trailtalk
Reemerging on the Trail By Craig Romano, Mountaineers Books guidebook author
Spring wildflowers in Wenatchee's Sage Hills. All photos by Craig Romano.
I
t’s been two long years now since COVID-19 emerged on the world and turned it upside-down. As we begin year three it looks like the virus won’t be going away for good, although we can all hope that it at least fades in prominence and influence. As the current wave is ebbing, I am trying to remain optimistic in the face of new potential variants. But while the pandemic has had many negative and disruptive effects, it has also been a game-changer for many of us on how we view our world, our relationship with others, and how we want to approach life moving forward. I have lived through other crises, ranging in scale from 9/11 to deeply personal events like the death of loved ones, depression, and health challenges. In those times as well as this one, the natural world and staying physically active in it have been a godsend for my preservation. And like the cursed virus that has usurped our ways of life and continues to reemerge, I have learned to accept this disruption and reemerge as well. The timing of the pandemic overlapped with big milestones for me: turning 60 and my acquiring an auto immune disease. This trifecta of events led to me to reexamine my life and how I want to live. It was also the lynchpin in realizing that my remaining time here on planet earth is growing short. Life is precious, and I cannot waste time by living anything less than a full life.
36
mountaineer | spring 2022
Seeking clarity In the last two years, I have spent many long days on the trail hiking and running and thinking hard about what it all means. I am no closer now to realizing an answer than I was when I first began asking that question many decades ago. But I do feel validated in my choices, and I want to continue to spend as much time as possible on the trail and in the natural world. I want to continue hiking, running, pushing myself, and really feeling alive for as long as I can. Long ago I realized that I could not live a normal life. I was cursed and blessed with an insatiable desire to experience as much of the natural world as possible. I crafted my entire career around it, and it has given me amazing satisfaction. Satisfying not only in that I get to do what I love to pay the bills that are necessary in our modern life, but also satisfied in being able to share my love for hiking, running, and the natural world with so many others.
Rediscovering passions As restrictions have begun to wane, I have once again been able to participate in both trail running and road running races. I absolutely love racing. Not for the competition, but for the camaraderie. It is synergistic to be out on a challenging trail run or road race with so many others. Not being able to race
