Keeping Adventures Exciting: To Repeat or Seek New Challenges?
How many times is too many times to do a grueling hike or feat in 5 years?
This 24+ mile journey was my 5th time in 5 years and it mentally defeated me.
I found myself all too familiar with the path, the challenges, what was around the next bend… that it made it harder to push through, than times past when it was novel to me. I learned that as much as I love a place or anything, over-frequenting them heightens the challenge because the elements of thrill or unknown are gone. Boredom and a sense of regret of time ill spent creeps in (of course until you see the views again).
I had planned to do a 5th Rim to Rim this year, through hike the Enchantments for a 5th time - and now I’m second-guessing the plans. recently elected to not repeat half dome for the 3rd time in 3 years… While the views are different with the seasons and time of day and it’ll change based on the company you take… maybe I should limit these conquests to x amt of times in a decade to keep it exciting?
I want to hear your thoughts 💭💬
Do you relate or disagree?
If disagree - how do you push past this?
Or is all this a sign I need to set my sights on higher limits and seek out new challenges?