Exploring Life Goals While Going Off the Grid
/I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”
– Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Back in January, my dear friend and hiking partner Sharon and her boyfriend invited me and my husband Mike to join them on hike. But not just any hike! This was to be a five-day, 35-mile hiking and backpacking trek in the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Thomas Edison Lake to Florence Lake.
It took me about a second to decide that, yes, I wanted to go. Mike, on the other hand, required a few days of thought before he too agreed. After that, preparations went into full force!
Beginning in April, the four of us planned out a training calendar to ensure we increased our mileage and elevation as the trip approached. Hikes during those months took us to Cedar Creek Falls, Mount Baldy, and Nevada Falls-Yosemite. We also scaled El Cajon Peak, a 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado, by way of the Grays and Torreys Trails.
Training hike at Cedar Creek Falls in San Diego. Yes, there are big falls in San Diego in the spring!
Inevitably, there were gaps in training from unexpected family events, illnesses, and busy lives; yet we still managed to log some tough miles prior to the trip.
Gearing Up for the Trip
In addition to conditioning our bodies, we had to do a fair amount of gear research. It was crucial to understand how to pack just enough to get us through the five days without overpacking. The goal was to put together two backpacks per couple that each came in under 30 pounds. Not a small feat considering we needed to carry five days of food, bear cannisters, bedding, and shelter!
Thankfully, there’s a surplus of online hiking and backpacking information. Between a knowledgeable local blogger named “The Hiking Guy” and four hours of conversations with REI employees, we were able to pinpoint exactly what we needed for optimal packing.
By the time of our trip, we’d invested in the following equipment:
· Backpack for Mike: $150
· REI Co-op Quarter Dome Tent: $237 (REI Memorial Day Sale Price)
· 2 REI Co-op Magma Sleeping Bags: $462 (REI Memorial Day Sale Price)
· Therm-A-Rest® NeoAir® Xlite™ Sleep Pads: $320
· Sawyer® Squeeze Water Filters: $60
· Jetboil® Cooking System and fuel: $98
· Clothes (SPF shirts, quick-dry fabric hiking pants, Crocs™ shoes for after-hike wear, hiking socks, and a gently used Poshmark Puffer Coat): $250
Along with gear costs, we spent approximately $150 on permits and the cabin we planned to stay in after we finished our trek. All told, the grand total came to almost $1,800.
At first glance, spending that much for a backpacking trip may seem excessive. But it was critical to meet our basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing without packing so much weight that we had to quit after the first day.
Knowing that Mike and I can no longer sleep “anywhere” like we did in our 20s, we invested in equipment that we hoped would ensure a good night’s sleep. In addition to emphasizing lightweight, high-quality, sleep-friendly gear, I justified the expense knowing that we would have easily spent $2,000 on a typical week-long vacation. Besides, now we would have great gear to last us for future trips.
Luckily, it was an investment that paid off. And the trip itself? Even better than we expected!
As it turns out, we chose the best possible hiking partners for a challenging trip like this. Billy is a professional musician and nature lover with an uber-calm demeanor. He hails from the Yosemite area and grew up in these mountains, so we were able to tap into his local knowledge during our adventure. Sharon, an Aussie by birth, is his positive, photography-loving, outdoorsy soulmate who is very patient, calm, and stoic. In fact, she quietly endured a bunion and blisters for much of the hike without a single complaint.
The Journey Begins
We began our journey from the Thomas Edison Lake area with a seven-mile, mostly uphill climb to our first camp spot. This proved to be our most difficult day of hiking. Upon joining with the John Muir Trail, the conditions improved and the steepness declined while we grew accustomed to carrying our packs.
We were amazed by the beauty and utter silence at the Edison Lake Campground.
As the days passed, we began to develop a routine that included:
· Waking to the sunrise and birdsong
· Enjoying coffee and oatmeal while soaking in gorgeous views
· Practicing basic yoga on a granite slab
· Packing gear at a leisurely pace and reviewing navigation
· Hiking 4 to 8 miles with ample stops for water and snacks
· Swimming in nature-made lakes, creeks and rivers
· Setting up the fishing poles
· Settling into camp by mid-afternoon
· Enjoying “happy hour” with tea and hot cocoa
· Setting up camp for the evening
· Communing over freeze-dried meals like pad thai and spaghetti
· Playing cards or watching the sunset while indulging in M&Ms or other “fancy” desserts as the days came to a close.
· And, oh yes, getting an increasingly good night’s sleep, especially as the week progressed.
Along the way, we experienced occasional wildlife, natural hot springs, poetry readings, campfires, abundant stargazing, conversations with hard core 212-mile John Muir Trail hikers, and plenty of laughter.
We also spent ample time brainstorming trail names. This activity is a common tradition for endurance hikers, and we enjoyed playing with multiple ideas until the official trail names finally stuck: Back Story (Shelley), Four Seasons (Mike), Lil’ Wallaby (Sharon), and Air Dry (Billy).
What I found most interesting was how, once you stripped away all the daily distractions of life such as emails, texts, work tasks, laundry, bills, and cooking, the most valuable aspects of life came to the surface. Living so deeply in the here and now enabled me to feel like I could be a much better person, friend and spouse. The conversations were richer. The moments of joy so much more stunning. Perhaps the fresh air, the deep quietude, and the plentiful endorphins created some sort of natural high. After a while, I was surprised to feel a longing to stay in the wilderness for longer as the miles progressed.
A Fresh Start
When our journey ended at the Florence Lake ferry, I felt compelled to make some changes. I found myself urgently unsubscribing from emails as we drove home. I especially wanted to brush aside anything that had to do with shopping. No more Target or Gap emails for me.
In addition, I found that I did not miss the news. I’ve since taken up a habit of only skimming the headlines unless a financial topic requires more attention. Once we reached home, I felt pressed to clean out unloved items from my closet.
While very much missing our kids over the trip, I recommitted myself to focusing a good part of every day on making a special moment with them. Lastly, I made a goal to enjoy time outside every morning. Even if it’s just a short walk with the dog or a spirited jaunt around the backyard, there’s something so grounding about spending time in the outdoors.
As the days pass, I keep going back to the trip photos that show Mike and me with such big smiles on our faces. It makes me wonder when our next adventure will happen and where it will take us.
Mike and me on the last day of our hiking trip, returning via the Florence Lake ferry.
So what does this have to do with money? Admittedly, this is quite a variation from my typical financial topic of the month. Don’t worry. I have plenty of those lined up for the future.
As I think back to my recent trip, I’m reminded of how important it is to be grateful. For good health, great friends, and the beauty of nature.
I’m also incredibly grateful for each of you who made this possible. After getting my email a month ago mentioning my “off the grid” trip, you took it in stride. That’s because you had the same confidence I did that the investing and financial planning process we’ve employed would keep your finances safe while I was away.
I’m also extremely grateful for my mentor, Paul, who offered to take urgent calls during my absence.
I hope hearing about my journey inspires you to seek your own adventure that sparks joy for you in new ways and wakens your spirit. After all, what good is a financial plan if it doesn’t give you the foundation for enlightenment in the pursuit of your highest values and goals?
Thoreau offered a challenge in his book Walden that he wrote while immersed in nature for two years. And it’s this: “Only one in a hundred million people is awake enough to experience a poetic and divine life. To be awake is to be alive.”
Will you accept his challenge and be that one?
