I’m afraid of heights. That’s why I’m usually extra careful when planning a hike. I don’t head into the mountains without proper preparation and the confidence that I can handle the trickiest sections. How I’m feeling on the day matters too. Depending on my state of mind, some passages feel easier than others. This time, my fear of heights caught me off guard. But there’s something to learn from that too …
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Have you ever felt stressed on a hike? Maybe because you had a train to catch, a storm was rolling in, or you simply wanted to get back to your hotel in time for dinner? Luckily, that rarely happens to me. I usually allow plenty of "buffer time." This time, though, I was hiking the Pinzgauer Spaziergang, took my time a little too much, and ended up walking the last few kilometers at a brisk pace—even running for parts of it …
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I normally prefer to sit in the passenger seat. I only get behind the wheel of a car on the rarest of occasions. I do have a driver’s license, of course. What I lack is practice. The last time I sat behind the wheel, the car ended up undriveable with engine damage and had to be towed to a garage. So sitting at the helm of a boat and preparing to head out onto the lake in reverse is a special kind of challenge.
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Sometimes I like to be challenged on a mountain hike. I seek out my personal limits and try to push them a little. On other days, I’m simply out there for the nature. Those hikes can be more relaxed. I want to enjoy the route, not exhaust myself completely, and still be able to lift my eyes and take in the views. The climb to the Schwalbenwand is one of those hikes that’s perfect for unwinding and feeling good, without doing away with the effort altogether.
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