I know that the only people reading these random posts of mine already know me quite well. But, on the off chance that some unknown visitor has stumbled upon my ramblings, let me explain a bit about myself: I don't like to fail at anything. I was a straight-A student through high school and through most of my first years in college (there is an exception to that in the Fall of 2001 which I don't have the time or inclination to explain right now). When I finally completed my bachelor's degree (10 years after I first entered the world of higher education) I had a 4.0 GPA. As a graduate student I have done equally well. The jobs that I have had over the years may not have always been amazing,
but I have always done quite well at them.
I don't say these things with the intent of appearing arrogant. I don't really think that highly of myself. But they are all true statements. I have gone through life always doing well at everything. Perhaps it's because of that that I've never really understood how to respond to failure. And how to deal with it and maybe even learn from it.
And with those thoughts in mind,
let me tell you about my last hiking adventure.
I decided that Dan and I should take a trip to New Hampshire a few weeks ago. I wanted to do some hiking in the Presidential Range. We'd done Mt. Washington long ago, but there are other mountains and I wanted a shot at one of the others. We knew that the weather forecast was less than ideal for that weekend, but it was the only time I had, so we went for it.
And it rained.
And we camped.
With two very large, very wet, very dirty dogs.
All together in one tent.
I was probably not in the best of moods.
On our second day in New Hampshire, the rain cleared for a while and we decided that it would be our best chance to get on a mountain. Our plan was to hike up Mt. Adams via the rather steep Airline Trail and descend via the easier Valley Way Trail. It's not a particularly long hike- only a bit over 4 miles each way, but the elevation gained is substantial in that distance. (The elevation of Mt. Adams is about 5774 ft. and if memory serves the elevation gained from the trails we would be hiking was something in the vicinity of 3500 ft. or perhaps somewhat over that.)
Things started out well. It was a beautiful day. But I wasn't feeling quite my usual hiking self. Perhaps it was the rain and the wet dogs. Perhaps it was just my mind worrying about other things. But I plugged away and we made good progress up the mountain. The sky was clear and the sun was shining. For a while. And then it started getting cloudy and windy. And we found ourselves a mile from the summit with an exposed, rocky ridge between us and the end of our journey. And the wind picked up and I could see the rain ahead. And we had just passed the sign informing us that if the weather was bad, we should turn back because people die up there. And I realized that I was no longer having fun. I was scared and tired and although I knew that I was physically capable of reaching the top, I no longer had the desire to do so. So, at a side trail .8 mile from the summit, I told Dan that I was done. He could continue on without me if he wanted to, but I just didn't feel safe anymore. And he did. He and the dogs continued up the ridge toward the summit and I followed the side trail to the Madison Hut where I visited with a moose and had my lunch.
In the end, Dan didn't make it to the top either. The boys refused to scramble up the last rocky stretch and he was forced to turn around with the summit in sight.
So, I failed to make it to the top of Mt. Adams this time. And I'm okay with that. Because I do love hiking, but I love it because I love being outside and smelling the fresh air and feeling a cool breeze and seeing all of the beautiful things around me. And, don't get me wrong, I do adore the feeling of success when I'm standing on a summit and looking at the views all around, but it's not really about that for me.
Just like most of life, the best part is not always the destination, but the journey.
I just have to keep remembering that.
And now for the photo/music portion of events!
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| Gulliver. Because he is magnificent. |
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| I like to take pictures of mushrooms. This is on the way up Giant Mt. |
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| The view from Giant Mt. A successful hike! |
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| A lovely photo on the way in to...Phelps, perhaps? I can't even remember. |
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| Our warning on the way up Mt. Adams. |
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| The beginning of the ridge. The sun was still kind of shining, but it was windy! |
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| The terrifying trail we didn't take. Thank goodness. |
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| Layered up and heading back down. |
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| The next day we visited a waterfall. It was raining, but I love waterfalls. Here I am, sweaty from the hike in, wet from the rain, and dirty from the knees down...but look at that waterfall! |
Here is a random assortment of songs. Some old, some new. Enjoy.
