Lately, I have found myself trying to find space on the calendar to get outside and go hiking. The weather here in San Diego has been absolutely perfect for hiking, biking, running or getting outside in general.

This time of year has historically been slow for me, work-wise. The good news is that my clients have been keeping me really busy, which is making up for a slow year. In addition, holiday social engagements have been taking up my weekends. The bad news is that I have fewer, if any, chances to make it outside.

As a result, the number of peaks that I complete may be slowing down.

I want to be clear about this: I am not complaining about having plenty of work and spending time with friends and family. It’s just that, like most of you, I have a strong urge to go outside, get some fresh air, and get away from it all.

The question is:

How do you balance your work and other commitments with your desire you go outside and run, bike, hike, etc? For those of you lucky few who were able to marry your passion for the outdoors with work, how did you successfully accomplish this?

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I went to Hawaii on vacation and really enjoyed the Big Island. It was hard to keep my eyes from going to the peaks and mountains. It looked like a great place to do some serious hiking and camping.

On the way from Hilo to Waikaloa, we were able to stop at a small black sand beach called Punalu’u Beach. Due to the high winds, the waves were pretty vigorous, but the main draw for this beach is the near certainty that you will be able to spot sea turtles there. Within a minute of reaching the shore, we spied two turtles swimming in the shallow rocky area, eating algae. Looking a little further we saw another one inching its way up onto the warm sand for a nap in the sun.

Later, while wading on the other side of the beach, we spied 5 more turtles, playing in the surf. It was truly a great experience.

However, at a different beach, I cut my foot on some coral while trying to swim closer to a sea turtle. I need to heal a little bit before I restart my peak bagging.

Sea Turtle on Punaluu Beach

Some consulting work has been keeping me off the trails lately. I expect to start summiting some peaks in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for trail posts, some videos, and some gear reviews.