Why can I climb the side of a cliff on vacation but not a hill on my street?

When Ross and I decided to add a week in Cape Town following a photo safari trip in the northeastern region of South Africa, we knew that hiking up Table Mountain would be on our list. But when we arrived at the Platteklip Gorge trailhead that morning and the idea became a reality, I questioned my judgment. It is the most direct route, and therefore the most popular choice, but it’s a continuous stone staircase up a mountain face! A brutal upward ascent into the clouds. (Would not recommend to anyone with fear of heights, vertigo, or bad knees.)

If you Google the route, you learn that the distance is 2.5 km one way. The terrain is large, uneven, natural rock steps and graded switchbacks, with the rocks getting steeper as you ascend, including some stretches requiring pulling yourself up with your hands. (Unless you are blessed with unusually long legs, a low center of gravity, and incredible quad strength. Or unless you are under the age of 12. We were passed by several boys and girls who may have been part mountain goat, sprinting along with their feet barely making contact like they were pretending the rocks were lava.)

You’ll also be warned that the path has virtually no shade, gets very hot, and high winds are a risk. Still, given all of those small-print disclaimers, we forged on, adjusting our hats, putting on our sunglasses, and making sure we had adequate water (check) and snacks (check).

I have overcome my share of challenges in life, but conquering Table Mountain (with a smile, no less) has earned a prominent spot on the list. Seeing the beautiful city and beaches of Cape Town from the top of that iconic natural wonder of the world with Ross by my side is something I’ll never forget. 

This experience also presents a bit of a conundrum…how can I have climbed uphill for over two hours and then walked another 12K steps at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens later that afternoon, when now that I’m back at home, I have to turn around and walk backwards up some of the steep hills in my neighborhood to be gentler to my knees? Is it a mindset thing? Being on vacation gives us superpowers? Or the adrenaline? Who knows. My takeaway is that it’s amazing what we can do when we decide to do it and take the first step, joyfully.