>>2299348I remember the first time I went out I just kinda went. It was the middle of the summer and there was a trail nearish to the city and I drove straight out. I was wearing jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt, didn't bring a single thing, and I picked a trail that was like 5-6 miles; not much now, but it was a fair bit for then. An hour later I'm down a trail at a fork with no map, thirsty as hell, feet aching, face getting sunburnt, sweating like a pig, and wondering which of these paths is the one that lengthens the trail by a mile and which isn't. Spoiler alert, I picked the wrong one. It was a pretty terrible experience overall, and certainly not the last time I had a bad time; I've hobbled back to my car like a cripple more than once, exhausted beyond belief and not sure I would make it back.
But it's always just pushed me to do better the next time.
