I’m always up for a weekend of adventure. Our group was planning to traverse a mountain – known as “The Tongariro Crossing”. As the weekend was rolled in, so too did a weather bomb, forecast to hit the country on the day we had planned our trip up the mountain.. We had to make a call. Do we go ahead, it’s highly likely that we will not get to conquer any mountains this trip?  Many of the group, excited to be making the famous crossing for the first time, really hopeful we would get to go ahead. Illustrious accommodation was booked so we set off in hope and anticipation for our big walk and our luxury rooms.

Saturday morning dawned wet, grey and with low visibility, the mountain was deemed unsafe, and with no shuttles operating to drop us, or collect us, for the start and finish we had to cancel our crossing.

We ventured out later that morning for a walk in the lower regions of Mt Ruapehu. It was raining when we left our accommodation, but it cleared up for most of our walk.

We walked through the beautiful, if a little soggy alpine setting, along a fast stream to make our way to a waterfall gushing in splendor from the previous few days of heavy rainfall. We enjoyed the surroundings, camaraderie and conversation that walking on a mountainside with friends can bring. As we got higher up the mountain the weather closed in a bit and visibility was decreasing. We set off back to the warmth and dryness of our accommodation for a big lunch and an afternoon spent relaxing and playing snooker. All of us rising to the challenge and vying to come away as the top doubles snooker team for the weekend.

Things don’t always turn out as you plan. We didn’t get to have our big walk. I know from experience you can make it to the top of the mountain and see the most amazing vista spread all around you, for miles, or you can arrive at the top to find whiteout conditions and barely able to see your hand in front of your face.  There are some things we have no control over and the weather is one of those.

We do have control over how we respond when things don’t go as we would like them to. It’s all about trying to make the most of the situation you find yourself in and enjoying whatever comes your way – a walk in the lower mountain, a big hot lunch, the new challenge of learning to play snooker, and fun with friends.  The challenge of the crossing still beckons those in the group still to tick it off, and plans have been made to try again next year.

Things don’t always go to plan but it’s how you respond to the situation that matters. We can try to adapt, be flexible, and open to the experiences and positives that a change of plans can create, and make new plans moving forward.