Swiss Via Alpina Reflection: You’ve Only Really Been Where You’ve Walked
“Tu n’as vraiment été que là où as fait le chemin à pied.”
“You have only really been where you have walked.”
I didn’t even notice the little quote on the sign pictured above until scrolling through my Switzerland photos upon returning home. And it rings true. Since I was a kid I’ve always been fascinated by stories that involve long journeys on foot, whether it’s some sort of mission (like Frodo destroying the ring, Atreyu defeating the Nothing), escape or survival (Remember A Far Off Place with young Reese Witherspoon? The Way Back is another memorable one), or simply returning home (Homer’s Odyssey might be one of the oldest examples; another one is Cold Mountain, even though I hated the ending).
Before hiking the Pinhoti Trail last spring I wrote, “In less than a week, I'll hop on a flight to Atlanta and embark on a new kind of journey, the kind I've dreamed about for some time but haven't quite taken the leap to do. I've always wondered what I could do on a long distance trail when left to my own devices. How far could I go? What are my limits? How good am I at problem solving? How brave can I be, particularly in the moments when I'm most afraid? Who will I meet? What will I discover on the trail? What will I learn about myself?”
The answers to those questions will never be stagnant, because there’s always going to be more to discover. I hope I never stop asking myself those things, though perhaps they’ll take on new meanings in different contexts beyond just trails. The more experiences we have, the more our “comfort bubble” expands and the more we learn about ourselves. I felt confident in planning a solo hiking trip for myself in Switzerland because I had some experience hiking solo on the Pinhoti Trail and the Long Trail in my home country. Hiking solo wasn’t new, but doing so in a far off place was. One variable at a time! There were many baby steps that took me from being a 15-year-old curious about whether I could run as far as the next town over, to wondering at the age of 37 what it would be like to traverse the Swiss Alps by foot.
We only know what we experience. You’ve only really been where you’ve walked. What we know firsthand shapes everything from our core values to our world views, which to me is why it’s so important to grow through discomfort–to try new things, be willing to put yourself out there, and have some humility when it turns out, in fact, we don’t know everything.
The Swiss Via Alpina was much harder than I thought it would be. It was more brilliant than I ever dreamed it could be. The experience of it all was more precious than any outcome, but as a cherry on top of an unforgettable adventure, I’m happy to share I lowered the women’s fastest known time for the Swiss Via Alpina to 6 days, 23 hours, and 32 minutes (previously 8 days, 5 hours, 26 minutes by Tina van Heerden). You can read all of my daily recaps here, chock with photos, stories, and stats. Thanks to all that followed along with my daily posts and sent encouraging words along the way.
Part of the reason I hiked the Swiss Via Alpina was to prepare physically and mentally for something I’ve been planning with Tara Dower for a long time: our dual self-supported FKT attempt on the Colorado Trail. The CT is considered a premier route by Fastest Known Time (the entity). This requires extra diligence in announcing and tracking, as it’s a high-visibility route that attracts national attention and top athletes. For example, the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail are also considered premier routes. I feel both thrilled and humbled ahead of this next epic journey, and feel especially excited to take part in this kind of experience with a friend. But one thing at a time! I have pre-Colorado Trail thoughts to share, but will save them for the next letter. ‘Til next week (or really, probably the end of this week)!
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Thanks for reading. If you’re picking up what I’m putting down, please consider buying me a coffee or becoming a monthly member for $5/month. Members receive a 4-pack of unique stickers and occasional surprises in the mail from the far off places I visit! Thanks to all that read and support, I’m so appreciative!
Also, speaking of Tara and my love for stories that involve long journeys on foot, check out her newly released short story “Light and Easy” with photographer Pete Schreiner! Available by print only, it’s Tara’s firsthand account of her epic FKT on the Benton MacKaye Trail. If you’re a longtime reader, you might remember my recap “A Sleepless Night on the BMT” when I joined her for a 30+ mile section overnight through the Smoky Mountains. Now you can read how the entire journey played out with amazing photos to boot. Congrats Tara and Pete!
