Defining Success In The Mountains
The question of success came up a lot last week while I was working at the 8000-meter challenge.
What defines success in the mountains? Is it reaching the summit? Is it being the fastest? Is it returning safely back to the bottom? Is it having fun? There isn’t necessarily a right answer. Each person needs to look inside themselves to decide the parameters of success that motivate and work for them.
For me, success has a lot to do with whether or not I’ve learned something.
Did I figure out something new about myself? Have I grown as a person? Have I allowed this experience to influence me or was I too focused on a singular outcome and not on the process?
Why does this matter?
If you don’t have a good definition of what success is, you’re likely to succumb to the pressure of other people’s expectations of what success looks like.
The reality is that every time we endeavor in the mountains, no one else knows what the experience is like for us physically and emotionally, what weather or conditions we face in that moments that influence our decisions. Each of us needs to be grounded in our own sense of purpose. This creates a space for us to make decisions that keep us safe and coming back time and time again to the wilderness.
Last week at 11,503 feet I made the decision to turn people around during their race to climb all 3 of southern California’s highest peaks.
For me, the risk outweighed the benefit. Rain and thunderheads had been brewing all day and when the cloud (pictured above) formed it shot miles high into the sky. Thunderheads like this are full of potential energy waiting to be released. The last place I want to be is on an exposed high point.
Turning people around could have become a real sore spot for all involved, but thankfully it wasn’t. The incredible community involved in this challenge thanked me instead. They thanked me for keeping them safe, thanked me for being there, and thanked me for being the person to help define the line between going up and turning back. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to support such an amazing group. My hope is that their spirit and example trickles down to others who play big outside.
