I have heard people refer to 2020 as “the lost year,” and 2021 isn’t shaping up to be much better. In more normal times, by the beginning of the year, I usually have some sort of idea of what my goals will be because now they often revolve around a mountaineering objective, which must be planned well in advance. I also generally have some side goals related to climbing or running, which I categorize in the “nice to do if given the time, opportunity, and energy” category.
By sheer luck of circumstances, a bit of willpower, and many superhero movies, I managed to meet my primary goal last year of going to the Alps – first spending a week climbing smaller peaks in the Swiss and Italian Alps, including Rosablanche, Pigne d’Arolla, and Pointes d’Oren and ending with a week in the Mont Blanc Massif for an unsuccessful attempt on Mont Blanc du Tacul and a successful summit of Mont Blanc.
This year, however, as January 1st rolled around, I had absolutely no plan and zero ideas. A couple weeks later, in my first classes of the new year, we discussed resolutions and goals. We were a pathetic lot – “Why?” They asked. “It’s impossible to plan.” Too right, dear students, too right.
Were they right, though? The more I think about it, the more I wonder. Just because our plans might be upended, does that mean we shouldn’t make goals? Instead, perhaps we should adjust our goals and plans to give us the best chance of success instead (as well as something other than Netflix to keep our minds busy).
Last year, deep into quarantine and without access to the mountains or even outdoor exercise, I worked toward my goals (albeit, sometimes reluctantly). I did box step ups for hours on the weekends (my apologizes to the downstairs neighbors) when I would normally be in the mountains. Of course, I entertained myself by re-watching all the Marvel movies, which are excellent motivation for such boring tasks. I rode the stationary bike we were lucky to have come with our apartment – seated for easy days, standing for hard days – while I watched the police patrol the river outside our window on all manner of transportation – motorcycle, car, horse, dirt bike, regular bike.
As the quarantine lingered, uncertainty was high, but travel was allowed just in time for me and my partner to make it to the Alps. How would we have felt if we had cancelled? Regretful? Maybe. Possibly. Probably. In retrospect, we’ve also noted that having this goal on the horizon during the quarantine kept us going. It gave us a purpose and a way to fill our time, even though we knew that it was extremely likely we would never be able to go.
Now my partner is tentatively making plans to go to Nepal in May. I cannot go due to my teaching schedule. I am so jealous that I can feel it resentfully coursing through my body. I’m also so worried about him going that thinking about it makes me feel a bit sick. So, I know that now is the time to make some of my own goals to take the focus off the negative emotions.
For 2021, I have turned my focus a bit toward running as it is often a source of comfort for me. So, here it goes:
Complete the CMTR Spring Scavenger Hunt from Coast Mountain Trail Running during March and April. Just having started this summer in response to cancelled races, this will be the 3rd CMTR Scavenger Hunt. I was in the Alps for much of the inaugural summer event, but participated in the winter event. It was just what I needed – laughs and community with extreme social distancing since most participants were in Canada.
Run the Cuerda Larga from the Port of Navacerrada to the Port of Morcuera (and down to the town of Miraflores) in May(ish). This a major trail in the Guadarrama Mountain Range outside of Madrid and passes over many of the mountains along that range. The whole trip is about 16 miles. I have hiked it in about 10 hours, but it would be the longest trail run I have done. Except for that one time “ran” (mostly walked) a “trail” marathon that was all on a well-surfaced dirt fire road.
After that, who knows. That’s the thing, really, it could be that more options open up to me (and the rest of us) at that point. Or not. Either way, I plan to safely keep chugging through socially distanced pandemic living as best as I can.
