Hiking Two 10,000 Ft. Peaks in One Day Taught Me an Invaluable Lesson

A comprehensive overview of my experience, including the lesson I learned and many useful hiking tips

Alexa V.S.
In Fitness And In Health

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The day of the hike. How to hike two 10,000 ft summits in one day and what it teaches you.
The day of the hike. [Image by author]

I was 100% convinced we wouldn’t make it.

We’d just reached the first 10,000 ft. peak, and I couldn’t fathom going down halfway and climbing nearly 2,000 more feet (the trail started at around 5,000 feet and had a total elevation gain of more than 6,000 feet).

The hiking trail. It started at 1,533 m. (5,029 ft.) and covered two nearly 10,000 ft. summits in just 18,15 km. (around 11 miles).
The hiking trail. It started at 1,533 m. (5,029 ft.) and covered two nearly 10,000 ft. peaks in just 18,15 km. (around 11 miles). I took the screenshot from Wikiloc, the app my husband and I use to plan and track our hiking adventures. [Image by author]

Why did I ever think this was a good idea?

The question banged against my skull as we slowly made our first descent. Yes, I’d climbed other 10,000 ft. peaks in the past. Yes, I’d been excited to hike two peaks in one day (because why not?). And yes, reaching the first peak and seeing the gorgeous views had been amazing.

But my legs were already tired after climbing 4,450 ft. in just 4,3 miles. And now I had to climb down a nearly vertical wall just to climb 2,000 ft. more?

No. No. No.

I, of course, considered quitting.

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Alexa V.S.
In Fitness And In Health

Certified INFJ. Health & Fitness enthusiast. Fellow writer.