Prepare to improve

How did you take the title of this post?

On one had you could take it as "Get ready, because it's time to get better." It's as if some force is demanding things improve.

Another way is "To improve, you must prepare first."

This is about both.

Three years ago I hiked into the Adirondack wilderness for the first time with my best friend and three others. Aside from my boots I owned cheap gear and had little clue how to backpack. Camping is one thing, backpacking is a whole different game. The rest of the group was in a similar predicament, except for my best friend. My pack was falling apart, I had too much gear, and we trekked in less than three miles before setting up camp.

The Adirondacks told me what I needed to know: if I was coming back, I needed to get better.

Each year since I've had an easier time in the woods and enjoyed the trip more. As I made plans for this year's trip I realized what had happened: I was spending more time every year preparing.

The trips themselves demanded I get better in every way as a backpacker. If you're unfamiliar with the Adirondacks, you're in the majority. It's hiker's paradise without the crowds. Remote is an understatement. There is no easy way out, little in the way of park and camp, and a vast world you have to experience to understand. Delve into the Adirondacks for a few days and the Adirondacks will clamor for your respect.

Over the past few years I've prepared my gear, my body, and my mind. I keep finding better items for these trips and buy something which will last. I also bring less stuff every year, as I don't need much to survive. Throughout the year I train. I run, I do yoga, I lift weights, and I hike when I can. I also learn about the area, about backpacking, about surviving in the wilderness, and about what the real dangers are.

Three years ago I got my butt kicked by the Adirondacks because it was all I could do. This year I intend on hiking a dozen peaks. Improvement through preparation, in preparation to improve myself.