Climbing a mountain can be a metaphorical and even a euphoric experience to lots of people. Reaching the top, surmounting the treacherous peak and “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves” is what summiting is all about.
That thought doesn’t cross your mind when your lungs can’t find air and legs get heavy.
Hiking the “easy” mountain was far from that description. We climbed some 3.5 miles up over 3,000 feet directed by piles of rocks to the top of an even larger pile of rocks. The acme gave us miles of views surrounded by snowcapped mounts, the bluest blue skies and the friendliest PB & J a man could ever want.
There’s a certain kind of camaraderie amongst people at 14,000 feet. Playing leap frog with a little lady with in a matching North Face jacket and hat seems like the only thing that keeps you moving.
Upward and onward we moved. And the snow that starts falling in mid-August is what really motivates you.
Trees are too afraid to come up this high. Clouds scrape themselves on the peaks like a 3rd grader riding his speed demon without training wheels. The journey to14,278 feet was conquered without peanuts, M&M’s or raisins but a whole lot of ‘Trail Mix’ of emotions.
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