immersion.
Way back when Alex and I were newly engaged, he asked if I wanted to go hiking. Sounded good to me. I had never climbed any of the Adirondack High Peaks nor gone backpacking, but he had so I figured I’d go along for the adventure. Long story short: it was an adventure. A one-night trip with 3 peaks on the agenda ended up as a two-night trip with only 2 peaks, thanks to a 3 mile (one way) trek in the wrong direction, me not listening to Alex when he told me to have a snack after this “detour”, and just a general lack of experience and preparedness.
I still married him. But I will never let him forget that hiking trip.
That trip, in retrospect, was when my 46er journey began.
Since then, we have certainly had our share of adventures. We’ve gone on one or two High Peak trips every summer/fall (other than 2018 – hi, baby Emma!) Each one of them has its own story to tell – mostly things that make us laugh now but were not very funny in the moment (like Stella running away from our campsite at dusk to chase a small animal and we thought she’d never come back … or me being absolutely miserable climbing through Avalanche Pass, as fast as I could on a suspected-broken foot, and getting to the lean-to literally a few minutes before a downpour … or Stella needing to be portered across when we had to boots-off cross a fast-flowing thigh-deep stream … or Alex needing our emergency sugary-snack halfway through RPR/Giant while carrying Emma). One year we threw a wrench in the plans and went out west to climb Mt. Rainier (a VERY high peak!), and we’ve seen some really incredible views in various other hikes too!
But I digress …
This summer, I had the luxury of snagging 4 more High Peaks on 3 separate trips – one was an overnight with Emma! – and 2 non-High Peaks to start toward Stella’s ADK-9 patch. I spent many hours this summer researching routes, planning trips, figuring out the logistics of everything.
OK … so I planned some hikes and I went on them. Big deal, right?
Signing in at the trail register behind Ausable Club en route to Dial & Nippletop (#22 & #23 for me) - my first High Peak adventure without Alex leading the way!
Actually, it IS a big deal – to me at least! This is the first year that I have really been involved in the planning process of our hiking trips. And as a result, I have become totally engrossed in it. I WANT to go hiking any chance I can (I debated joining my friend for a hike the day after I ran a marathon). I am the one reading the guidebook ahead of time so I know what to watch for, how long our segments should take, where we can have lunch, etc. This has always been Alex’s role in our hiking partnership, and I’ve just gone along with it.
I have gotten more out of these hiking trips than ever before. And I am hungry for more.
THIS is the sentiment I’m thinking about when I talk about my business and practice model. My practice name, Immersion PT, developed from the idea that I want my clients to be invested – immersed – in their recovery, wellness or performance. If I have to convince you that you need me or my services, or you’re skimping on your rehab exercises because you don’t really care that much, then we are probably not the right fit for each other (and hey, that’s OK!)
My clients want to put in the work, to do better, to be better. My clients are the ones mapping out their adventures – be it hikes, the next marathon, a new baby (or grandchild!) – and taking the reins to reach the summit and take in all of the surrounding beauty that life has to offer. My clients accept the steep incline, the uneven terrain, the challenging rock slides and mud puddles for what they are.
My clients keep. moving. forward.
My goal is for you to not need me … and to trust that I am always there if you do.
So what’s your next big (or little) adventure, and how can I help you get there?
