Eileen McDargh used to think her ideal vacation was spent in a lounge chair, poolside, at some hoo-hah fancy resort; hot showers, cold drinks, a stack of books to read and a suitcase full of designer clothes to wear.

That's over now. McDargh — an international business and leadership expert, an author and a 59-year-old grandmother — fell in life with wilderness hiking some years ago and recently celebrated her birthday with a risky and remote trek in the Himalayan mountains.

The challenges of mountain hiking — carrying 40 pound packs, braving 65 mph winds, crossing freezing cold glacial rivers by foot — have taught McDargh hard lessons and simple truths that, she believes, are enormously helpful in coping with the complexity of every day life.

"Getting out of one's comfort zone is the best way to grow and experience life," says McDargh. Her new book, "Gifts From The Mountain: Simple Truths for Life's Complexities," (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.) is a wise and handy guide for all of us, great preparation and inspiration for doing some mountain hiking of your own this spring and summer.

"You, too, have your own mountain," she writes. "There's always a challenge that demands your attention."

Here to help you with the challenges of your own life, on and off the trail, are some highlights from McDargh's book:

— Acclimate At a Higher Level Before You Begin The Next Part Of Your Climb. On the trail, hiking up the mountain, you have to go slow, drink water, stay at the new level and listen to your body. If it doesn't adjust, you're smart to head back down. Have you ever aspired to "go higher" in life — the bigger house, the huge new client — and found that it didn't sit well? "If it feels right, go forward," writes McDargh. " If not, there's wisdom in turning around and staying where you are."

— Pack Out Your Garbage. That's good advice on the trail, and in real life too. If you're leaving a job, a marriage, a relationship, "don't leave behind hurtful words … trashed property or people," McDargh says. "Leave well. Someone will enter the spot you have left. … Besides, who knows? You might return someday."

— Turn Around. Celebrate How Far You've Come. Step after step, higher and higher, we move through the landscapes of our lives.

We get tired. We forget to stop, turn around and celebrate the journey we've taken. "If you've forgotten how far you've come," writes McDargh, "ask your mother."

— Every Ounce Counts. Hikers have to be aware of every item they carry. They pack dried apples instead of trail mix. They share toothpaste. "How often do we encumber our civilized life with things we want instead of things we truly need?" asks McDargh. "Choose what you carry carefully. I never saw a hearse with a U-Haul behind."

EAT THIS UP! WHICH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES NEED TO BE ORGANIC?

Is there anything better than a delicious summer peach? Yes, a delicious organic summer peach. It turns out that peaches are the dirtiest of fruits when it comes to carrying pesticide residue, according to the Dirty Dozen rankings of the Environmental Working Group. Peaches have soft skins, and the pesticides soak right up into the pulp. (Ick.) If you're going to eat peaches this year, buy organic (pesticide-free).

That isn't true of onions. The onion is the least contaminated of fruits and vegetables, according to the EWG rankings of The Consistently Clean fruits and vegetables. If you don't buy organic onions, it's not that big a deal.

Here, for your next shopping trip:

The Dirty Dozen — (Avoid conventional, buy organic) Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes (imported), spinach, lettuce, potatoes.

The Consistently Clean — (Conventionally grown have low or no pesticide exposure) Papaya, broccoli, cabbage, bananas, kiwi, sweet peas (frozen), asparagus, mango, pineapples, sweet corn (frozen), avocado, onions.

According to the EWG, you can lower your exposure to toxic pesticides by nearly 90 percent if you avoid The Dirty Dozen (the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables) and eat The Consistently Clean (least contaminated ones) instead.

ENERGY EXPRESSO! HAVE AN ADVENTURE THIS SUMMER!

"If you keep your head inside a tent, you'll miss the stars. There's safety in your shelter. But there's also utter darkness … Stick your head out … You will find another world of wonder if you leave your tent … Take courage. You can always go back inside." — Eileen McDargh

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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