I have never been much for New Year’s resolutions. Radical behavior changes brought on by a change in the calendar are difficult to execute. I do like the idea of setting intentions for the New Year, however. More so than any other year, 2021 needs goals and guiding principles to keep us on track. I am setting up something fun to look forward to, some ways I plan to better myself, and the goal of lessening my environmental impact.
Goal 1: A Big Trip
My husband and I have gone on a big mountaineering trip every year for the last three years. It all started when we spent a week on Mt. Rainier in Washington state for a mountaineering seminar in Fall of 2018. Our cohort there sparked the idea of climbing Denali in our minds. We conquered that peak in 2019 and loved every minute of the challenging expedition. In 2020, we set our sights on alpine rock climbing in North Cascades National Park. Thanks to the pandemic, that trip didn’t turn out quite as planned but it was pretty epic nonetheless.
That brings us to 2021. Covid19 is going to continue to restrict our travel and gatherings for the foreseeable future, but there are still safe ways to enjoy the outdoors. I would like to plan some kind of big mountain adventure this year, even if it isn’t as big as I originally hoped. Before the pandemic I had my sights set on South American volcanoes. Now I’m thinking more along the lines of attempting Rainer on another route or going back to the North Cascades.
Big mountains aside, 2021 will almost certainly include a somewhat lengthy sailing trip on one or both U.S. coasts. Stay tuned for more on that plan.
Goal 2: New skills and fitness goals
Like I said earlier, I am not setting traditional fitness or weight-related goals here. I wouldn’t mind getting stronger (I have always wanted to be able to do more than one pull-up). I should probably step-up the training for the fall Half Ironman I am supposedly doing. Mostly, though, I’d like to mix things up with my training and have a bit more fun with it. Rather than pounding the pavement of the same old running routes, I’d like to find some new ones. I have never really done much trail running, but I’d like to throw in some trail routes and maybe a trail race this year if races actually happen.
On the bike, I think it’s time to try mountain biking. I have access to a fleet of amazing mountain bikes to try out at work and plenty of friends who would take me out on the trails but I have held off on trying this sport because I’m afraid I’ll like it too much. I don’t really need another expensive hobby. Mountain biking looks like way too much fun not to try, though, so I think this year I’m going to go for it. Maybe I’ll hate it. Who knows. It sure would be a good way to mix up the training!
There is one new skill that I started working on last year that really needs more attention in 2021 – surfing. Sarah got me out in the waves at Pacifica State Beach last summer on a foam board, but I never quite got to the point of confidently standing up and actually surfing more than just the whitewater. I am determined to make it happen this year. I just need to get my hands on a wetsuit and maybe some professional instruction, since I tend to learn best in actual classes.
Goal 3: My environmental impact
It is really important to me and my family to reduce our impact on the environment to a minimum and do what we can to combat climate change. This is probably my biggest personal challenge, as the pull of consumerism and travel is strong for families and those of us who want to get out and go on adventures. I won’t get into everything we do and don’t do in this post, but I want some kind of carbon footprint audit this year and see where we can make improvements. Staying away from air travel for almost an entire year has been illuminating. I miss it but do I really miss it that much? Suffice it to say that I know my family can do better and I am determined to keep our personal impact moving in a positive direction.
Goal 4: Getting the kids on the trails
For a family that loves the outdoors, we do surprisingly little hiking as a family. My 4 and 6 year-old kids have been on several one-night backpacking trips, traipsed around in the snow in all kinds of weather, and have been sailing since they were days old, but we rarely just go on a simple hike. I think this is because my husband and I tend to think big and overlook the intermediate steps. Our boys are too young to climb 14ers so we just stay home. That’s clearly the wrong way to go about things if we want to raise kids that love the outdoors as much as we do. Now that the boys are 4 and 6.5, it’s time to start a family hiking routine and train them up for the big stuff. There are plenty of local hikes to get started on and I have some ideas for keeping them motivated on the trail. Stay tuned for more on hiking with kids!
That seems like enough for the year ahead, especially considering I don’t even know how a lot of basic life stuff is going to play out in the coming months. I hope that sharing my goals here will provide some kind of accountability for me, so I’ll make sure to update you throughout the year.
Goal 5: Blogging
While Sarah and I created this blog in 2020, 2021 will hopefully be the year that GRIT Outside grows and flourishes. That will take hard work on our part, but it will bring a sweet reward. I know I need to establish a routine that sets aside time for writing when I can focus and be most creative.
Do you have any outdoor goals for 2021?
