Truly I feel a bit fearful when I journey into the wilderness and begin the 6 hour all alone drive. I desire to have a friend to share the experience but if I can't find anyone, then my soul needs the time on the trail and the quiet.
What I gain is greater then the discomforts of backpacking. The elevation does make me feel weak when my backpack and I must go uphill. The miles and hours slow the chaos in my mind and the weariness of life burdens. The beauty of the night stars, the darkness, the comets shooting or bright moon become my focus in the long, long night of not sleeping well on the ground or need for frequent full bladder release. Life slows and the changing light of sunrise and sunset fill my vision.
Several encounters with other hikers put a grin on my face as we discussed any topics and had great conversation. The beauty draws us to this wildness.
Most of the trail is easy to follow with signs to direct at intersections. My hiking sticks give me confidence on the uneven terrain and keep me from stumbling. I'm relaxed with my GPS maps assuring me of water sources and camp spot destinations.
When I set up 3 different location camp spots, I am truly blessed with lake views and granite mountains that turn pink as the sun dips below the horizon. A few spots on the trail do leave memory markers. The first one is between the second and third lake. The trail becomes crazy steep along a small waterfall that requires some negotiations with feet and backpack and places to hang on. Of course I make it and decide not to think about the reverse down when I come down.
A decision to day hike Conness Peak only 3 miles from my campsite has me going up and up and up. The trail has some places that left me feeling that I was maybe lost. One difficult section of scrambling up a very steep and scary incline had me grabbing rocks and carefully placing each step with slipping on shale. I kept questioning myself if I should turn around and get off this mountain. After another mile and not sure of the trail, ran into the first 4 hikers of the day coming down. My first logical thought was to turn around now and join them on the return trip. However they told me to look at the snowfield and see the saddle and assure me that it was worth it. With that encouragement I continued and put on my jacket to protect me from the crazy wind blasts. I arrived to the final ascent and noticed my elevation of 12,300 and checked out the view. I observed the rocks that would be need to traverse to arrive at the tippy top and decided my aloneness and no one around, this would be the time stop and not complete the ascent. So hard but so right. Now to get back down. This is where a few moments of not sure about the trail and descending that one crazy, crazy place of sliding and slipping and asking God for a few extra angels left a forever memory. I proceeded so slow and told myself, soon I would be off the mountain and safe.
Not every trail is easy and not every trail leaves so many memories. this one was full of moonscapes and vastness. I was in survival mode so I don't have enough photos to show it.
As in most hikes, the 23 Psalm is recited often and becomes the experience living in the landscape of Gods creation void of man made distractions. Yes God's Goodness follows me and I fear no evil. Now to bring those thought patterns home.
