Taking the time to do unique stuff
Taking the time to do unique stuff is important. I went out to see the golden larches in the fall. Some things can only be done at a certain time, and maybe that is what makes them valuable. You cannot do them just any time you want. If you skip them, that’s it—you have to wait for a long period before you can do them again. These time-sensitive things are like a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse, or a meteor shower. Even though seasons repeat, things like the first snow or the fall larches take a huge amount of time to come back. They are missed events that you can’t see again for a long time, so it’s just fun to watch.
I had never seen the golden larches before, and it was a breathtaking moment. Golden larches, red wildflowers, fallen leaves, green trees, the blue sky, and the rugged grey, dark brown, and white mountains. Words can’t easily describe those views; they were incredibly pretty, with larches all around. I took so many pictures and met some great people. I made new acquaintances and deeply connected with someone after the hike. It really helps to see the patterns of life unfold in people who are going through a similar journey, learning from their mistakes and successes. It is so valuable to talk heart-to-heart with people rather than just talking on a surface level. You just learn so much more.
Coming back to the larches: I was able to do a 10-mile hike without any pain. I used trekking poles this time, and the pace was gradual. It was not a continuous march; we took a bunch of breaks. I had bananas and water with electrolytes—electrolytes really help. My shoes were good and tied well, I applied sunscreen, and the people were fantastic.
I feel this is way more important than just sitting around doing something mundane. You need to experience life. Otherwise, life is just passing by anyway. You will grow old and die, and no one will remember you for anything anyway. Your job will replace you; your family is the only one that will cry for you. So take care of your family, take care of your health, and make sure to actually live your life. Don’t end up regretting the things you didn’t do.
Based on that, this hike was very nice. The larches are particularly special because not everyone can see them. They grow at very high altitudes, and they start turning golden from the peak of the mountain downwards. The larches at the base have a lower probability of turning yellow. There was a clear pattern where you could see more golden larches at the top of the cliff compared to as our gaze moved down the mountain slope.
The view I had cannot be easily had by an unfit person. Maybe that is the hidden luxury, the hidden wealth that comes across when someone sends a photo of the larches from close up. It means that you were there to witness a unique moment in time that was at its peak—the larches peaked this weekend—and it means you accomplished the hard, effortful journey required to see them. There is no other way to see the larches. You cannot drop yourself from an airplane into a National Park, as there are very strict guidelines on what you can and cannot do. Hiking is the only way to do it. It is like a “proof of effort”, much like Bitcoin’s proof of work. You actually did the hike, you went up, and you saw an amazing view. There’s simply no way to replicate that.
I am glad I live in Seattle, where I can just drive two to three hours from my home and visit the beautiful North Cascades National Park, where there is so much to see. On the way back, we went to Royal Biryani and had some great food because we were so hungry. The group was great, and the best part is that you can trust them. Everyone is educated, working, or studying, and has a good background with skin in the game. They are immigrants; they will not make mistakes that jeopardize their journey, so a baseline of trust is already there.
One surprising thing happened to me: a girl recognized me on the hike and immediately asked, “Hey, do you dance?” I replied, “Yes, I do bachata,” and she said, “Oh yeah, I’ve seen you.” I was taken aback in surprise, and instead of keeping the conversation going, I just nodded and answered questions about myself instead of asking things about her. I should have talked to her. I should have asked her name, if she still goes dancing, and maybe even danced with her a little bit right there on the hike. It would have been an amazing video—dancing bachata on a hike in the middle of golden larches. But I missed that opportunity because I was too much in my head.
Despite that, it was a great journey with lots of talking and walking. It also means my health is getting better. My knees are healing from the earlier issue I had when running a 10K. Overall, it’s improving. I just have to stick to it consistently—alternate day gym sessions, legs, and deadlifts are all helping. I’ve also started taking the stairs everywhere, which really helps. A special friend gave me the pointer to take stairs rather than lifts because “lifts are taken by old people.” I think I’m going to remember that line for a while. It was a really fun weekend.