#34 Every Step Matters
When Katie and I looked at the elevation profile for today’s hike, we knew it would likely be the most challenging day of this trip.
On paper, it certainly looked that way.
We would hike 11.1 miles from Caledonia State Park to the Big Flat Appalachian Trail Parking Area, climbing more than 2,260 feet along the way. The map revealed several long, steep climbs that demanded respect before we ever set foot on the trail.
But mindset is everything.
Sometimes the hardest day becomes manageable simply because you’ve prepared yourself for it.
The weather was beautiful, our legs felt strong, (with some thanks to calf sleeves) and we started the morning knowing exactly what was ahead of us.
As the miles passed, the trail demanded our full attention.
Much of the day involved navigating rock scrambles and uneven terrain. Every step required thought. One careless move could easily result in a twisted ankle, a fall, or worse. We carefully picked our way across loose rocks that shifted under our feet and balanced across fallen tree trunks serving as bridges over small streams.
There wasn’t much room for autopilot.
Every step mattered.
With hours to think while hiking through the woods, my mind drifted to my son, Zane.
Halfway around the world in Beijing, he had advanced to the finals of the PPA Tour Asia event after winning his semifinal match overnight. Tonight, he’ll step onto the court with a chance to compete for a gold medal.
As I carefully chose my footing, I couldn’t help but think about how similar our situations were, and how different.
For me, every rock represented a decision.
For him, every shot represents a decision.
Does he go down the line or crosscourt?
Does he attack or reset?
Can he hit a passing shot?
Should he speed the ball up or stay patient?
Every choice matters.
One poor step on the trail can create problems.
One poor shot can open the court and create an opportunity for his opponent.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that navigating today’s trail wasn’t all that different from navigating a high-level pickleball match.
Both require focus.
Both require discipline.
Both require the ability to stay present and make good decisions under pressure.
But that’s where the comparison ends.
I wasn’t hiking to win.
There were no spectators watching my every move.
Nobody was keeping score.
No ranking points were on the line.
No expectations were attached to my performance.
I was simply enjoying a day in the woods with my daughter.
What struck me most was a growing appreciation for the pressure athletes carry when they compete at the highest levels.
Most people only see the match.
They see the score.
They see the result.
What they don’t see is the constant stream of decisions happening every second.
The preparation.
The pressure.
The mental energy required to perform when the outcome matters.
The expectation to execute when everyone is watching.
Then, in an instant, the trail provided another lesson.
Without warning, Katie screamed.
A rattlesnake was in the middle of the trail and it let out a sharp hiss.
Katie jumped straight into the air.
I stopped immediately.
For a few moments, we simply stood there watching as the snake (timber rattlesnake to be precise), slowly made its way across the trail and disappeared into the woods.
It happened so quickly.
One second everything felt predictable.
The next second everything changed.
And once again, I found myself thinking about competition.
Momentum in sports works much the same way.
A match can feel completely under control until a single moment changes everything.
One missed volley.
One bad bounce.
One rushed decision.
One unexpected opportunity.
Suddenly the entire dynamic shifts.
The players who succeed are rarely the ones who avoid adversity.
They’re the ones who adapt when adversity appears.
The rattlesnake wasn’t part of our plan.
Neither are many of the challenges we encounter in life.
What matters is how we respond when they appear.
As Katie and I finished today’s hike, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful.
Grateful for another day on the Appalachian Trail.
Grateful for time spent with my daughter.
Grateful for the lessons that nature continues to teach.
And grateful for the opportunity to watch my son pursue a dream that requires courage, discipline, sacrifice, and resilience.
Tonight, while I’ll be resting after a long day on the trail, Zane will be stepping onto a court in Beijing to compete for a gold medal.
The pressure will be real.
The decisions will matter.
The momentum will shift.
Unexpected challenges will arise.
But if there’s one lesson the trail reinforced today, it’s this:
Success isn’t about avoiding obstacles.
It’s about trusting yourself enough to take the next step when they appear.
And that’s true whether you’re crossing a rock field on the Appalachian Trail or competing for a championship on the other side of the world.
Trail Stats
- Start: Caledonia State Park
- Finish: Big Flat Appalachian Trail Parking Area
- Distance: 11.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,260 feet
Every journey is made one decision at a time.
Every step matters.