Am I Too Fat To Go Hiking?

Wasootch Ridge

“Am I too fat to go hiking?” This thought runs through my head literally every time I am standing at the trailhead of a new hike. As a plus-size hiker, I have always had a bit of anxiety about my hiking abilities, especially when I am hiking with a group of people. I had also convinced myself that “real hiking” involved starting at the bottom of a mountain and walking all the way to the top. There are so many different types of hikes out there than just summit hikes. Changing my mindset and expectations as to what a successful hike looks like has made hiking much more enjoyable. Let’s deep dive into some of my disordered thinking!

The only real hikes are summit hikes

I love a a good summit hike, that is, when I am actually at the summit. There has been so many times that I have dragged myself up a mountain, sometimes almost in tears, just to check the box that I made it to the top. As good as the pictures are, sometimes doing a summit hike is not always the smartest choice. For instance, last year I woke up with about 25,000 other Canadians and booked an epic backcountry hike in British Columbia. Four days, numerous peaks and passes, I was so excited. As the trip got closer and closer I realized that I was in nowhere near enough shape to do this trek. Luckily, I am close enough with my hiking friends that they felt okay to recommend that we don’t go. At that time I was hurt, I really thought could power through. I would push myself up those passes even if it killed me! It took a little head-shaking from my friends to convince me that hiking until you cough up blood is not fun. They were absolutely right though, I would have been so miserable on that hike, along with slowing everyone down, it could also have been dangerous. Sometimes you just have to accept the reality that at this moment your body might not be able to handle it. After this hike was canceled, I booked a different hike that matched my current abilities much more closely. There were no great summits, but I still had a great time being out in nature, not suffering, just strolling through the forest.

i don’t want people to watch me struggle

Hiking is obviously a physical activity and even if you match the hike closely to your physical abilities, there can still be sections where you might struggle. As I am often the biggest member of my hiking groups, I've felt ashamed of having to take breaks or slow the pace. I’ve struggled to meet my hiking companions where they are waiting for me, only to have them start hiking again before I’ve even caught my breath! I have also turned my back away from other hikers so they couldn’t see how hard I was working. Carrying this shame with me on hikes has definitely ruined experiences in the past. I’ve had to teach myself that NO ONE CARES. Seriously, no one cares about the stranger on the side of the trail, unless you’re hurt/dying, people will pass you and go on with their own lives. I have never thought to myself at the summit “remember that person who was breathing hard on a steep section 45 min ago?” Nobody does that. So take those deep breaths, grab a drink, and rest until you feel ready to go again. Regarding hiking with your friends, a good tip I got from YouTube was to send your fast friends ahead. It’s okay to hike alone, or with someone closer to the same level as you, and meet up at the top/endpoint. That way you can take your time, not have to stress about who you are holding back, and still have fun on the way back! I’ve had to be honest with myself a few times and send my friends ahead of me, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the summit, so I found a nice place to sit and enjoy a snack and met them on their way down. Just like an experienced mountaineer wouldn’t go into terrain that was above their skill level, you don’t have to go farther than you’re comfortable with.

backpacking is for skinny/fit people only

I didn’t start backpacking until a few years ago because I had convinced myself it was too hard. I watched the aesthetic Instagram reels and Tiktoks talking about how amazing backpacking is, but I never pictured myself as capable of actually doing it. I finally said “fuck it, I’m doing it” and went out and bought the gear and booked my first trip. I can now honestly say that backpacking is truly life-changing. There is just something about being so far away from civilization and relying only on what you can carry, that is magical. If you love day hikes or have been camping for a few years I recommend you try it. As I mentioned earlier, the key is starting with a hike that is close to your comfort zone and apps like Alltrails, or websites like Parks Canada can give you a good indication of how hard a trail is. There are also things you can do to help ease the physical burden if you are worried about that. Things like sharing a tent so the weight is split, learning about how to pack light, investing/renting ultralight equipment, and starting with a short trip can make your first foray into the backcountry enjoyable. Don’t be like me and pack a book and a hammock on your first backpacking trip because you won’t use it and have to carry that stuff up and down :P

Rockwall

The bottom line is that hiking is for everyone, you deserve to be out there just as much as anyone else. There are hiking trails for every ability and no one out there is judging you (me talking to myself). Start slowly and build up to bigger/longer hikes, or stay exactly at the level you are, it’s really up to you, but don’t underestimate yourself you’re more capable than you think!