Hiking Quandry

So last summer i had the briliant and completely unreasonable idea that we (max and i) would hike a 14er a week. (For those who don't know, a '14er' is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet high) Well, turns out we've actually averaged about one a summer. Not quite once a week but i'll take it. Anywho, our friend Whit was out and was eager to climb so we decided on Quandry peak, since it's only about 20 minutes away. I had no idea what a bitch the hike was going to be. Right away it started out with a steep ascent. We were in forest for about 45 minutes before we got above tree line. Then it was a flashback to Tibet as we navigated what seemed like an endless incline of scree. From the treeline it didn't seem like it was going to be too bad. Unfortunately, the peak we first saw was a false summit. The actual summit was beyond that and another steep rise towards the heavens. Max for some reason had an unusual burst of energy, while whit and i struggled to take a step every 5 seconds. I am sad to admit that my feelings towards max were slightly similar to that of the chinese man in Tibet.......Cybil was definitely rearing her ugly head. We ascended about 3000 feet,....it was almost as if every step forward was one foot upward----it was so HARD!

Once we got to the top, the views were definitely enjoyable. I know we're supposed to 'enjoy the journey' metaphorically speaking, but i gotta be honest---i like conquering. I like making goals and meeting them. I like checking things off lists. I'm not particularly proud of this quality, which is why you will find me in india in a few short weeks, working on my ego the development of my soul.

The way down was equally steep but obviously faster. We were rewarded with a visit by a goat herd that let us get suprisingly close to them. ONe of them (i'm assuming the dominant male) went out from the group and took a look down at the valley below, posed perfectly for a photograph. I was happy once again to be in the forest, and felt a sense of accomplishment (and a stiff ass) at our little feat. I know it's unusual to be blogging from my home state, but sometimes i forget how beautiful it is here.....and it is most definitely worthy of a blog entry.

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