I was sure the 'easy' route around the lake was a waste of time. I was wrong.

For years, I avoided the official trail around Mirror Lake in the Sierra because the map showed it as this wide, flat, boring path. I always took the steeper, more direct ridge line, thinking it was the only way to get a real hike. Last month, my knee was acting up, so I gave the lake loop a shot just to get outside. It completely changed my view. That 'easy' trail had these perfect, quiet spots to watch birds I never see from the ridge, and the water reflections at sunrise were something else. It added maybe two miles to my usual distance, but the pace was so relaxed I actually noticed things. I spent a full hour just sitting on a log near the north inlet. It made me realize I'd been treating every hike like a challenge to beat, not an experience to have. Has anyone else had a trail they wrote off turn into a favorite just by changing your goal for the day?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sandra27d ago

It's like the difference between taking the freeway and the back roads to get somewhere. You're so focused on the goal with the first one, you miss the whole point of the trip. I see it all the time with people rushing through home projects too, just trying to get to the finished photo.

angelafisher28d ago

Honestly, that's a solid reminder to slow down sometimes. Tbh I've done the same thing with a few local paths.