“Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they’re yours.” — Richard Bach
There’s a particular kind of second-guessing that can show up after you book an adventure. At first, you’re picturing the grand escape: the mountain views, the coastal trail, and the chance to spend a week outdoors doing something that will fill your cup. You browse AGC’s itineraries, find the trip that speaks to you, make the reservation, and start getting excited. Then… you look at the itinerary more closely.
What if everyone else is in better shape? What if I’m the slowest one? Will I hold people up? Maybe I’m not as fit as I used to be. Should I really be doing this?
If any of these thoughts sound familiar, you’re definitely not alone. Travelers have shared these same worries with us, including many women who came home after their trip incredibly proud of what they accomplished. I like Richard Bach’s reminder to leave room for possibility, while also recognizing that our bodies have real needs and limits worth listening to. Being gentle with yourself and preparing for a challenge can go together—perhaps it’s one of life’s “dualisms.”
We’re always learning about ourselves, and sometimes that means questioning a story we’ve started to believe about what we can or can’t do. So, let’s talk about what being ready actually means, what happens if you’re toward the back of the group, and how we can help you feel more confident before your trip begins.
The Questions Beneath the Question: Sometimes “Am I fit enough?” comes with another question: “Will I belong?”
Joining a group can feel vulnerable before you know anyone’s pace, personality, or experience. You may feel comfortable hiking with friends but still be unsure how you’ll compare with strangers. Or perhaps you’re returning to something you once loved and wondering how it will feel now. Those are very human questions, and you don’t need to have all those feelings sorted out before you join us.
We can give ourselves room to be who we are today and still be curious about what’s possible. Your body may have changed. Your experience, perspective, and reasons for being out there may have changed, too. That’s all part of figuring out what preparation and support you need now.
When Kathy joined our Hiking Utah’s Majestic Parks trip, she was excited about the mountains but shared that she “…feared I may not be able to keep up with the rigor of the hiking, being a lifelong resident of fairly flat NE Indiana.” It was her first AGC trip, and she took the preparation seriously.
I want to come back to her experience. But first, let’s answer the question that might be keeping you up at night.
What If I’m the Slowest One?
You will not be left behind. On our group hikes and activities, a guide leads from the front and another stays at the back. The guide at the back is there intentionally, helping support the travelers behind the lead guide. If you’re the last traveler in line, you still have a guide behind you.
Our guides manage the pace with attention to the group, the terrain, and the day’s conditions, gathering everyone for check-ins along the way. Hiking speeds can vary, and walking toward the back is a normal place to be within the group. As Lavette shared after her Utah trip:
“The guides helped all members become successful on this trip! No one was left behind.”
Now, let’s be clear: there are still practical demands to meet. A route has a distance to cover, and daylight, weather, and transportation can affect the day’s timing. Arriving prepared for your trip’s activity level 100% matters.
We also want you to feel like you’re part of the group. Where you are in line doesn’t tell us how much you’re enjoying the views, what effort you’re putting in, or what it means to be there. There’s a whole person walking in those boots, and we care about her experience.
If you’re having a difficult stretch, please communicate with your guide. You don’t have to quietly struggle while wondering whether it’s okay to speak up. Being open about what you need gives us the chance to support you.
Give Yourself the Gift of Preparation
Reassurance feels better when you have something concrete to build it on.
For an active trip, that means understanding what your itinerary asks of you and giving yourself enough time to prepare. All AGC trips require basic good health, balance, and mobility, and the amount of conditioning needed varies by adventure type and level.
Start with your trip’s activity level and daily descriptions, and be sure to look beyond mileage alone. A walk on a familiar paved path can feel very different from the same distance on rocky trails with climbs and descents. Several active days in a row also ask something very different of you than a few active days spread throughout a trip.
As you review your trip, consider:
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How long will we be active each day?
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Are there elevation changes?
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What is the expected terrain?
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What will I be carrying during these activities?
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Are altitude, heat, or other conditions part of the experience?
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How many active days will follow one another?
Use the conditioning recommendations provided for your trip to guide your preparation. Our fitness guide, also available in your AGC portal, is another helpful place to start. If you’re unsure how your current routine compares with the itinerary, reach out. We can talk through the expectations and help you understand what to focus on.
As Kathy shared:
“I needed the exercise and strengthening advice given prior to the trip to prepare the best I could.”
That hard work and preparation matter. They help you arrive ready to participate, make the physical effort more familiar, and support the experience of the whole group. Following through on your preparation also gives you something to come back to when the doubts show up. You’re learning how your body responds and what still needs attention.
If you’d like more structure or support, Becki Rupp of Trailblazer Wellness offers personalized training and adventure coaching. She starts with your current activity level and your trip’s itinerary, then works with you to build a plan that fits your life, whether you train at home or at the gym. Her coaching packages include check-ins, strength-training videos, and adjustments along the way, so you have someone to help you work through challenges and recognize your progress.
Karin’s experience is a good example of what that support can look like. Before joining AGC’s Everest Base Camp trip in 2023, she spent six months training with Becki. “I started very gradually with her,” she shared in our knee-health webinar. When her knee started bothering her again, they adjusted her plan. Starting early gave her time to work through that change as she prepared. She went on to complete Everest Base Camp and later Kilimanjaro, and has continued taking on new hiking adventures.
“Seven years ago, I didn’t think it was possible that I could do something like this.”
What I appreciate about her story is that the confidence came with practice. She gave herself time, asked for support, and learned what worked for her.
The coaching is virtual, and you do the training independently wherever you are. AGC travelers can book a free 30-minute consultation to talk through their goals and receive 10% off her coaching packages. You can use that conversation to see whether coaching feels like a good fit for you.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
Preparation also means paying attention to how you’re feeling and being honest when something changes.
If you develop pain, have an injury, or notice a change in your balance, mobility, or stamina that could affect your participation, please let us know as soon as possible. Even if you’ve already completed your traveler forms, please keep us updated about changes before your trip. It can be tempting to wait and hope things improve, especially when you’re excited to go, but talking with us early gives us more time to understand what’s going on and discuss what comes next.
We can review the itinerary with you, clarify the physical demands, and talk through whether the trip is still a good fit. If you’re recovering from an injury or have a health concern, your healthcare provider can help you understand what activities are appropriate for you; we can provide trip details to support that conversation.
Once you’re on the trip, keep communicating with your guides if something hurts or an activity feels beyond your abilities. You don’t have to quietly push through to prove you belong. Speaking up helps your guides understand what’s happening and decide how to respond.
We know it can be hard to bring this up when you’ve been looking forward to a trip. Please reach out anyway. We’d much rather talk with you early and help you understand your options.
We Have a Plan, and We Embrace the Adventure
Every trip begins with planned routes and activities, giving you something specific to prepare for and look forward to. Once we’re there, guides also pay attention to what’s happening around us. Weather can shift, trail conditions can change, and the group’s abilities and circumstances of the day may affect decisions about the route or schedule.
Some changes are simply part of the fun: a quirky roadside stop on the way to the trailhead or an unexpected chance to learn more about the place you’re visiting. Those little moments may not appear on the itinerary, but they can become part of what you remember most.
Arrive prepared for the published itinerary while remaining open to adjustments. Some trips have shorter options or opportunities to sit out an activity; others have routes or logistics that make that difficult. If that flexibility is important to you, ask us about your particular trip before departure.
Knowing what to expect makes it easier to settle into the experience. You bring your preparation and an open mind, while your guides bring their judgment and attention to the day ahead. That’s part of embracing the adventure together.
Leave Room to Surprise Yourself
An adventure can be challenging and still be exactly the experience you’re glad you chose.
Rebecca described that balance after her Fall in the Great Smokies trip:
“Some of the hikes were more difficult than I expected. However, the encouragement of the guides and women helped me to push myself and accomplish harder hikes than I thought I could.”
There’s something special about that kind of encouragement. It could be someone walking alongside you, sharing a helpful tip, or simply understanding why reaching that overlook means so much. As the week goes on, women who started as strangers get to know one another and cheer each other on. There’s room for effort, humor, and the occasional “Whew, that was a lot” along the way.
Remember Kathy, who wondered whether she could keep up on her trip? After preparing and spending the week hiking with her guides and fellow travelers, she wrote:
“I was definitely challenged, as a newer hiker, but I loved every part of the week, and left with such a sense of accomplishment.”
In another part of her evaluation, she said simply: “I did it!”
Your experience will be your own. You might discover a skill, enjoy a stretch of trail you worked hard to prepare for, or feel comfortable enough to ask for help when you need it. Those moments count, too. Give yourself credit for whatever you accomplish, big and small, and leave some room to be surprised by yourself.
A Little Uncertainty Can Go a Long Way
If you’re wondering whether you should still go, let’s start with a conversation about your trip, your preparation, and the part that worries you most. Give yourself credit for what you’ve already done while still being honest about what needs work. Use the support available to you, and leave room for the possibility that you may be more capable than you feel right now.
You may arrive a little nervous; that’s completely normal. You can also arrive prepared, curious, and ready to meet the women who will share the experience with you. Who says you can’t hold all these feelings at once? We’re human, after all, and there’s still so much to learn and explore.
Take a look at our fitness guide, connect with Becki about preparation, or give our team a call at 970-833-3132. We look forward to sharing the adventure with you.
