The Power of Multi-Colored Gummy Bears

So I decided I was going to snowshoe the White Mountains in New Hampshire during December of 2008. I got lucky because it was the most intense snowfalls on record that year. I had decided to bring my 11-year-old son with me. I may have implied that he was 13 when we signed up, but as someone dedicated to adventures I thought this exaggeration would be worth it.

The hike from Crawford Notch to the Zealand Falls hut is about 8 miles. You complete it with a group of about 20 hikers and 2 guides. As soon we began the hike off the main road, Johnny and I began to fall behind. About 30 minutes into the trek one of the guides stopped the group and came back to speak with me. His name was Anthony and he told me that John and I would have to go back to the lodge because we would not make the hut by nightfall. I pleaded with him and was met with a firm no. I offered him $200 and still he said no. After more pleading, he conceded that if we didn’t make one of the checkpoints by a certain time we would have to turn back.

The group split up and Anthony stayed with John and me. The mountains were beautiful. That hike is where I learned that no matter how tired I was it was critical to keep my head up to enjoy everything around me. Anthony prompted us over and over again to look up because as we grew tired are eyes would drift toward our feet.

To be completely honest, John and I only made it on time because of Anthony’s coaching. Making it was such a confidence booster for John. He was feeling so pumped when we got to the hut. That night I encouraged John to eat as much as possible knowing that we would need all the energy possible to snowshoe out the next morning. Like a lot of fatherly advice, it fell on deaf ears. He barely touched his plate.

On the way out the next morning, John and I were so cold and the gear immediately started weighing on our backs. When we stopped for lunch and took off our gloves we couldn’t feel our hands. John was a trooper; even though he was tired he kept up. Throughout the entire experience, Anthony made only one mistake. As we made our way out of the forest and onto a side road he announced we had a made it. John interpreted this as the hike being over.

However, we were still about a mile from the main road. As we continued to walk, John grew more upset that our journey was not over. At some point he sat down in the snow letting the wind and snowflakes swirl around him. He announced that he was not going one step further. I was attempted every motivational angle from my years of parenting and coaching. Nothing worked! Things began to escalate between us when I felt a hand on my chest.

Anthony gently pushed me aside and asked to speak to John privately. Anthony didn’t say a word to John. He took out a Ziplock bag from his backpack. The bag contained 7 gummy bears and ¼ stick of a Hershey’s chocolate bar. As John began to eat the gummy bears one by one I could see him becoming energized. It was like watching a glass being filled. By the time he got to the candy bar he was on his feet. He powered his way to the main road. When we got to the heated van we were beside ourselves because they had hot chocolate waiting for us. The feeling of accomplishment was palpable. It is a moment I will never forget and an
adventure I was happy to share with my son.

All it took to get John on his feet was a handful of gummy bears. What would it take to motivate you when you’re on your last leg?