We camped at the trailhead and started the climb in the dark.
No map. Just the crunch of our boots and the sound of our own breathing.
We thought we were taking the standard route to the summit of Longs Peak.
Turns out we’d veered off.
We were on the Keyhole route.
Longer. Riskier. More exposed.
A line that demanded more awareness and balls.
But we didn’t stop.
We asked questions of other more experienced hikers.
We listened.
We leaned on each other.
And when the sun rose and the wind cleared the smoke from wildfires, we were exactly where we needed to be.
I think about that climb a lot.
Because fatherhood feels the same.
Marriage feels the same.
You wake up early, stumble forward, and wonder if you’re even on the right trail.
I’m not perfect.
There are days when I feel lost as a dad.
Days I wonder if I’ve shown up enough for my wife.
Days I get so caught up in chasing something that I miss what’s right in front of me.
And success?
That idea changes every month.
It used to mean freedom.
Now it means presence.
It means trying again tomorrow.
So what does all of this mean?
It means if you’re feeling this, you’re not alone.
Being a man isn’t about never messing up.
It’s about recalibrating.
Asking for help when you need it.
And pushing toward the summit even when you can’t see it yet.
Keep going.
You’ve got this.
Field Tip
If your headlamp dies and that is all you packed, you are stuck.
Always carry a small backup light in your first aid kit or chest pocket.
Cheap penlights or button lights weigh almost nothing and can save a dark descent, a blood trail recovery, or a midnight gear sort.
Simple prep. Serious peace of mind.
Mindset: Trail vs Compass
A trail can vanish.
A compass gives direction, even when the path disappears.
In the backcountry and in life:
• The route may change
• The weather may shift
• The goal may look farther than expected
But your values stay true.
Honor. Presence. Grit. Service.
That is your compass.
Let it guide you when the trail disappears.
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
What’s the compass you trust when the trail disappears?
