What quotations or phrases keep you going in difficult outdoor situations?

[Ed'n Lauky]

I will admit that many times when I've come within 1500'--1600'of the summit I've said to myself: "All you've got left is a simple climb up Pleasant Mt.

 

[sierra]

Being in the Union leader is a fate worse then death, man do they muck things up, arnt they from NH? They did an article recently about a man and his dog doing the 4k's " The dog did something many people never do, 2 4k's in one day!!" shit I should publish my journals Id be a legend. Anywho, my favorite quote is from the late Scott Fisher ( perished on Everest) " The summit or Death, either way I win". Sometimes I also talk to myself when Im feeling like giving up, simple stuff like " Are you kidding me? your going to give up and hike down with your tail between your legs like a baby, get your lazy ass up this hill and be a freakin man!! believe it or not it works for me.

 

[brobichaud]

When I see a sign that lists mileage to the next landmark I always say out loud, "Three miles? I can do that!"

Unless you're in a wilderness area, then you'll have to stop and consult your map.

I find myself hiking solo about 60% of the time, though I've had good luck since August hooking up with individuals and groups to hike with. When solo, my go-to phrases when confronted with an especially steep pitch when exhausted, or the impromptu bushwhack, include (but are not limited to): "Oh f**k me! Really?!?!?", and "F**k this trail and whoever built it". I'll insert some self-deprecating humor to relieve the tension of the situation, dig deep, and make it happen.

 

[Bombadil]

Being a big fan of type 2 fun, I like the Mark Twight quote.

Along the lines of Tom_Murphy's post when faced with dangerous exposure or something especially taxing I'll remind myself, "I'm having a good time." But more in a facetious tone, reminding myself hey a**hole you love this stuff remember??

 

[ChacoTaco]

Time to punch this mountain in the face

 

[Stash]

Just remember. I'm out there to enjoy it. There's no requirement to get the top this time.

 

[skiguy]

Never say never!

 

[The Unstrung Harp]

It's very interesting how some people use positive thoughts and others have negative thoughts. I always feel so much gratitude for even being able to hike at all that I don't think I've ever felt anything but positive toward the mountains. But hey, whatever gets you going....it's all good!

 

[sdways01]

While I have asked out loud "what drunken idiot thought this was a good idea for a trail?" I'm more likely to say "it's always worth it in the end" as that always seems to be the case. Even a bad hike can be a good hike.

 

[skiguy]

Even a bad hike can be a good hike.

Hey if it was called "Work" we probably would all quit!

 

[RoySwkr]

I remember a sign on a door that said something like, "Everyone who comes in makes me happy, some when they enter and some when they leave."

Similarly some hikes I say "What a great place, glad I found it!" and others "Now that I've been here, I won't ever have to come back!"

 

[jfb]

I think Josey Wales summed it up pretty well:

"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is".

 

[sardog1]

From Calvin Rutstrum, quoting some unnamed backwoods traveler who turns to his companion and cheerily proclaims on their penetration of the Canadian wilderness:

"Now, dammit, we can yell for help and no one will hear us."

 

[John H Swanson]

From Shackleton: "Looks like it's the long haul for the old dogs one more time."

 

[Sunshine Chris]

I think Josey Wales summed it up pretty well:

"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is".

I LOVE IT! THATS GONNA BE MY KNEW WORDS OF MOTIVATION. I love Clint Eastwood and Westerns!

 

[gaiagirl]

Chip beat me to it! "Just keep swimming" from Finding Nemo..... I use it in my own head and I give the same advice to students. I think it helps me more than it helps them. I also just put songs that get up me up in my head when things are becoming a slog out on the trail or if I'm feeling pain, etc. RUSH has been at the top of my actual playlist of late, so I expect once I head out on the trail this winter it'll be Tom Sawyer and Spirit of Radio that gets replayed again and again .

 

[TCD]

Excellent! Although for me, it's often "We are the priests of the temples of Syrinx" that starts playing unbidden in my head.

 

[gaiagirl]

TCD --- That is quite a bit earlier in vintage than the Rush I listened to in High School .... but I'm glad you mentioned it, because I went back and took a listen, and now I'm quite sure that it will also be in my head in the near future . I listen to the Greatest Hits mp3 at the gym almost every day lately ... I must be regressing in my early old age!

 

[Still Steppin']

A mock-Latin phrase I often use for situations and personalities, but sometimes when the trail is tedious or the pack too heavy, is "Illegitimi non carborundum." You may be familiar with it --- Hutmen have used it for years. (a translation is at Wikipedia.)

 

[Raven]

Muhammed Ali often comes to mind because some of his lines are so damn funny and it gets me smiling out there. Classics like:

"I'm king of the world! I'm pretty! I'm a baaaad man! I shook up the world! I'm so pretty!"

"I can't be beat!"

Or from an old coach I knew, "You're a strong bull! You're a strong bull!"

I laugh. It works.

And to add to the Rush minithread...I'm a fan of the new one (Clockwork Angels) and had some of those riffs and lines in my head recently...they only get better.