 One thing that NO hiker ever really gets used to, though, is the unbelievable scenery that continually presents itself as they walk along. The sites and vistas that are encountered change with every step. To see a mountain looming in front of you, knowing that it must be climbed before the day is through is a daunting realization. But with every step, the mountain pass gets closer, and sharp details emerge. You can see the way ahead now, where earlier you could only hope to find a path. And after what can seem an eternity of effort, sweat, and strain, the top is reached. And what you see can literally take your breath away. The path behind you seems friendly now, as the previously “impossible” climb becomes a reality. The pain and exhaustion of  the climb is quickly erased as the mountains reveal their grandeur all around you. Your breath quickly returns, only to be taken away again by the beauty in front of you. Stopping to enjoy the views, you also take the opportunity to “re-fuel” with a snack, some water, and the camaraderie of your traveling companions. You joke about how hard the climb to the summit was: joking because you made it, and can now call the pass “an easy one.” You relax and take in your surroundings. Soon, though, you know that you must start to descend. High mountain passes can become extremely dangerous if the weather changes,  as well as being notoriously windy and cold after darkness falls. So you look ahead, wondering how you can ever get down to the valley laid out below you, and hoping that you can find a safe passage. One foot follows another, each step falling into a cadence: you are literally hiking “to the beat of your own drummer.” Breath comes easier now as the air thickens and you soon find yourself on easier terrain as you reach the valley floor. Looking back over your shoulder, you are amazed at how fast you have left the mountain behind, and wonder how you ever made it over the top. You look ahead and another mountain pass presents itself. “Tomorrow” you say. And you rest for the night, knowing that the next day will be just as magical and exhilarating as today.
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After several days, we finally “got our feet under us.” This is a term that all long-distance hikers know and understand, meaning that their bodies have adjusted to the strain of carrying a heavy pack and making “big miles” each day. By the time this happens, each hiker has developed a rhythm and routine that they follow each day. They know what to eat for breakfast, how long to travel before a break, when to eat a lunch, and how to care for their feet. They have developed methods for crossing log bridges, for fording streams and rivers, and are familiar with traversing scree and talus fields. They are becoming conditioned to walking along sandy paths and rocky trails. They have become experts at selecting a campsite, setting up shelters, and filtering water for drinking. They can do all of these “camp chores” without really thinking about them. They have become “one” with the trail and are totally at ease in the wilderness. They “have their legs” now.