From Spark to Trail: Turning a Long-Held Idea into Reality

Years ago, I learned that a friend was hiking Vermont's Long Trail solo, and a seed was planted. Last week, I finally put that idea into action with a short backpacking trip. With careful planning and modest goals, the adventure was a wild success!

Here's what I learned about turning a long-held thought into reality:

🔥 Keep the flame alive! This idea lived in my head for decades, but it took connecting with an adventurous colleague to revive those coals. Sometimes you just need the right spark and the right moment.

💁‍♀️ Get LOTS of help. Advice and gear loans from knowledgeable friends were invaluable — I genuinely could not have done this without that support network.

🐈‍⬛ Stay curious about what you discover. I LOVED this trip. It was fun, hard, and thought-provoking. But here's the thing: I learned I don't actually love carrying a heavy pack all day. Instead of calling it a failure, I'm now planning a canoe camping trip in the Adirondacks and a hut-to-hut hiking adventure in the White Mountains. The trip was an experiment, and staying open to what you learn expands your definition of success.

📖 Another thing that made this trip such a success? It was deeply rooted in my core values — learning, friendship, moving my body, and connecting with nature. Every step felt like it was hitting all these areas at once, and I could feel that resonance throughout the entire experience.

What's a smoldering coal of an idea that you have been carrying around for too long? What's a small step that you can take to fan the flames?