How to Start a Day

You tell yourself that the views and nature are worth it. That the camaraderie combined with the solitude is what it is all about. That camp coffee is the best in the world and that you feel strong and the future of the day calls with excitement and promise. You convince yourself that the much lightened 40 pound pack will be easy to deal with and you assure yourself that a gallon and a half of water is plenty for the upcoming 100 degree heat.

There is time to eat breakfast and watch the sun come up. But it is not an easy time as it is edgy for the work that is to be done just to get home.

A walk is a heel to toe action down a path. A hike is when the terrain is rough and raising and lowering in elevation is more common than flat. A climb is when hands must be used to make progress. Today is some hiking and some climbing. This is free climbing as no equipment (ropes) are involved. We will keep a close eye on each other but will not help each other climb.

This is the last leg of a journey. There is always a bit of melancholy on the last day of a good outing.

You wake up and shake out the cobwebs from a great night's sleep, you eat your breakfast and clean up and brush your teeth. Then you get dressed in the clothes of the day. Then you check your gear before leaving for the office and that rat race out there that you must overcome.

Here you are tightening boots and securing your backpack and double checking your provisions and making sure things are snug and tight Making sure you have everything because you darn sure are not coming back for anything. And then you start out on the "freeway" for the first hundred yards and then it is all uphill.

Sometimes just getting the thing done seems like an insurmountable task. Believe us we appreciate that and our sympathies are with all of you in your day to day.

But that is why we go on these ridiculous and perilous hikes. To remind us that today is really not that difficult. That it could be a lot worse. And most important to remind us that we made the choices that got us here. To keep our eye on the prize and to stay focused on the beauty of the day and not just the ground in front of us. You and I have been chosen to be blessed. We need to stop and take a look around and appreciate that everyday, several times.

As an aside this hike ranges upward to 7,000 feet. That is cool because you have to stop and catch your breath and that reminds you to look around and enjoy the wonderment of this world.

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