Starting from our youth, our elders remind us to have a “plan b” in place, just in case the most desirable outcome doesn’t work out, right? We’ve all heard it a few times within our lives. Without blinking, there are moments in our lives, however, where we lose our grasp on this fundamental concept. We loosen our fingers a bit and without thinking let it slip just a tad …

This past week, Chris and I planned a two-day hiking trip up in The Whites. The plan was to conquer the coveted Presidential Traverse – 10 summits and over 8,000 of elevation gain in 20+ miles. We checked the weather, it looked like sunshine, so we packed our packs and were ready to send it.

Sunday morning, we began hiking around 8AM. We noticed that it was blustery down at the trailhead, but grew appreciative for the breeze as we started ascending. After a few hours, we reached a sign. It read: “STOP – The aread ahead has the worst weather in America. Many have died there from exposure even in the summer. Turn back now if the weather is bad.” So, naturally, we read the sign, felt really badass, posed for pictures and commenced the hike upwards …

Shortly after, we were taking a break below the final push to the summit. The wind was picking up, but it was nothing out of the ordinary from what we had experienced in past trips. Summits are typically windy. We knew this. However, we did not realize what we were about to face … As we made our last push up Madison and reached the ridgeline, it became clear that the wind was no joke, unrelenting, and a force to respect. Later on, we learned that we had summited Mount Madison, an exposed ridgeline, with 80 MPH gusts. To put it into further perspective, imagine yourself going outside during a category one hurricane, minus the rain, but you’re standing on a cliff-like landscape. The only thought going through my head was that we needed to get down.

Long story short, after being knocked off our feet into the alpine gardens, seeking protection behind a large boulder, and convincing the crew to make moves, we made our way down to Madison Spring Hut. It was time to collaborate as a group, abort the original plan, and figure out the best route that would provide us shelter. When we did this, we planned directly from our paper map (no All Trails with photos, trail difficulty rating or overview). We knew we’d be headed further down into the Great Gulf Wilderness, below ridgeline, where tenting near a river was possible. We did not, however, have knowledge of the expansive rock scramble that continued for close to a mile or the sheer length of time that it would take to get through the trail and reach the tenting site.

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At this point, we knew that there were multiple ways to get down the mountain and out of the woods. Which way we would take was yet to be determined. There were three options: back up to the ridge and over the remaining peaks (less miles, but more elevation), back up to the ridge and around the peaks (more mileage, but less climbing), or up Tuckerman’s Ravine and over the remaining summits (slightly more mileage and a hike up what experienced athletes ski down …). Ultimately, we decided our best bet was to go around the summits, minimizing elevation gain, but adding 3-4 miles more than planned to our second day.

Long story short, after a full day, lots of strategizing, and the mentality of one-foot-in-front-of-the-other we made it out of the woods with a sliver of daylight to spare. Reflecting on the trip, there are a few lessons learned worth sharing:

1. When checking the weather, always pay attention to the wind forecast
2. During trip planning, keep in mind a plan b for worst case scenario
3. Remain calm – adding panic into an already stressful situation doesn’t aid in thinking or reacting clearly
4. Always bring a paper map
5. Do not take bad weather lightly – the mountains don’t care who you are, respect them.
6. Mind over matter – your body can do the unbelievable when you maintain a positive attitude. Some of the most successful endurance athletes discuss how important a strong mind is in regards to the success of your physical pursuits
7. Don’t be afraid to throw in the towel on “Plan A”, especially if it’s in the best interest of your safety
8. Have an openness to “going with the flow”. The weather in these areas can change in an instant and you have to be ready to make moves with it.
9. Take it with a grain of salt. Don’t let the uncontrollable get to you.
10. Don’t forget to look right (or left) or you might miss the stunning landscape right in front of you.

Roll with the punches, have respect for the powers that are beyond you, and always approach with an astute awareness. If you do these things, you should be prepared for those trips that have an unexpected plot twist.