One reward you have when you work out on regular basis is confidence that you know what your body is capable of doing and achieving. This was really important on a recent hike my husband and I took when we visited our daughter in Madagascar.

The hike ended up being more of a rock climb and at times was very mentally challenging for me due to heights and small ledges over deep caverns. Conquering my fear of heights and falling was only possible because I was confident I physically could accomplish the hike. I did not have a worry about being strong enough or have enough lung capacity to make it to the end.

Madagascar is the only place you can find Tsingy rock formations. Tsingy means “tiptoe” in Malagasy and because the rocks have sharp pointy tops, the Malagasy people say you have to tiptoe to get over the rock.

As we were planning our trip, I checked out AllTrails to review the hike we would be taking. Unfortunately, I could not find the trail on AllTrails. Which means, we were totally unprepared for what we were getting into. Our first clue on what was ahead was being instructed to put on a harness! Maybe, I am fortunate that I did not find the hike on AllTrails, because I may have talked myself out of trying the trail and would have missed a very beautiful place. In addition, because I tackled and completed this hike/climb, I am slightly less afraid of heights and have a little more mental toughness.

~Cindy Pascale