A Look Back on 2014

I think it was in 2010 when I hit my highest body weight to date that I decided I had to stop fooling around with my life and focus on my health, both physically and mentally. I started training for a half marathon and dabbled in Buddhism. That year I teamed up with my wife to run the Vermont City Marathon relay (we both ran 13.1 miles of it). That started the ball rolling for more and more extreme activities in which I could partake to motivate my daily exercise.

In 2012 I ran my first full marathon (the Sugarloaf Marathon), completed a Tough Mudder mud run and (due to my increased appetite in hiking) attempted my first Presidential Traverse.

2012 Tough Mudder, Mt. Snow, Vermont

In 2013 things shifted more towards hiking as I completed the Pemigewasset Loop and the Presidential Traverse and started to seriously take on the New England 4000 Footers.

2013 Pemi Loop, Bondcliff

As this year winds down, I wanted to take a minute to reminisce on all that I have accomplished in 2014. One thing that I’ve taken away from starting this blog is that I appreciate all of the adventures that I’ve taken this year. I think by writing them down I’ve ingrained the activity in my memory and it affords me the opportunity of reliving the experience whenever I like. I highly suggest that everyone does the same, whether it is done publicly or privately.

Snack Break in Baxter Park, 2014

I hiked 59 different peaks in four different states in 2014. I climbed 25 different peaks of the New England 4000 Footers, 15 of which were for the first time. Below is a list of the hikes and activities that stand out the most to me:

In February I wrote my first blog post
Also in February I completed my first hike with snowshoes
In March, with a few friends from work, I hiked to the highest point in Texas and did an incredible bushwhack
In June I brought my 12-year-old son on his first New England 4000 Footer hike
Later in June my whole family climbed to the highest point in Maine
On the last day of June my brother and a friend took another attempt at the Presi Traverse
In August, for my multi-day hike with my brother and friends we spent 3 days on Vermont’s Long Trail
In September I hiked to the highest point in Vermont with my brother on his wedding day so he could write his vows

2014 has been an incredible year for me in many regards. I’ve had no shortage of adventures and as a result I’ve been a happier person on a day-to-day basis. I look forward to repeating the same in 2015 and possibly adding a few over-the-top adventures to test myself and share with you.

Nostalgia is a necessary thing, I believe, and a way for all of us to find peace in that which we have accomplished, or even failed to accomplish.
—R.A. Salvatore

References:
“Pemigewasset Loop FAQ.” davidalbeck.com. David Albeck. Web. 18 December 2014.
“Presidential Traverse.” earthlink.net. EarthLink. Web. 18 December 2014.
“Sugarloaf Marathon.” sugarloaf,com. Sugarloaf Mountain Resort. Web. 18 December 2014.
“Tough Mudder.” toughmudder.com. Tough Mudder, Inc. Web. 18 December 2014.
“Vermont City Marathon.” vermontcitymarathon.org. RunVermont. Web. 18 December 2014.