I go to the mountains to remind myself of the beauty that is already within me. Saturday evening – I set my alarm for 4:00 a.m. I wake at 3:30 p.m. to answer the call of nature. Close enough. The light in the eastern sky calls me, and the promise of ascending in silence through tall firs. (Click on the photos for full screen view).
I reach the trailhead at 4:45 a.m. and begin hiking, drawing energy from the forest through the soles of my feet with every step. When I reach the snow, I opt to stay on the angular granite boulders. Although each step holds a measure of treachery, it menaces less than the steep snowy slopes and the risk of an uncontrolled slide.
I reach the top at 7:30 a.m. and scan the horizon in all directions – four snow covered volcanoes visible and countless jagged peaks across the curvature of spaceship earth. On the way down, I jump onto the snow after descending the first five minutes, careful at the edge of the snowfield to avoid punching through with my feet and falling into a moat with bone fracturing potential. In retrospect, the snowfield saved fifteen minutes of harrowing rock hopping. Both have their dangers. Tread lightly and with awareness of gravity!
Back at the car at 9:50 a.m. Five hours. Exhausted, sleep deprived, bones aching, in bliss. I will do this again soon.
Father: I enjoyed reading your blog. I could see Mt Rainier but how can Glacier Peak be in the same photo? Glacier Peak is to the North and Rainier to the S of Granite Mt. The tooth is Mt Stuart.
Thanks for your question father. I edited the captions on my images to make that clearer.