“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” -Edward Abbey
How was your vacation?
“How was your vacation” she asked.
“Well, it wasn’t really a vacation” I responded.
“Oh. Okay. How was your trip?”
Not an atypical conversation when I return from a guide trip. Guiding in many ways appears like a vacation. I have the opportunity to travel to beautiful places, backpacking and hiking these amazing landscapes. Places many of my friends want to go. ” I would love to go there.” “That’s on my list of places to see”. They say. However, a vacation it clearly is not. Sure, I spend my days doing something I love and sharing that experience with others. But my job requires me to be working all the time. When someone is sick on the trail or having a hard time hiking that day, it is me who takes care of them or encourages them to continue. Sometimes it can even feel like babysitting. Does everyone have the right equipment? Is everyone physically prepared? Are they eating enough? Drinking enough? Are they going to the bathroom everyday? (yes this is something guides actually think about) Are thy having feet issues? Blisters? Additionally, guides carry more weight than the clients Rarely am I carrying a backpack that is under 40lbs. Many clients complain about how heavy their packs are or how difficult it is to hike with such a heavy pack. Generally I am not able to complain or make comments about how much heavier my pack may be. I’m the guide after all.
Then there are the meals. Guides create the menu. Do the food shopping. Cook the food and clean up after the guests. For me, most of the time that is pretty enjoyable. I like making meals for others and overall I am a good cook. But when you have clients who like to make comments on the way you cook compared to how they might. Or the picky eater who is upset that you used hot sauce in a Mexican dish. Even the client who is annoyed that you don’t have the right type of creamer for their coffee. All of these after a while can be a bit draining. Often it makes me wonder why I am even guiding.
But that’s the life. Seeing beautiful places with a group of strangers. Who might end up being friends in the end. It’s great when those people share something fantastic and special. Maybe summit-ting a peak or hiking of the Canyon or fording a major river for the first time. There is some celebratory beer, lots of laughs and smiles.
How was my vacation? Amazing.