Humans do seem to have stubborn predispositions. Children would rather eat dessert before their vegetables. Adolescents have difficulty thinking that something is more important about a potential sweetheart than their physical appearance.
And outdoorsmen have their stubborn inclinations. A beginner wants loop routes instead of out-and-backs. Sheer necessity made me adapt to an out-and-back mindset. After all, most spur roads deadend halfway up a mountain, while the loop routes are full of motor-crazed yahoos. I am still surprised (and happy) that I was able to make that transition.
But one predisposition remained: beginning a trip by pedaling uphill, getting the required dosage, enjoying the view at the top, and then coasting back down. This pattern worked so well because the sweaty ascents were in the cool of the morning, and the descents were in warmer air. And there is something pleasing about looking forward to 'eating your dessert' after you have finished the hard work first.
But somehow I have managed to learn to enjoy doing it the other way around, despite it seeming weird and undesirable. There are great advantages in doing so: it allows you to camp at higher altitude where you will be cooler and have a better internet signal. And it gives you more variety in your trips and locations.
For instance, I am camped on the top of a bare ridgeline right now, with a great view. It is the only place in the forest where there is an internet signal. There is nowhere to go but down. But it is OK! It helps to visualize it as Noble Suffering. Play whatever trick on your mind that it takes, because the rewards are there. But it helps to keep track of how deep the hole is getting to be, on your descent -- you don't want to ruin a good thing by overdoing it.
It can be done.
Comments