This summer, Len and I spent two days in Taos celebrating our anniversary.

We had three things on the agenda: enjoy one of our favorite places in New Mexico, spend an evening listening to Lucero, and get in a hike before heading home.

That hike was going to be El Nogal.

Well…probably.

The El Nogal trailhead is also where you park if you want to attempt the Divisidero Trail. Divisidero had been on my mind for a while. After losing weight and becoming more active, I wondered if I was finally ready.

I wasn’t sure.

There was only one way to find out.

I crossed the highway and started up the Divisidero Trail.

It didn’t take long to get my answer.

The combination of the altitude and the steep climb was simply more than I was ready for. I wasn’t in trouble, and I wasn’t discouraged. I had learned what I came to learn.

Not yet.

So I turned around, crossed the highway, and headed down the El Nogal Trail.

As it turned out, that was exactly where I needed to be.

El Nogal isn’t one of New Mexico’s famous hikes. It doesn’t end at a dramatic overlook or the state’s highest peak. Instead, it follows a small creek through the forest, climbing gradually enough that you can spend your time looking around instead of watching every step.

The sound of the water stayed with us for much of the hike. Wildflowers lined parts of the trail, and the shade of the trees made it a welcome escape from the July sun. It wasn’t a hike that demanded anything from me. It simply invited me to enjoy being there.

Some of my favorite photographs from the summer came from that morning.

Looking back, I’m glad I tried Divisidero.

If I hadn’t, I would probably still be wondering whether I was ready. Instead, I have an answer—and I know what I need to work toward.

More importantly, I didn’t let “not yet” become “not today.”

I still spent the morning on a beautiful trail with Len. We still enjoyed the mountains. We still came home with memories and photographs that remind me why I love New Mexico.

Divisidero is still there.

So are Williams Lake, Wheeler Peak, and countless other trails I hope to explore over the coming years.

One of the things I’ve learned about hiking is that the mountains aren’t going anywhere. They’ll be there when I’m ready.

Until then, I’ll keep taking the next trail, enjoying the journey, and appreciating places like El Nogal.

Sometimes the hike you planned isn’t the one you remember most.

Sometimes it’s the one that was waiting just across the parking lot.