Three Do's and Three Don'ts for Hiking Activities

Come to think of it, I have been backpacking for just two years. This time, I went to Taibai Mountain in the coldest days of winter, walking on Paomaliang in the wind and snow. Suddenly, I had some ideas, so I wrote them down and welcome your comments.

First, three things:

First, persist

Make the outdoors a part of your life and stick with it. I often hear people say: I don’t dare to practice, because once I stop, I will rebound. Let me say: Then train him for a lifetime and see how he bounces back?!

Outdoor activities, big or small, are basically group activities. Every inch has its own strengths and weaknesses. Everyone's strengths should be transformed into the collective's strengths, becoming a driving force for everyone rather than a pressure.

Before participating in various activities, you should think about your own capital. See if your physical fitness, equipment, time and money can basically guarantee your safety. When you cannot become the driving force of the team, at least you should not become a hindrance to the team, or even the biggest hindrance.

Let me talk about three don'ts:

First, no heroism

The earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature. In front of nature, we cannot act like heroes. We can only go with the flow to ensure a happy trip and a safe return. We can't afford to lose when gambling with nature.

For most donkeys, outdoor activities should be a healthy part of life, not an expedition, let alone an adventure. The so-called first crossing and the so-called mysterious route should not be what most travelers are keen to pursue. A mature route that we can take repeatedly, just in pursuit of simplicity, health and happiness.

Last March, I went to Shenzhen to walk 100 kilometers. I couldn't adapt to the climate and my shoes didn't fit. After walking all night, my feet were covered with blisters. I continued walking for a whole day and it was terribly painful. Along the way, my friends in Xi'an sent me a lot of text messages, all encouraging me to complete the journey and strive to achieve good results. When the local hikers saw how painful I was, most of them expressed their concern for me and advised me to retreat. About ten kilometers away from the finish line, I saw a slogan that read: Break through yourself and have the courage to give up! So I gave up, happily gave up because I had tried my best. Don’t compete for the first place, don’t compete for good results. We are not professional athletes, we are just ordinary donkeys.

In short, be persistent, be loving, and be self-aware. No heroism, no mysticism, no championshipism.