn Canyon, you must walk or ride a horse. We walked, and we had mules take our stuff-nice compromise for a bunch of sixty plus year old hikers.
To do a trip like this takes preparation. You have to have the right equipment for sleeping on the ground, hiking through steep terrain, getting each night to a good place to camp, having enough supplies but not too much for you and the mules to carry.
You also need to be in shape for this. Months ahead, regular hikes of at least 7 miles help make this trip successful.
And, you have to be prepared for unexpected occurrences. The mules ran away on the third night and we ended up taking an unanticipated rest day while the guides caught the mules. That made the last day 16 miles. And, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.
For 2017, we will set another hike deep into the mountains where the untouched beauty, the quiet, the fresh air, the physical drive make for a wonderful adventure. Not easy, but worth the sweat to go somewhere very few people go.
What is your stretch goal for 2017?
Next week I will discuss the steps to achieving a stretch goal.
Photo by Paul Dye of Burro pass, NE Yosemite National Park. Can you find me in the picture?