Pleasure and Pain. Finding the right balance
Pleasure and Pain. Finding the right balance
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“Pain + reflection = progress” Ray Dalio
In our experience, the number one reason people are attracted to hiking is the desire to be surrounded by beautiful natural settings. There is something life affirming about being in nature. The sounds, the smells, and the visual feast all work to assault our senses in such a way, as to direct our focus outside the mind. For the busy of mind, it is respite. For the chronically stressed, it is therapy.
But for some of us, just being in nature is not enough.
The physical challenge of hiking seems to be an important element of what makes it so attractive. As we are often saying to our guests, “if it was too easy, it wouldn’t be fun”.
But we are not masochist.
We typically want to challenge ourselves (and our guests)… but not too much. When we design a tour, it is a delicate balancing act. Searching for that “good amount of challenge” is tough and constant. Too little challenge, and we will feel unfulfilled, too much and we end up with revolt, maybe mutiny and definitely many blisters!
So where is the middle ground?
For us, 6-8 hours of moderate hiking, with plenty of rests breaks, is a perfect day.
But of course, there are other factors other than the number of hours of activity. 8 hours of hiking in the 30 degree heat of the Kimberley is too much (even for those inclined to extremes). 8 hours of climbing mountains in Tassie borders on madness!
Designing a tour is kind of like finding the perfect bath temperature – hot but not too hot. We want to be tired enough at the end of the day so we sleep well, but not so tired that we’re cranky and in all kinds of pain. Having said that, a bit of soreness in the legs is good.
Sore muscles today means new muscles tomorrow, so nothing wrong with that. It is something that we encourage our guests to frame as a positive. Of course if you wake up and you are walking like the tin man, that is too much. A little soreness is a trophy of sorts – a little reminder of our accomplishments.
Finding the right balance of pleasure and pain is really important for us. There can be pleasure in pain, but certainly there is a point where it is just not fun any more. We are all about finding that point.
Embrace the challenge. Life is definitely easier after a long walk.
From all of us,
Team Inspiration Outdoors
