I think the outdoors can be a great teacher - I know it has been for me about things like this. Many years ago a friend and I went to Yosemite to do a climb on

I think the outdoors can be a great teacher - I know it has been for me about things like this. Many years ago a friend and I went to Yosemite to do a climb on Half Dome. Day one we were humping up to Little Yosemite Valley. It was a hot day and we were starting to grouse about the heat and elevation gain. As we rounded a switchback we were greeted by an enthusiastic "Good morning. Beautiful day isn't it!". Our greeter was wearing an enormous pack and was navigating the trail with crutches and leg braces. After chatting a bit, we carried on and vowed to not complain for the rest of the trip. Day 3 we were heading down to the Valley after completing the climb on the mist trail. It was a high snowpack year and the falls were thundering and true to the trail's name, blowing mist everywhere. We stripped down to shorts and no shirts and were reveling in the feeling of the mist and sun when we encountered a couple heading up the trail. They were in full boating rain gear and as we passed them I heard one say in a weepy voice "this is so horrible!". The lesson that stuck with me from that weekend: your conditions do not necessarily determine your experience.