Choose your footing carefully, and once you do, trust your feet- it is a foundational and basic skill, and yet, difficult to attain to become an outstanding rock climber. I’ve been working on delicate, precise, and solid footwork ever since I began climbing. The more I climb, the more I understand the importance and depth of the teaching.

There are many teachings, such as this one, for everything. I’ve had an incredible privilege, time, and teachers who taught me many outdoor sports. What I love about being in my body and nature is not just about having fun but also gaining insight into how to live life.

For example, surfing taught me that waves come in sets, and you choose which one to catch. Many times you miss the one you like. But there are always more. Once you catch a wave, it could be the best wave of your life, a blast, okay, or you may slip and fall right off the board. It all eventually ends. You paddle back to the lineup and wait for the next. Repeat that over and over until you’re done. Life is like that- there are things like opportunities, events, relationships, and many other things that come and go. You choose which ones to catch and which ones to let pass by you. Once you catch one, it could be great, okay, or something that you didn’t expect it to be. Sometimes, horrible! But know that everything would eventually end. Nothing the same will happen, just like there is no such thing as the same wave.

During this section, there were many rocky terrains. It rained two days in a row before I left Little Gap. The land was so thirsty due to drought, and it soaked up all the moisture instantly. It felt dry when I left Little Gap, and I had a pleasant, easy hiking day all day long. It rained again for the last two days. I was moving over wet rocks, which is a completely different practice than rock climbing. We don’t climb when the rocks are wet because you slip and fall, or you may break the rock. When thru-hiking, I could stay put, or I could keep going. I chose to move through wet weather.

When hiking on the wet rocks, the basics: choose your footing carefully, and once you do, trust your feet- doesn’t apply anymore. You have to choose your footing carefully, but you cannot trust your feet 100% because they may be slippery. So, what do I do?

I learned to avoid rocks that had a polished look. I minimized smearing and took smaller steps to avoid putting a lot of force on a foot at once. When going downhill, I looked for edges for solid foot placements and paths that had less of an angle. I took my time, more than usual, to breathe, relax, and flex my knees in case I fall to prevent injuries. On the steep climb up to and descend from Wawayanda Mountain in the rain and navigating the wet New York slabs, I was having fun and learning at the same time: stay focused, small steps, solid foot placements, and relax my body in case I slip.

The forest was saturated with humidity this morning. The sun came out, and I watched water evaporating from the rocks on the ridge line in the sunshine. As the rocks started to dry out, I went back to the basics: choose your footing carefully, and once you do, trust your feet.

Right when I was becoming more confident, thinking that rocks are dry, which was an assumption without being mindful, I slipped. I was on my butt, and I laughed. It was an immediate feedback from nature that no matter what it is, I still need to be observant. Be mindful in every moment. Pay attention to details. Just like any form of art, the learning and growth that comes with practice is infinite. The more I do, the more I understand the importance and depth of the teaching.