Hunching a shoulder against the stiff wind, I took a deep breath of thin mountain air and looked out over the spectacular vista of craggy peaks and brilliant sky, feeling more than a little sorry for myself. Behind me lay five steep miles and hours of hiking that had started in the predawn blackness; my legs were numb and my hands tinged icy blue, but somehow there were still two cruel miles between me and the rugged summit of Mount Yale. I was toying with the idea of sitting down for a long rest when the clouds cleared and I caught a glimpse of my goal through the mist. That did it, I thought, and forced myself to pick up the pace. Step by step, I ground upwards, doggedly ignoring the increasingly desperate pleas of my legs and lungs. “Almost there - almost there - almost there,” I repeated to myself like a mantra, and after a million forevers I was there. …show more content…
In a state of hypoxic exhilaration, I laughed aloud. I momentarily forgot all the miles I would have to hike down and I lost myself in the breathtaking beauty of the hard-earned view. I’m lucky enough to live in a state where hiking is considered a fundamental part of life, and there’s something about being in the mountains that centers me like nothing else can. Hiking forces me into the present moment, into nature, and nothing has taught me the value of hard work like the moment when my legs are shaking and my lungs are burning but I’m at the top with the whole world sprawled out miles
My life so far has been like a good hiking path. A path that is winding and twisting and encompassed with plenty of beauty. A path that is lined with trees like angels protecting you from the mysteries in the deep forest and that keep you rooted on the path you are destine to take. One that is filled with deep troughs and the most beautiful peaks you could ever image. Sometimes the path is rocky and hurts the soles of your feet until they crack and bleed, but other times it’s covered with a soft green moss that lifts your steps and revives your spirits. Through the last 17 years of my life, I have traveled that path and endured every step. I have gone into the dark abyss of the trough and have found in it the most precious grace of light. As I have gotten older I have come to recognize that the scary and shaky steps of my path have indeed been “fearsome blessings” (Buechner, 92).
It was simply amazing hiking out there, the mountains covered in tall trees that dug into the rocky soil, the beautiful sky, when visible. Even in the midst of strenuous exercise I still en...
Graydon, D., and K. Hanson, editors. 1997. Mountaineering: the freedom of the hills, sixth edition. The Mountaineers,
going for a hike in the Cascade Mountains, but when you arrive at your destination
Climbing Mt. Everest is an accomplishment that only a limited number of people can say they have accomplished. Despite statistics that illustrate most fail or die trying, numerous people are drawn to the mountain each year and truly believe they can be among that elite group. In the spring of 1996, Jon Krakauer, a journalist for the adventure magazine Outside and a passionate climber himself, was offered the opportunity to climb Mt. Everest. The original offer was to join an Adventure Consultants team led by Rob Hall, a respected and well known guide, climb to base camp and then write a story on the commercialism that had penetrated this incredibly risky but addicting sport. Without much hesitation Krakauer accepted the offer but not to just go to base camp; he wanted the top. The expedition started out as predicted but an unexpected storm the day of the summit push turned this expedition into the most devastating expedition of all time. Krakauer was changed for life; an article on the commercialism surrounding the mountain would no longer suffice. Into Th...
Cheryl Strayed gained strength through the long grieving process from the loss of her mother. The unexpected, horrid journey on the Pacific Crest Trail has changed her character in a way that she can now bear living another day in life; she now is married with two kids. The wilderness taught her how to find her own inner self-actualization. From heroin abuse to multiple sexual encounters, Strayed was finding different paths to feel something within her again; to feel alive. “I get to do this. I get to waste my life. I get to be junk” (Strayed 53). It took strength, motivation and determination to start working extra shifts to save up for the expense of the hiking equipments, to then quit her job, and set out on this “preposterous” journey to hike 1100 miles without realization of what she was really asking for.
My legs ache from this long, treacherous hike. As I walk up the rocky, steep trail, my feet start to slip, but I regain balance before I fall. I shiver from the extremely cold temperatures, and my body starts to go numb. Soon I realize, my body can not take this hike for much longer. When I find a nice place to rest and make camp, I pray that there are no bears or other predators that are looking for a feast. Just as I was about to get some sleep, I hear a loud noise, coming from the mountains. I look over and see an avalanche coming down straight towards me. I grab all my stuff and start running the other way, trying my hardest to get away from the rocks tumbling towards me. This extreme place is located in the Rocky Mountain Range, and is the highest point in Colorado and the rocky mountain range.Mount Elbert has an impact on animal's, temperature, and the steepness and extremeness of the mountain.
As the two men hiked, they came upon many rugged trails and hills that were difficult to overcome, however they did it together and kept moving on. The view from the trail was beautiful with many places to stop and admire the view, but they couldn’t seem to get above the canopy of the trees to truly take in the whole view. The man that strove to see the beautiful scenery from an unobstructed viewpoint was trying in every way to get above what was around him to see the true beauty of the mountains.
I knew taking this shortcut was a mistake, yet I didn't think I had enough strength to keep climbing this monumental cliff with the others. The humidity was affecting my vision and the ground now started to spin. The muscles in my legs felt
With stress on my mind and a cookie in my hand, I headed towards the wooded area behind her home. At the beginning of the trail, there was an old rotting tire swing barely hanging onto a low-hanging branch. The extensive amount of muddy puddles and the surrounding damp grass made me hesitant to follow through with my grandmother’s suggestion; the mountain of homework that waited for me back at home convinced me to continue. Trees towered over me, adding to the existing weight of stress that sat upon my shoulders, as I carefully maneuvered around the biggest puddles, beginning to become frustrated. Today was a terrible day to go for a walk, so why would my grandmother suggest this? Shaking my head in frustration, I pushed forward. The trail was slightly overgrown. Sharp weeds stabbed my sides every few steps, and I nearly tripped over a fallen tree branch. As the creek barely came into view, I could feel the humidity making my hair curly and stick to the sides of my face. After stopping to roll up the ends of my worn blue jeans, I neared the end of the trail. Bright sunlight peeked through the branches and reflected off the water. The sun must have come out from behind a cloud, seeing as it now blinded me as I neared the water. A few minutes passed by before I could clearly see
up a rocky path. Immediately I feel like I am in nature. I am reminded of all
Mount Everest, the world’s highest point at 29,035 feet, is a special trophy among high altitude mountaineers. Standing atop the world’s highest point a hypoxic climber clad in a fluorescent down suit is above everything else on the planet, for a moment that individual can reach farther into the sky than any other. Arms raised in a victorious salute, a climber feels like they have conquered something that few others ever have, and justifiably so. The summit is usually the final fruition of months, sometimes years of planning, weeks of travel and acclimatization, and days of endless plodding at a feeble, learning-to-walk pace.
It was much steeper than the path before. My legs felt like it would come off. But we could hear people cheering from above. That means the campsite is close! Me and Tharriel started to regain our spirit and we gained our pace. In just around 30 minutes, we finally reached the campsite. Gosh! It was very relieving and the view from the campsite was entertaining. We were literally camping above the clouds now. Some of the locals even sold beer there. Many foreigners also celebrate their arrival. Me and Tharriel took some photos, and continued to our tent. Finally, in the tent we can rest our feet. Poor feet forced to hike for approximately 12 hours, you deserve rest now. After awhile, we enjoyed our view around the campsite. The view is just getting more beautiful. Thick clouds were bellow touching some part of the mountain. The sun is starting to fade away, and the wind is very cold. Just reaching the campsite is eyes spoiling
The definition of experienced may take many forms. To one, it might be having many years under one’s belt. To another, it could be hiking many peaks in a short amount of time, increasing hours spent on the trails, but not longevity in the activity. An experienced hiker constitutes both of these, both longevity and peaks covered. In any activity, repetition means experience and practice, and hiking is no different. To hike, one must follow an almost religious regiment, keeping calorie intake in the 3000’s, and fitness at optimum level. One also must keep a steady level of hydration if one wishes to combat the heat of the Arizona sun. Even if not in heat, the amount of energy one is expending during a hike is on the order of magnitudes, and the hiker must be wary of overexertion. Knowing one’s limits when hiking comes with experience, and experience is gained through repetition of the activity.
One of the most enjoyable things in life are road trips, particularly to the Colorado mountains. Getting to spend time with your family and friends, while being in a beautiful place, is irreplaceable. The fifteen-hour road trip may feel never-ending, but gazing at the mountains from afar makes life’s problems seem a little smaller and causes worries to become a thing of the past. Coming in contact with nature, untouched, is a surreal experience. My family trip to the Colorado mountains last summer was inspiring.