My son and I decided to tackle Mt. Sherman in Colorado a while back. Sitting at 14,036 feet, the summit is no joke, but the views make it all worth it. We’d hiked 4ers before, so we knew we were in for a challenge—but this time, we got hit with a curveball: early winter weather.
The trail?
Completely covered in snow.
And when I say snow, I mean drifts of several feet deep in some spots. Add in winds whipping at 40-60 mph, and let’s say this hike turned into a whole different ballgame.
Knowing we were out of our depth, we called in some reinforcements—Dalton, a guide from Sawatch Guides.
And let me tell you, having Dalton with us made all the difference.
From the moment we stepped out of the car, we were clearly breaking the trail. Fresh snow completely buried the route; with those wild winds, it was impossible to tell where we were supposed to go in some areas. Without Dalton leading the way, we would’ve turned around like so many other hikers did that day. He knew the mountain, knew the safest way to navigate it, and kept us moving forward, even when the trail wasn’t obvious.
The wind was brutal, and most of the time, my son and I had our heads down, just trying to keep moving. But occasionally, Dalton would stop and share a tip or insight. He’d point out areas to avoid because of avalanche risk or show us how to use our trekking poles more effectively. One of the best things he taught us? How to walk along the ridgeline to dodge the worst of the wind’s icy assault. These were the things I didn’t even realize I needed to know, but they made a huge difference.
This might’ve been the most important thing Dalton did for us. He kept encouraging us the whole way, letting us know we were making great progress and handling the tough spots really well. Dalton didn’t just tell us what to do when we hit challenging sections—he showed us. Watching him move through those tricky areas gave us the confidence to follow in his footsteps.
Thinking about that hike, I realized how much having a guide can matter—not just on a mountain but in life. Whether it’s a coach, mentor, advisor, or whatever you want to call them, we all need someone who knows the way, can teach us along the journey, and gives us that little boost of confidence when things get tough.
So, here’s something for you to think about:
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the “Daltons” in our lives.
Make it a great day!
Patrick
P.S. If you get a second, please check out my new website www.PatrickLeddin.com. Learn about my new book and how I can bring the content to your team.
